Given that the economic environment has been so dismal for so long, most employers are still reluctant to add new workers. Also, to the extent that employers have stockpiled labor ?EUR??,,????'??+ kept valued employees on the payroll even in the face of reduced demand ?EUR??,,????'??+ during the recession, they are able to increase output without increasing the number of workers or the hours worked.

The surge in productivity is a hopeful sign that often appears in the early stages of an economic recovery. However, until employers are sure that improvement in the business environment will be sustained, they will continue to rely on their stockpiled workers rather than hire new ones. – Courtesy National Association of Home Builders