Figure A

Using publicly available pay and productivity data obscures rising inequality: Nonfarm business productivity and hourly compensation, 1948–2019

 

Year Average hourly compensation, NFB (index) NFB productivity
1948 49.72 46.45
1949 51.69 47.94
1950 54.13 51.11
1951 54.53 52.45
1952 56.25 53.44
1953 58.95 54.75
1954 60.62 55.83
1955 62.98 58.21
1956 65.85 57.88
1957 67.40 59.37
1958 68.20 60.74
1959 70.17 62.88
1960 72.13 63.63
1961 73.73 65.71
1962 75.79 68.70
1963 77.41 71.04
1964 78.73 73.05
1965 80.08 75.38
1966 82.35 78.10
1967 84.79 79.58
1968 87.46 82.37
1969 88.63 82.53
1970 89.56 83.75
1971 91.18 87.04
1972 94.03 90.07
1973 95.25 92.84
1974 93.95 91.32
1975 95.11 93.83
1976 96.89 97.11
1977 98.45 98.78
1978 99.90 100.14
1979 100.00 100.00
1980 99.70 99.98
1981 99.77 101.46
1982 101.01 100.68
1983 101.23 104.76
1984 101.30 107.11
1985 102.76 108.99
1986 106.75 112.25
1987 107.22 112.89
1988 108.75 114.74
1989 107.28 115.79
1990 108.36 117.77
1991 109.58 119.70
1992 113.51 125.07
1993 112.12 125.21
1994 110.89 126.09
1995 110.98 127.47
1996 111.81 130.16
1997 113.70 132.68
1998 118.68 136.76
1999 121.65 141.97
2000 125.91 146.70
2001 127.81 150.70
2002 128.70 157.23
2003 130.51 163.21
2004 132.89 167.91
2005 133.26 171.59
2006 134.05 173.44
2007 135.99 176.48
2008 134.76 178.51
2009 136.43 184.82
2010 136.75 191.12
2011 135.53 191.12
2012 136.24 192.74
2013 135.94 193.71
2014 137.47 195.36
2015 141.53 198.41
2016 141.24 199.15
2017 143.14 201.58
2018 144.41 204.50
2019 147.04 208.09
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Note: Both lines are indices set to 100 in 1979.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics nonfarm business sector productivity and costs data.

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