WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. workers increased their productivity from July through September at roughly the same modest pace as the previous three months. Steady gains in productivity could dissuade companies from ramping up hiring.

The Labor Department said Thursday that productivity increased at a 1.9 percent annual rate in the third quarter, about the same as the 1.8 percent rate in the previous quarter. The second quarter figure was lower than the 2.3 percent rate previously estimated.