According to the Labor Department, productivity rose at a slower rate in the fourth quarter. Productivity rose at 0.9%, while expenses per workers rose at 2.8%. Analysts say that the slow in productivity increases may cause companies to hire more workers, even as their profit margins decrease slightly. A private report predicts that employment will rise by a greater than expected number for February. The Labor Department will release its report on Friday.
See "Productivity in U.S. Cools as Labor Costs Jump", Bloomberg News, March 6, 2012