Their chart shows we are far below any sort of pre-pandemic baseline.
Their chart shows we are far below any sort of pre-pandemic baseline.
So that graph does not say we've dropped below pre-pandemic levels.... according to this report (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/prod2.nr0.htm): "Output and hours worked in the nonfarm business sector are now 3.1 percent and 1.5 percent above their fourth-quarter 2019 levels, respectively."
The chart is showing "annual percentage change in labor output", not "gross productivity" which I think supports the OPs point.
If it went up 10% in 2020, and 6.3% in 2021 (or whatever the graph is showing), just because there is a -7.4% drop in 2022 doesn't mean its "far below any pre-pandemic baseline".
In fact it's probably ABOVE pre-pandemic levels, even with the drop. I can't be certain from graph.