Unit Labor Costs Jumped 4.4% in Q4
Wage growth is outpacing productivity and the revised BLS data shows the margin squeeze is worse than first thought.
Series
One Number
Single figures from the labor data, taken apart.
62 pieces
4 in 5 Organizations Can't Find Workers With the Right Skills
The skills gap isn't a pipeline problem. It's a speed problem, and your internal talent strategy is falling further behind every quarter.
One in Five U.S. Workers Logs 16+ Unpaid Hours Weekly
High engagement and high turnover intent are living in the same employee. Unpaid hours explain why.
The Job-Switching Pay Premium Just Hit a Record Low
Changing employers used to guarantee a raise. In 2026, it barely does. The lever workers relied on for three years is nearly gone.
91% of Employers Believe Workers Feel Fairly Rewarded
There's a 26-point gap between what managers believe about recognition and what employees actually experience. AI is making it wider.
Employee Engagement Has Lost 8 Million Workers Since 2020
U.S. engagement has been flat for two years, but the five-year slide tells a different story. And it's not coming from where most organizations are looking.
Productivity Grew 2.2% in 2025
The economy got more efficient last year. The gains didn't distribute evenly, and manufacturing is running in the opposite direction entirely.
Americans Spend 35 Minutes a Day Socializing
Down from 43 minutes a decade ago, and your workforce brought that deficit to work with them.
2025 Job Growth Was 181,000, Not 584,000
The labor market was 403,000 jobs weaker in 2025 than what was reported.
Producer Prices Rose 0.5% in January, Led By Services
Goods prices are falling. Services prices just posted their biggest monthly jump since July 2025. For managers in labor-intensive industries, the inflation story isn't over.
Benefits Now Cost Employers $13.58 Per Hour
For every dollar an employer spends on a private-sector worker, 30 cents never appears in a paycheck. That gap is growing.
Union Workers Earn 20% More
Private-sector unionization is at historic lows. The wage premium it commands is not.