Wisconsin · Economy & Workforce

Labor Productivity in Wisconsin

Real economic output per hour worked, measuring how efficiently the workforce produces goods and services. Values show output relative to the 2017 level (100 = same as 2017).

115.0% in 2025

#23 of 50 · Middle tier (higher is better)

Wisconsin is better than the 50-state median (114.2%). That's a gap of 0.8%.

View interactive chart & trend → See full 50-state ranking →

2007 – 2025 · Wisconsin only · interactive chart with US median overlay →

About labor productivity

What this measures: Real economic output per hour worked, indexed to the 2017 level (100 = same as 2017).

Why it matters: Productivity growth is the underlying driver of long-run wage growth and a state's ability to fund services without raising taxes.

Watch out: Productivity is not the same as worker pay. Most US states have seen productivity outrun wages since the 1980s.

Recent trend

YearWisconsinUS median
2016101.7%99.2%
2017100.0%100.0%
2018103.1%101.3%
2019106.1%102.6%
2020109.7%107.1%
2021108.1%108.3%
2022109.0%107.9%
2023110.8%109.5%
2024113.3%112.5%
2025115.0%114.2%

Wisconsin vs. neighboring states

Same metric (labor productivity), latest year with full state coverage. Click any name for that state's full report.

StateLabor ProductivityNational rank
Minnesota 119.0% #13 of 50
Iowa 114.4% #25 of 50
Illinois 112.8% #30 of 50
Michigan 113.2% #29 of 50

How Wisconsin compares (2025)

Top 5 best

#1Washington134.8%
#2New Mexico132.7%
#3California125.9%
#4Maine125.7%
#5Colorado125.5%

Bottom 5

#46Alaska105.7%
#47South Dakota105.1%
#48Pennsylvania105.0%
#49Oklahoma104.9%
#50Wyoming101.9%

Source and methodology

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics · Direction: higher is better · Unit: % of 2017 level

Download raw CSV (all 50 states, all years)

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