IN THE WORKPLACE, LESS IS MORE:

U.S. Worker Productivity Jumps, Costs in Record Drop (Shobhana Chandra, 11/05/09, Bloomberg)

The productivity of U.S. workers surged in the third quarter at the fastest pace in six years as companies squeezed more from remaining staff to boost profits.

The measure of employee output per hour jumped at a 9.5 percent annual rate, topping the highest estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. Labor costs fell at a 5.2 percent rate, capping the biggest 12-month drop since records began in 1948.

Seasonal hiring should restore some inefficiency.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 5, 2009 3:59 PM