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September 04, 2015CANADA BUSINESS SECTOR LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY, 2ND QUARTER 2015 
Labour productivity of Canadian businesses declined by 0.6% in the second quarter of 2015, as the output decreased 0.3%, while the hours worked increased 0.3%. The output decline was mainly attributable to goods-producing businesses. The output in service-producing businesses advanced 0.8%, after no growth in the first quarter of 2015.
The overall productivity drop by 0.6% in the second quarter 2015 was mainly due to falling productivity in goods-producing businesses by 2.5%. Productivity was down in construction (-2.3%), mining and oil and gas extraction (-2.2%) and manufacturing (-1.4%).
Productivity in services-producing businesses was up 0.6% in the second quarter of 2015, due to productivity gains in every service industry sector except information and cultural industries (-1.0%), professional services (-0.9%) and administrative services (-0.5%).
Slower decline in hourly compensation (-0.2%) than in the labour productivity (-0.6%) lead to a 0.4% rise in unit labour costs in the second quarter of 2015.
Measured in US dollars, Canada's unit labour costs increased 1.4% in the second quarter of 2015, the first increase in three quarters (aided by appreciating currency after two quarters of depreciation). In Canadian dollar terms, unit labour costs were up 0.4% in the second quarter of 2015.
Note: Labour productivity, GDP and, unit labour costs cover the business sector only. Labour productivity is a measure of real GDP per hour worked. Unit labour cost is defined as the cost of workers' wages and benefits per unit of real GDP.
Statistics Canada Cat. No.13-010-X, CANSIM 383-0008, 383-0012