US Worker Productivity Surges in 3rd Quarter—Fastest Gain in 2 Years

‘The economy can grow without needing to produce as many jobs as in the past,’ says RSM economist Joseph Brusuelas.

An employee of Independent Can Company works on the manufacturing line in Belcamp, Md. Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. labor productivity posted its strongest gain in two years in the third quarter, driven in part by ongoing business investment, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released on Jan. 8.

During the July–September period, worker productivity surged by 4.9 percent, from an upwardly adjusted 4.1 percent increase in the second quarter, marking the strongest reading since the third quarter of 2023.