Disconnect between productivity and typical worker's compensation, 1948–2013
| Year | % Cumulative growth in real hourly compensation since 1948 | % Cumulative growth in net productivity since 1948 |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1949 | 6.3% | 1.5% |
| 1950 | 10.5% | 9.3% |
| 1951 | 11.8% | 12.4% |
| 1952 | 15.0% | 15.6% |
| 1953 | 20.8% | 19.5% |
| 1954 | 23.5% | 21.6% |
| 1955 | 28.7% | 26.5% |
| 1956 | 33.9% | 26.7% |
| 1957 | 37.1% | 30.1% |
| 1958 | 38.2% | 32.8% |
| 1959 | 42.6% | 37.6% |
| 1960 | 45.5% | 40.0% |
| 1961 | 48.0% | 44.4% |
| 1962 | 52.5% | 49.8% |
| 1963 | 55.0% | 55.0% |
| 1964 | 58.5% | 60.0% |
| 1965 | 62.5% | 64.9% |
| 1966 | 64.9% | 70.0% |
| 1967 | 66.9% | 72.1% |
| 1968 | 70.7% | 77.2% |
| 1969 | 74.7% | 77.9% |
| 1970 | 76.6% | 80.4% |
| 1971 | 82.0% | 87.1% |
| 1972 | 91.3% | 92.0% |
| 1973 | 91.3% | 96.7% |
| 1974 | 87.0% | 93.6% |
| 1975 | 86.9% | 97.9% |
| 1976 | 89.7% | 103.4% |
| 1977 | 93.2% | 105.8% |
| 1978 | 96.0% | 107.8% |
| 1979 | 93.4% | 108.1% |
| 1980 | 88.6% | 106.5% |
| 1981 | 87.6% | 111.0% |
| 1982 | 87.8% | 107.9% |
| 1983 | 88.3% | 114.1% |
| 1984 | 87.0% | 119.7% |
| 1985 | 86.4% | 123.4% |
| 1986 | 87.3% | 128.0% |
| 1987 | 84.6% | 129.1% |
| 1988 | 83.9% | 131.8% |
| 1989 | 83.7% | 133.7% |
| 1990 | 82.2% | 137.0% |
| 1991 | 81.9% | 138.9% |
| 1992 | 83.1% | 147.6% |
| 1993 | 83.4% | 148.4% |
| 1994 | 83.8% | 150.8% |
| 1995 | 82.7% | 150.9% |
| 1996 | 82.8% | 157.0% |
| 1997 | 84.8% | 160.6% |
| 1998 | 89.2% | 165.9% |
| 1999 | 92.0% | 172.8% |
| 2000 | 93.0% | 179.2% |
| 2001 | 95.7% | 183.5% |
| 2002 | 99.6% | 191.4% |
| 2003 | 101.8% | 200.9% |
| 2004 | 101.1% | 209.1% |
| 2005 | 100.2% | 214.5% |
| 2006 | 100.3% | 216.5% |
| 2007 | 101.8% | 218.8% |
| 2008 | 101.9% | 219.4% |
| 2009 | 109.9% | 226.0% |
| 2010 | 111.8% | 235.4% |
| 2011 | 109.3% | 236.7% |
| 2012 | 107.5% | 240.9% |
| 2013 | 108.9% | 243.1% |
Note: Data are for compensation (wages and benefits) of production/non-supervisory workers in the private sector and net productivity of the total economy. "Net productivity" is the growth of output of goods and services less depreciation per hour worked.
Source: Economic Policy Institute analysis of unpublished Total Economy Productivity data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Labor Productivity and Costs program, wage data from the BLS Current Employment Statistics, BLS Employment Cost Trends, BLS Consumer Price Index and Bureau of Economic Analysis National Income and Product Accounts
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