Annual working hours vs. productivity in United States
United States: Annual working hours vs. productivity was 1,789 hours per worker in 2023. ▼ Falling
Annual working hours vs. productivity in United States, 1950–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hours per worker.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual working hours vs. productivity in United States is 1,789 hours per worker, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual working hours vs. productivity in United States peaked at 2,064 hours per worker in 1951 and was at its lowest, 1,765 hours per worker, in 2009.
That places United States 86th out of 129 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,024 hours per worker | 1,961 hours per worker | 2,064 hours per worker | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,975 hours per worker | 1,954 hours per worker | 2,001 hours per worker | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,880 hours per worker | 1,847 hours per worker | 1,931 hours per worker | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,832 hours per worker | 1,810 hours per worker | 1,852 hours per worker | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,853 hours per worker | 1,816 hours per worker | 1,886 hours per worker | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,833 hours per worker | 1,765 hours per worker | 1,888 hours per worker | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,794 hours per worker | 1,773 hours per worker | 1,809 hours per worker | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,786 hours per worker | 1,778 hours per worker | 1,790 hours per worker | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More economy & growth data for United States
- Manufacturing, value added 2.50 trillion current LCU (2021)
- Manufacturing, value added 10.5% (2021)
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 67.9% (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 23.89 trillion current US$ (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 23.89 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 18.68 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure 3.0% (2024)
- Gross national expenditure 23.80 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Gross national expenditure 30.20 trillion current LCU (2024)
- Gross national expenditure 30.20 trillion current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual working hours vs. productivity in United States?
- Annual working hours vs. productivity in United States was 1,789 hours per worker in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual working hours vs. productivity recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2,064 hours per worker in 1951.
- What is the lowest annual working hours vs. productivity recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,765 hours per worker in 2009.
- How does United States rank for annual working hours vs. productivity?
- United States ranks 86th out of 129 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual working hours vs. productivity rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual working hours vs. productivity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This is the average sum of hours worked by employees and self-employed people during each year in a country.