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US labor productivity rises 3.6% in Q3, the strongest pace in a year

Output rose 3.7% while hours worked edged up 0.1%; the prior quarter was revised up to 2.1%.

By James Mitchell · Nov 9, 2026, 6:45 AM EST

Why it matters: Faster output per hour with falling unit labor costs can ease cost pressure on employers.

For information only, not investment advice.

A yellow forklift carries a shrink-wrapped pallet down a busy warehouse aisle lined with tall orange-and-blue racking, with workers and more forklifts behind.

Nonfarm business labor productivity rose 3.6% annualized in the third quarter, the strongest since Q3 2025 , BLS said, beating the 2.8% estimate.¹ Unit labor costs fell 0.7%.²

Sources

US Q3 Productivity Stronger than Anticipated, Trading Economics
U.S. Worker Productivity Rose at a 3.6% Annual Pace in Q3 as Labor Costs per Unit Eased, JBizNews
U.S. Productivity Rises 3.6% as Labor Costs Fall and Workers’ Share Hits Record Low, Quiver Quantitative

Tags: jobs · gdp

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