Average Weekly Hours of Production
Returns the average weekly hours worked by production and nonsupervisory workers in the private sector. This is a key economic indicator tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Understanding the Metric
This measures:
- Hours worked (not earnings)
- Production and nonsupervisory employees only
- Private sector workers
- Weekly average
It's a leading economic indicator:
- Rising hours often precedes hiring (businesses extend hours before adding staff)
- Falling hours often precedes layoffs (businesses cut hours before laying off)
Data Source
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Current Employment Statistics (CES)
Historical Context
| Period | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Expansion | 34-35 hours |
| Recession | 33-34 hours |
| Recovery | Rising toward 34+ |
Syntax
=HoursOfProduction()Returns
Average weekly hours of production workers
Examples
=IF(HoursOfProduction()<33.5,"Warning","OK")When to Use
- Monitoring labor market health
- Economic cycle analysis
- Forecasting hiring/layoffs
- Industrial production trends
- Leading indicator tracking
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need hourly wage data | HourlyEarnings() |
| Need employment count | Employment functions |
| Need unemployment rate | Unemployment functions |
| Need specific industry data | Industry-specific functions |
Common Issues & FAQ
Why is this a leading indicator?
Businesses typically adjust hours before adjusting headcount. Rising hours signal potential hiring; falling hours signal potential layoffs.
What's a concerning level?
Sustained readings below 33.5 hours often indicate economic weakness. The metric dropped to ~33.1 hours during the 2008-2009 recession.
How often is this data updated?
The BLS releases this monthly as part of the Employment Situation report, typically on the first Friday of each month.
Related Formulas
More MarketXLS Economic Data formulas you can use in the same worksheet:
- Average Weeks Unemployed
- Bank Reserves
- Building Permits
- Canada - U.S. Foreign Exchange Rate
- Capacity Utilisation - percent
- CBOE Volatility Index
- Chain Price Index
- Chain Price Index - excluding food & energy
See HoursOfProduction used in a complete workbook: Jobs Report Tracker Excel: Live Labor Market Dashboard for May 2026 NFP
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