Only four sub-sectors (not plumbing) supplied most of the growth since 2001.
Productivity is fundamental to economic growth. The U.S. economy has been able to produce more goods and services over time by making production and distribution more efficient, not simply by adding more labor time. Output per hour, the most commonly cited labor productivity statistic, cap-tures the combined effect of changes in technology, capital per worker, level of output, capacity utilization, managerial skill and many other factors.