When productivity per worker increases due to technological advancements, the _______ rises, leading to a higher demand for workers in a perfectly competitive labor market.

When productivity per worker increases because of new technology, it means that each worker can produce more goods or services in the same amount of time. This rise in productivity makes businesses more efficient and often leads to higher profits. As a result, companies may need to hire more workers to keep up with the increased production and meet consumer demand. For example, if a factory uses advanced machines that allow workers to produce twice as many toys in a day, the factory may decide to hire additional workers to make even more toys and sell them. Therefore, in a perfectly competitive labor market, the demand for workers increases as businesses seek to maximize their output and profits.