The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported on productivity and costs for selected service-providing and mining industries in 2005. Labor productivity, defined as output per hour, rose in approximately two-thirds of the 42 industries studied, about the same as in 2004. Unit labor costs declined in 17 out of 42
industries. Over the long term period of 1987 to 2005, labor productivity increased in more industries than in 2005, and unit labor costs declined in fewer.