Figure C

Cumulative percent change in total economy productivity and wage growth, 1979–2013

Year 0–90th percentile 90–95th percentile Productivity
1979 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
1980 -2.2% -1.3% -0.8%
1981 -2.6% -1.1% 1.4%
1982 -3.9% -0.9% -0.1%
1983 -3.7% 0.7% 2.9%
1984 -1.8% 2.5% 5.6%
1985 -1.0% 4.0% 7.3%
1986 1.1% 6.4% 9.5%
1987 2.1% 7.4% 10.1%
1988 2.2% 8.2% 11.4%
1989 1.8% 8.1% 12.3%
1990 1.1% 7.1% 13.9%
1991 0.0% 6.9% 14.8%
1992 1.5% 9.0% 18.9%
1993 0.9% 9.2% 19.3%
1994 2.0% 11.2% 20.5%
1995 2.8% 12.2% 20.5%
1996 4.1% 13.6% 23.4%
1997 7.0% 16.9% 25.2%
1998 11.0% 21.3% 27.7%
1999 13.2% 25.0% 30.7%
2000 15.3% 26.8% 33.8%
2001 15.7% 29.0% 35.9%
2002 15.6% 29.0% 39.7%
2003 15.7% 30.3% 44.2%
2004 15.6% 30.8% 48.1%
2005 15.0% 30.8% 50.7%
2006 15.7% 32.5% 51.6%
2007 16.7% 34.1% 52.7%
2008 16.0% 34.2% 53.0%
2009 16.0% 35.4% 56.1%
2010 15.2% 35.7% 60.7%
2011 14.6% 36.3% 60.9%
2012 14.7% 36.3% 61.9%
2013 15.2% 37.2% 63.5%
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Note: Productivity represents net productivity for the total economy. "Net productivity" is the growth of output of goods and services less depreciation per hour worked. Wage data are calculated from real average annual wages.

Source: Economic Policy Institute analysis of unpublished Total Economy Productivity data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Labor Productivity and Costs program, Kopczuk, Saez, and Song (2010, Table A3), and Social Security Administration wage statistics.

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