Labour productivity has increased in the last year, but long-term growth remains subdued.
Statistics New Zealand figures issued on Friday show labour productivity grew 2% in the March 2008 year.
But there has been subdued growth in labour productivity between 2000 and 2008, averaging 1.3% annually.
The agency says is less than half the 2.6% growth recorded during the 1990s, and is attributed to labour inputs growing at record rates.