The gap between productivity and a typical worker’s compensation has increased dramatically since 1979: Productivity growth and hourly compensation growth, 1948–2024
| Year | Productivity | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1948q1 | 100 | 100 |
| 1948q2 | 101.2 | 100.8 |
| 1948q3 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 1948q4 | 102.7 | 103.1 |
| 1949q1 | 102.2 | 105.4 |
| 1949q2 | 101.3 | 106.6 |
| 1949q3 | 104.7 | 109 |
| 1949q4 | 104.7 | 110.3 |
| 1950q1 | 108.9 | 111.8 |
| 1950q2 | 110.1 | 112.4 |
| 1950q3 | 112.1 | 111.7 |
| 1950q4 | 112.9 | 112.1 |
| 1951q1 | 111.5 | 110.2 |
| 1951q2 | 111.6 | 111.2 |
| 1951q3 | 114.4 | 113.5 |
| 1951q4 | 114.3 | 113.7 |
| 1952q1 | 114.3 | 114.4 |
| 1952q2 | 114.9 | 115.8 |
| 1952q3 | 115.3 | 115.8 |
| 1952q4 | 117.5 | 117.3 |
| 1953q1 | 119.9 | 119.6 |
| 1953q2 | 120.5 | 120.6 |
| 1953q3 | 120.2 | 121.8 |
| 1953q4 | 119.7 | 122.6 |
| 1954q1 | 120.3 | 123.7 |
| 1954q2 | 121.8 | 124.5 |
| 1954q3 | 123.7 | 125.3 |
| 1954q4 | 126.8 | 127.8 |
| 1955q1 | 128.8 | 128.4 |
| 1955q2 | 131.2 | 130.2 |
| 1955q3 | 131.3 | 130.6 |
| 1955q4 | 131.8 | 132.3 |
| 1956q1 | 132.4 | 134.2 |
| 1956q2 | 132.3 | 134.5 |
| 1956q3 | 132.3 | 134.8 |
| 1956q4 | 134.3 | 135.8 |
| 1957q1 | 135.9 | 136.4 |
| 1957q2 | 136 | 137.5 |
| 1957q3 | 136.4 | 137.9 |
| 1957q4 | 136.5 | 138.5 |
| 1958q1 | 135 | 137.5 |
| 1958q2 | 136.3 | 138 |
| 1958q3 | 139.6 | 138.8 |
| 1958q4 | 141.9 | 140 |
| 1959q1 | 143.4 | 142 |
| 1959q2 | 144.2 | 143 |
| 1959q3 | 144.5 | 142.8 |
| 1959q4 | 144.5 | 143.3 |
| 1960q1 | 148 | 144.3 |
| 1960q2 | 145.9 | 145.6 |
| 1960q3 | 146.2 | 146.2 |
| 1960q4 | 144.9 | 146.5 |
| 1961q1 | 146.6 | 147.6 |
| 1961q2 | 151.1 | 148.4 |
| 1961q3 | 152.8 | 148.5 |
| 1961q4 | 153.8 | 149.1 |
| 1962q1 | 155.7 | 151 |
| 1962q2 | 155.6 | 151.6 |
| 1962q3 | 157.4 | 152.3 |
| 1962q4 | 158.9 | 153.3 |
| 1963q1 | 160.7 | 154.7 |
| 1963q2 | 161.8 | 155.8 |
| 1963q3 | 163.8 | 155.3 |
| 1963q4 | 165.4 | 157.2 |
| 1964q1 | 167.4 | 158 |
| 1964q2 | 167 | 158.6 |
| 1964q3 | 169.6 | 160.3 |
| 1964q4 | 168.7 | 160.4 |
| 1965q1 | 171.1 | 161.6 |
| 1965q2 | 171.4 | 162.4 |
| 1965q3 | 175 | 163.1 |
| 1965q4 | 178.5 | 164.8 |
| 1966q1 | 179.3 | 165.1 |
| 1966q2 | 178.2 | 165.4 |
| 1966q3 | 178.7 | 165.6 |
| 1966q4 | 179.4 | 165.7 |
| 1967q1 | 180.1 | 166.8 |
| 1967q2 | 181.7 | 168.5 |
| 1967q3 | 181.5 | 168.7 |
| 1967q4 | 182.3 | 169.2 |
| 1968q1 | 186.3 | 170.6 |
| 1968q2 | 187.6 | 171.1 |
| 1968q3 | 187.9 | 172.2 |
| 1968q4 | 188 | 172.9 |
| 1969q1 | 189.7 | 175.1 |
| 1969q2 | 188.8 | 175.1 |
| 1969q3 | 190.4 | 176.2 |
| 1969q4 | 189.6 | 177.2 |
| 1970q1 | 190.1 | 176.4 |
| 1970q2 | 191.9 | 176.8 |
| 1970q3 | 195.3 | 178.6 |
| 1970q4 | 193.9 | 178.9 |
| 1971q1 | 200 | 181.1 |
| 1971q2 | 200.8 | 182.1 |
| 1971q3 | 203.2 | 183.5 |
| 1971q4 | 202.6 | 184.9 |
| 1972q1 | 204.7 | 189.6 |
| 1972q2 | 209.2 | 191.6 |
| 1972q3 | 211 | 193.1 |
| 1972q4 | 213.7 | 193.9 |
| 1973q1 | 214.8 | 193.8 |
| 1973q2 | 213.8 | 192.1 |
| 1973q3 | 211.4 | 191.6 |
| 1973q4 | 211.8 | 189.9 |
| 1974q1 | 207.3 | 188.1 |
| 1974q2 | 207.8 | 187.6 |
| 1974q3 | 206 | 187.5 |
| 1974q4 | 207 | 186.6 |
| 1975q1 | 209.3 | 186.9 |
| 1975q2 | 212.2 | 187.5 |
| 1975q3 | 214.3 | 186.9 |
| 1975q4 | 214.7 | 186.6 |
| 1976q1 | 216.6 | 187.3 |
| 1976q2 | 218.1 | 188.7 |
| 1976q3 | 218.1 | 189.9 |
| 1976q4 | 218.6 | 190.7 |
| 1977q1 | 219.4 | 191.5 |
| 1977q2 | 218.6 | 191.8 |
| 1977q3 | 221.1 | 193.1 |
| 1977q4 | 220.3 | 193.5 |
| 1978q1 | 219.5 | 195 |
| 1978q2 | 222.7 | 195 |
| 1978q3 | 222.5 | 194.8 |
| 1978q4 | 224 | 195.4 |
| 1979q1 | 221.7 | 195.1 |
| 1979q2 | 220.7 | 193 |
| 1979q3 | 218.9 | 192.2 |
| 1979q4 | 216.8 | 190.7 |
| 1980q1 | 215.7 | 188.3 |
| 1980q2 | 212.9 | 188.2 |
| 1980q3 | 212.8 | 187.9 |
| 1980q4 | 214.7 | 187.7 |
| 1981q1 | 217.9 | 186.8 |
| 1981q2 | 216.8 | 187.3 |
| 1981q3 | 219.2 | 187.2 |
| 1981q4 | 216 | 186.5 |
| 1982q1 | 215.4 | 187.3 |
| 1982q2 | 215.1 | 187.8 |
| 1982q3 | 214.9 | 187.5 |
| 1982q4 | 215.9 | 187.1 |
| 1983q1 | 218.7 | 189.2 |
| 1983q2 | 221.7 | 188.9 |
| 1983q3 | 223 | 188.6 |
| 1983q4 | 225.2 | 188.5 |
| 1984q1 | 225.5 | 188 |
| 1984q2 | 226.9 | 187.7 |
| 1984q3 | 228.2 | 187.6 |
| 1984q4 | 228.7 | 187.4 |
| 1985q1 | 229.9 | 187.2 |
| 1985q2 | 229.9 | 187.3 |
| 1985q3 | 232.5 | 187.6 |
| 1985q4 | 232.3 | 187.2 |
| 1986q1 | 234.2 | 187.4 |
| 1986q2 | 237.1 | 189.4 |
| 1986q3 | 237.9 | 189.4 |
| 1986q4 | 236.7 | 189.3 |
| 1987q1 | 234.5 | 187.8 |
| 1987q2 | 235.2 | 187 |
| 1987q3 | 235.1 | 186.4 |
| 1987q4 | 237 | 186.4 |
| 1988q1 | 237.6 | 186.3 |
| 1988q2 | 238 | 186.4 |
| 1988q3 | 239 | 186.1 |
| 1988q4 | 239.6 | 186.7 |
| 1989q1 | 239.7 | 186.8 |
| 1989q2 | 239.8 | 186 |
| 1989q3 | 240.8 | 186.6 |
| 1989q4 | 240.4 | 187.1 |
| 1990q1 | 241.6 | 186.8 |
| 1990q2 | 243.5 | 186.6 |
| 1990q3 | 241.7 | 184.9 |
| 1990q4 | 237.7 | 183.8 |
| 1991q1 | 238.9 | 184.5 |
| 1991q2 | 242.7 | 185.7 |
| 1991q3 | 244.3 | 186.2 |
| 1991q4 | 245.1 | 186.4 |
| 1992q1 | 249 | 186.7 |
| 1992q2 | 250.9 | 187.4 |
| 1992q3 | 253.5 | 187.7 |
| 1992q4 | 254.6 | 187 |
| 1993q1 | 253.4 | 188.3 |
| 1993q2 | 252 | 187.5 |
| 1993q3 | 252.8 | 187.7 |
| 1993q4 | 254.5 | 187.8 |
| 1994q1 | 255.6 | 188.8 |
| 1994q2 | 255.1 | 188.2 |
| 1994q3 | 253.8 | 188 |
| 1994q4 | 256.3 | 188.2 |
| 1995q1 | 255 | 187.5 |
| 1995q2 | 255 | 187.2 |
| 1995q3 | 255 | 187.5 |
| 1995q4 | 256.8 | 187.8 |
| 1996q1 | 258.3 | 187.6 |
| 1996q2 | 259.1 | 187.5 |
| 1996q3 | 259 | 188.1 |
| 1996q4 | 258.9 | 187.9 |
| 1997q1 | 259.3 | 188.3 |
| 1997q2 | 262.2 | 189.4 |
| 1997q3 | 264.4 | 190.4 |
| 1997q4 | 264.9 | 191.6 |
| 1998q1 | 265.7 | 192.9 |
| 1998q2 | 266.3 | 194.3 |
| 1998q3 | 269.5 | 195 |
| 1998q4 | 270.9 | 195.8 |
| 1999q1 | 273.8 | 196.9 |
| 1999q2 | 272.4 | 197.2 |
| 1999q3 | 273.8 | 197.7 |
| 1999q4 | 276.3 | 198 |
| 2000q1 | 273.2 | 196.9 |
| 2000q2 | 277.9 | 198.1 |
| 2000q3 | 277.8 | 198.4 |
| 2000q4 | 280.7 | 200 |
| 2001q1 | 278.4 | 200.4 |
| 2001q2 | 281.7 | 201.6 |
| 2001q3 | 282.2 | 202.9 |
| 2001q4 | 285.8 | 205 |
| 2002q1 | 290.7 | 206.3 |
| 2002q2 | 290.5 | 206.3 |
| 2002q3 | 292 | 207.5 |
| 2002q4 | 292.4 | 209.1 |
| 2003q1 | 294.2 | 209.2 |
| 2003q2 | 299.9 | 210.6 |
| 2003q3 | 304 | 210.4 |
| 2003q4 | 307.3 | 210 |
| 2004q1 | 307.3 | 210 |
| 2004q2 | 309.9 | 209.8 |
| 2004q3 | 311.6 | 210 |
| 2004q4 | 312.8 | 209.3 |
| 2005q1 | 316.2 | 210.2 |
| 2005q2 | 316.7 | 210.5 |
| 2005q3 | 315.9 | 209.1 |
| 2005q4 | 316.7 | 209 |
| 2006q1 | 319.1 | 209.6 |
| 2006q2 | 318.4 | 210.1 |
| 2006q3 | 316.6 | 210 |
| 2006q4 | 319.8 | 212.6 |
| 2007q1 | 321.4 | 212.5 |
| 2007q2 | 321.3 | 212.9 |
| 2007q3 | 323.2 | 213.7 |
| 2007q4 | 322.7 | 212.7 |
| 2008q1 | 319.2 | 212.6 |
| 2008q2 | 319.3 | 212.2 |
| 2008q3 | 316.9 | 211 |
| 2008q4 | 321.9 | 217.6 |
| 2009q1 | 327.4 | 222.4 |
| 2009q2 | 331.1 | 222.5 |
| 2009q3 | 333.7 | 222.1 |
| 2009q4 | 337.1 | 222.1 |
| 2010q1 | 338.7 | 224 |
| 2010q2 | 340.6 | 224.9 |
| 2010q3 | 344.6 | 225.2 |
| 2010q4 | 344.7 | 224.8 |
| 2011q1 | 341 | 223.7 |
| 2011q2 | 339.1 | 222.1 |
| 2011q3 | 338.2 | 221.3 |
| 2011q4 | 338.6 | 221.4 |
| 2012q1 | 340.1 | 219.9 |
| 2012q2 | 341.9 | 220.4 |
| 2012q3 | 339.9 | 220.6 |
| 2012q4 | 339.6 | 219.8 |
| 2013q1 | 342.4 | 221.4 |
| 2013q2 | 343.5 | 223.1 |
| 2013q3 | 344.8 | 223.5 |
| 2013q4 | 347 | 224 |
| 2014q1 | 344.2 | 223.7 |
| 2014q2 | 345.9 | 223.5 |
| 2014q3 | 349 | 223.9 |
| 2014q4 | 348.5 | 225.2 |
| 2015q1 | 352.1 | 228.1 |
| 2015q2 | 353.7 | 227.8 |
| 2015q3 | 354.7 | 228.2 |
| 2015q4 | 353.6 | 229.9 |
| 2016q1 | 354.6 | 231.5 |
| 2016q2 | 354.4 | 231.1 |
| 2016q3 | 355.4 | 231.5 |
| 2016q4 | 357.9 | 231.4 |
| 2017q1 | 357.8 | 231.2 |
| 2017q2 | 357.9 | 232.4 |
| 2017q3 | 361.4 | 233.2 |
| 2017q4 | 362.7 | 232.8 |
| 2018q1 | 364 | 233.2 |
| 2018q2 | 364.5 | 234.1 |
| 2018q3 | 365.5 | 235.2 |
| 2018q4 | 365.2 | 236.7 |
| 2019q1 | 367.3 | 237.7 |
| 2019q2 | 368.8 | 238.3 |
| 2019q3 | 372.1 | 239.6 |
| 2019q4 | 374.1 | 240 |
| 2020q1 | 372.7 | 241 |
| 2020q2 | 385.7 | 253.7 |
| 2020q3 | 392.3 | 248.2 |
| 2020q4 | 389.5 | 248.1 |
| 2021q1 | 394.1 | 248.5 |
| 2021q2 | 394.9 | 247.5 |
| 2021q3 | 393.9 | 247.4 |
| 2021q4 | 395 | 246 |
| 2022q1 | 390.9 | 244.3 |
| 2022q2 | 388.3 | 241.9 |
| 2022q3 | 387.3 | 241.6 |
| 2022q4 | 389.8 | 242.5 |
| 2023q1 | 390.7 | 243.5 |
| 2023q2 | 391.7 | 245 |
| 2023q3 | 396.2 | 245.8 |
| 2023q4 | 397.9 | 247.1 |
| 2024q1 | 399.4 | 247.3 |
| 2024q2 | 401 | 248.2 |
| 2024q3 | 402.9 | 250.4 |
| 2024q4 | 404.3 | 251.2 |
Notes: Data are for compensation (wages and benefits) 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 less depreciation per hour worked.
Source: EPI 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.