In the fourth quarter of 2002, productivity dipped 0.2 percent in the nonfarm
business sector as output grew 0.8 percent but hours at work increased more, 1.0 percent, according to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. For a Limited Time receive a
FREE Compensation Market Analysis Report! Find out how much you should be paying to attract and retain the best applicants and employees, with
customized information for your industry, location, and job.
Get Your Report Now!On an annual average basis, productivity rose 4.7 percent in 2002.
Hourly compensation in the nonfarm business sector rose 4.6 percent in the
fourth quarter of 2002, down somewhat from the 5.4-percent rise of the third
quarter. When the changes in consumer prices were taken into account, real hourly
compensation increased 2.2 percent during the fourth quarter of 2002 and 3.4
percent one quarter earlier.
Unit labor costs rose 4.8 percent in the fourth quarter, after falling 0.1
percent in the third quarter of 2002.
Analysts tell USA Today that they are disappointed in the productivity numbers
and some say they have concerns about the rise in unit labor costs.
"Firms are having difficulties controlling nonwage labor costs (in particular,
health insurance costs)," says Jade Zelnik of RBS Greenwich Capital.
Manufacturing productivity grew 0.7 percent (seasonally adjusted annual rate)
in the fourth quarter of 2002 as output fell 2.4 percent and hours fell further,
3.0 percent. This was the first drop in manufacturing output in a year. Hours
of all persons in manufacturing fell in each of the last 10 quarters and have
dropped in 16 quarters over the past five years. In the third quarter, total
manufacturing productivity increased 5.5 percent (as revised), reflecting a
3.0-percent rise in output and a 2.4-percent decrease in hours.