Canadian businesses produced less in the quarter that ended June 30 but were as efficient as recent quarters, according to Statistics Canada.
The total number of hours that Canadian workers toiled fell in tandem with Canada's GDP drop: approximately 4.9% in 2009's second quarter, compared with a year ago.
Some good news for business owners was that labour cost growth is slowing.
Canada's statistics gathering body revealed that unit labour costs increased 0.3% in 2009's second quarter. That's a deceleration from increases of 0.8% in 2009's first quarter and 1.7% in 2008's final quarter.
Canada's stable productivity, however, paled in comparison with its neighbour to the south.
American businesses cumulatively increased productivity 1.6% in 2009's second quarter it's largest gain in six years.
Canadian and American productivity essentially followed the same pattern during the previous three quarters.
U.S. business owners are also profiting by enjoying labour costs that dropped 1.5% in 2009's second quarter. That's the largest drop in nine years.