Cable TV and travel services lead gains, while warehousing and delivery face steep declines, raising concerns about labor efficiency in key industries.
Labor productivity in U.S. service-providing industries showed stark contrasts from 2019 to 2024, with cable and subscription programming soaring at 8.8% annual growth and travel services at 7.5%, according to a July 25, 2025, report.
Yet, warehousing and storage plummeted by 7.4% annually, and couriers and messengers fell 5.8%, signaling inefficiencies in logistics amid rising e-commerce demands.
From 1987 to 2024, 26 of 31 industries saw long-term gains, with a median growth of 1.7% per year. Wireless telecommunications led at 10.8%, while couriers lagged with a 2.6% annual decline.
These trends, mirroring 2007-2019 patterns where 23 industries grew, highlight resilience in tech-driven sectors but expose vulnerabilities in logistics.
Economists warn that persistent declines could inflate costs and disrupt supply chains, impacting consumers and businesses nationwide.
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