Labour productivity up in all provinces and Nunavut in 2010: StatsCan

Labour productivity in the business sector increased in every province and in Nunavut in 2010.

Statistics Canada reports that after declining more than four percent in 2009, the real gross domestic product of Canadian businesses and hours worked both rebounded in 2010.

The agency reports that, at 3.7 percent, GDP grew almost twice as fast as hours worked (1.9).

Real GDP of goods-producing businesses (up 5.4 percent) increased faster than the real GDP of services-producing businesses (2.4) last year.

Most of the growth came as a result of increased activity in manufacturing, construction, as well as in mining and oil-and-gas extraction.

Hours worked in businesses rose in every province and territory except New Brunswick (down 1.2 percent).

Every province but Quebec and Manitoba posted a higher rate of productivity growth in 2010 than in 2009. Nationally, business productivity rose 1.9 percent in 2010 after declining 0.3 percent in 2009.

New Brunswick (up 4.1 percent) posted the largest increase in business productivity among the provinces. Manufacturing, forestry, wholesale and retail trade were the main contributors.