US Worker Productivity Surges in 3rd QuarterFastest Gain in 2 Years

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