Accelerating Productivity Growth in the United States
A research series from the Aspen Institute.
Productivity – the measure of how much US workers produce per hour of work – is central to sustainable economic growth and to boosting American’s living standards. Yet, over the past two decades, the US has experienced a marked slowdown in productivity growth compared to earlier decades. Importantly, this aggregate trend of sluggish productivity growth obscures a widening divide: the US is becoming more productive in consumer-facing, software technology sectors, while growth has been flat or negative in key sectors, including Construction, Transportation, Energy, and Manufacturing.
This research series explores these trends in more depth, exploring drivers of the productivity decline and evidence-based paths to get these sectors back on track.
Unlocking Productivity in The Essential Economy
While productivity is rising in America’s white-collar and digital sectors, it is declining in the Essential Economy—key industries like agriculture, construction, energy, and transportation that underpin the whole economy. This decline hampers economic growth and wage gains. To reverse this trend, the Report calls for greater investment in innovation, workforce development, and regulatory reform to boost productivity and ensure a stronger, more prosperous future for everyone.
Introduction to Accelerating Productivity Growth
What is needed to get productivity back on track? In this report, we suggest three areas policymakers should focus on to accelerate productivity growth.
America’s Missing Productivity Strategy
An R&D Approach to Workforce Development
This paper proposes an alternative model for public investment in workforce development: treating human capital like research and development (R&D).
Innovation Policy as a Strategy for US Competitiveness
New innovations drive increases in productivity, economic output, and standards of living. This piece first lays out how the US innovation process operates today and then proposes four broad strategies to improve America’s innovation ecosystem.
Bolstering Capacity to Build Infrastructure
Building new energy and transportation infrastructure is key to economic growth and global competitiveness, yet domestic capacity is at historic lows. How can the US improve its productivity in these critical sectors?
Labor Productivity in Construction
Productivity in the construction sector is at a lower level today than it was over half a century ago. This paper lays out the factors driving the current path of labor productivity in the construction sector and examine strategies to raise productivity.
Ideas. Leadership. Action. Delivered to You.
The Aspen Institute shares regular updates about our work. You’ll receive the latest information on upcoming events and popular material from our staff — including publications, blog posts, podcasts, and videos.