The gap between productivity and a typical worker's compensation has increased dramatically since 1989: Productivity growth and hourly compensation growth, 1989-2015
| Year | Hourly Compensation | Net productivity |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1990 | -0.8% | 1.4% |
| 1991 | -1.0% | 2.2% |
| 1992 | -0.4% | 6.0% |
| 1993 | -0.2% | 6.3% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | 7.3% |
| 1995 | -0.5% | 7.4% |
| 1996 | -0.5% | 10.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | 11.5% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | 13.7% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | 16.4% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | 19.2% |
| 2001 | 6.5% | 21.1% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | 24.4% |
| 2003 | 9.8% | 28.5% |
| 2004 | 9.3% | 31.9% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | 34.2% |
| 2006 | 9.0% | 35.0% |
| 2007 | 9.8% | 36.0% |
| 2008 | 9.8% | 36.2% |
| 2009 | 14.2% | 39.0% |
| 2010 | 15.2% | 43.1% |
| 2011 | 13.8% | 43.2% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | 44.0% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | 44.5% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | 45.2% |
| 2015 | 15.7% | 46.0% |
Note: Data are for average hourly compensation of production/nonsupervisory workers in the private sector and net productivity of the total economy. “Net productivity” is the growth of output of goods and services minus depreciation per hour worked.
Source: EPI analysis of data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (see the technical appendix of Bivens and Mishel 2015 for more detailed information)
Source: Economic Policy Institute analysis of data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis' National Income and Produce Accounts and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Indexes and Labor Productivity and Costs programs (see technical appendix of Understanding the Historic Divergence Between Productivity and a Typical Worker's Pay for more detailed information)
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