In one experiment, it didn't seem to matter how good a given worker was at sewing pockets. A high level of skill didn't lessen the noise distraction, right? Exactly. And so this five % effect is about in line with the other means that we have of effectin the productivity of workers,. which suggests that it's an economically meaningful environmental input.
The pandemic provided city dwellers with a break from the din of the modern world. Now the noise is coming back. What does that mean for our productivity, health, and basic sanity?