Growth of productivity, real average compensation (consumer and producer), and real median compensation, 1973–2014
| Year | Real median hourly compensation | Real consumer average hourly compensation | Net productivity | Real producer average hourly compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1974 | -2.0% | -0.9% | -1.6% | 0.1% |
| 1975 | -0.5% | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 3.1% |
| 1977 | 1.3% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.5% |
| 1978 | 2.5% | 5.0% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | 4.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| 1981 | -1.2% | 4.5% | 7.2% | 8.6% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | 5.6% | 5.7% | 9.7% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | 5.8% | 8.8% | 10.0% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | 6.0% | 11.7% | 10.8% |
| 1985 | 1.7% | 7.7% | 13.6% | 12.6% |
| 1986 | 3.8% | 11.2% | 15.9% | 16.3% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | 11.9% | 16.5% | 18.1% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | 13.3% | 17.8% | 19.9% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 12.1% | 18.8% | 19.1% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | 13.4% | 20.4% | 21.8% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | 14.6% | 21.4% | 23.4% |
| 1992 | 5.2% | 18.0% | 25.8% | 27.3% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | 17.1% | 26.2% | 26.5% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | 16.3% | 27.4% | 25.7% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | 15.7% | 27.5% | 25.6% |
| 1996 | -0.4% | 17.1% | 30.6% | 28.0% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | 18.4% | 32.4% | 29.8% |
| 1998 | 4.0% | 22.7% | 35.0% | 34.7% |
| 1999 | 7.1% | 25.3% | 38.3% | 38.2% |
| 2000 | 6.8% | 29.1% | 41.6% | 43.8% |
| 2001 | 9.6% | 31.2% | 43.8% | 46.6% |
| 2002 | 11.3% | 32.5% | 47.8% | 47.9% |
| 2003 | 13.3% | 35.1% | 52.6% | 51.1% |
| 2004 | 13.6% | 37.7% | 56.7% | 53.9% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | 37.9% | 59.4% | 54.6% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | 38.7% | 60.4% | 56.1% |
| 2007 | 11.0% | 40.6% | 61.5% | 58.4% |
| 2008 | 11.6% | 39.3% | 61.8% | 59.8% |
| 2009 | 14.0% | 42.1% | 65.1% | 60.9% |
| 2010 | 12.7% | 42.6% | 70.0% | 61.9% |
| 2011 | 9.6% | 41.1% | 70.2% | 61.6% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | 41.6% | 71.1% | 62.4% |
| 2013 | 9.6% | 41.2% | 71.2% | 61.8% |
| 2014 | 8.7% [range id=”compensation” label=”Inequality of compensation”] | 42.5% [range id=”trade” label=”“Terms-of-trade””][range id=”compensation”] | 72.2% [range id=laborshare label=”Loss in labor’s share”] | 63.3% [range id=laborshare] [range id=trade] |
Note: Data are for all workers. Net productivity is the growth of output of goods and services minus depreciation, per hour worked.
Source: EPI analysis of data from the BEA, BLS, and CPS ORG (see technical appendix for more detailed information)
Source: Economic Policy Institute analysis of data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis' National Income and Product Accounts, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Indexes and Labor Productivity and Costs program, and Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata (see technical appendix for more detailed information)