 InternationalLabour Office |
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 Bureau
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INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF
MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
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Summary
Table
A. Manufacturing productivity and labor costs in 12 countries or
areas
Percent change, 1995-96
The U.S. output measure
Productivity, output, and labor input
Hourly
compensation and unit labor costs
Unit labor costs
in U.S. dollars
Trade-weighted unit
labor costs
Table
B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and
related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-96, Average annual
rates of change /1
Table
1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
2. Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries,
1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
3. Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
4. Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
5. Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
6. Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
7. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis,
12 countries, 1950-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
8. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12
countries, 1950-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
9. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12
countries, 1950-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
10. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12
countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
11. Exchange rates, 12 countries, 1950-1996 (Value of foreign
currency relative to U.S. dollar), (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
12. Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national
currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
13. Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12
countries, 1950-1996 (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
14. Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis,
12 countries, 1950-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
15. Korea: Output and unit labor costs, all employees in
manufacturing, 1970-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
Table
16. Taiwan: Output and unit labor costs, all employees in
manufacturing, 1970-1996, (Indexes: 1992=100)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported on 1996 developments in manufacturing labor productivity (output per hour) and unit labor costs in the United States and other industrial economies. Manufacturing productivity in the United States increased 3.2 percent in 1996, the same rate as in 1995. Of eight foreign economies for which data are available, only Germany (former West Germany) and Japan had higher rates of productivity growth than the United States. The United Kingdom was the only economy in which productivity fell. (See table A and chart 1.) U.S. productivity growth in 1996 resulted from a combination of a 2.7 percent increase in output and a 0.5 percent decline in labor input, as measured by hours worked. In Germany, productivity increases were due to large drops in hours worked that more than offset declining output, while in Japan productivity growth was due solely to a rise in output. Unit labor costs - the cost of labor input required to produce one unit of output - fell 0.3 percent in the United States in 1996. Among the 11 foreign economies for which these data are available, only Japan and Taiwan had decreases in unit labor costs as measured in their national currencies. The largest increases occurred in Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. (Unit labor costs can be computed either as compensation in nominal terms divided by real output or, equivalently, as hourly compensation divided by output per hour.) An increase in productivity represents a decrease in the amount of labor input needed to produce a unit of output; thus, an increase in productivity can offset an increase in compensation per hour when calculating unit labor costs. The 3.2 percent increase in productivity in the United States more than offset an hourly compensation increase of 2.9 percent, leading to a slight decline of 0.3 percent in unit labor costs. Relative currency values play a role in international competitiveness. In order to make changes in unit labor costs more relevant for discussing competitiveness, foreign countries' costs can be converted to U.S. dollars, as in chart 2. Currency values relative to the U.S. dollar depreciated in most of the foreign economies in 1996, causing unit labor costs either to fall or to grow at a slower rate when measured on a U.S. dollar basis rather than on a national currency basis. The depreciation of the yen was primarily responsible for a 16 percent drop in unit labor costs in Japan, the largest drop of the economies studied. The two countries with substantially appreciating currencies, Italy and Sweden, were the only economies where U.S. dollar-based unit labor costs rose more than 10 percent. The 1996 measures of changes in manufacturing productivity, unit labor costs, and related variables are summarized in table A below. Output and unit labor cost measures are included for all 12 economies for which 1996 data are available. Comparable productivity figures for Korea and Taiwan are not available. Productivity data for Denmark are not shown because the Danish national statistical agency has not produced recent data on hours worked. (See technical notes.)
Table
A. Manufacturing productivity and labor costs in 12 countries or
areas
Percent change, 1995-96
Output Hourly Unit labor costs Country per Employ- Average compen- National U.S. Exchange or area hour Output Hours ment hours sation currency dollars rate (1) United States 3.2 2.7 - 0.5 - 0.5 0.0 2.9 - 0.3 - 0.3 --- Canada 1.1 1.3 .2 .9 - .7 4.4 3.2 3.9 .6 Japan 4.5 4.5 .0 - .8 .8 1.5 - 2.9 -16.1 -13.6 Korea (2) NA 7.4 NA NA NA NA 2.7 - 1.6 - 4.1 Taiwan (2) NA 5.3 NA NA NA NA - 3.5 - 6.9 - 3.5 Denmark (3) NA - .3 NA - 1.1 NA NA 2.6 - 1.0 - 3.5 France 2.1 .8 - 1.3 - 1.4 .1 2.2 .0 - 2.5 - 2.5 Germany (4) 4.1 - .5 - 4.4 - 3.0 - 1.5 5.0 .8 - 4.0 - 4.8 Italy 2.3 - .8 - 3.0 - .9 - 2.2 7.2 4.8 10.7 5.6 Norway .8 2.8 1.9 2.0 - .1 4.4 3.5 1.5 - 1.9 Sweden 2.3 2.2 - .1 .9 - 1.0 6.5 4.1 10.8 6.4 United Kingdom - .2 .5 .6 .3 .4 3.8 4.0 2.8 - 1.1 (1) Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. (2) Productivity not available because adequate labor input measures have not been developed. (3) Labor input data have not been produced for 1994-1996 by the Danish national statistical agency. (4) Data relate to the former West Germany. NA=Not Available.
Although the productivity measure relates output to the hours of persons employed in manufacturing, it does not measure the specific contributions of labor as a single factor of production. Rather, it reflects the joint effects of many influences, including new technology, capital investment, capacity utilization, energy use, and managerial skills, as well as the skills and efforts of the work force. Table B (pages 8-12) shows average annual percent changes for selected periods starting in 1979 for 14 economies - the 12 economies in table A plus Belgium and the Netherlands. Indexes of the measures for the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European countries are in tables 1-14; output and unit labor cost indexes for Korea and Taiwan are in tables 15 and 16.
The output measure for the United States in this release is the chain-weighted value-added index introduced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) in August 1996. This series is based on annually-changing price weights. The chain-weighted series replaced the fixed-weighted series as the manufacturing output measure published with the national accounts. For more information, see Robert E. Yuskavage, "Improved Estimates of Gross Product by Industry, 1959-94," Survey of Current Business, August 1996, pp. 133-155. The U.S. output series used in this news release for international comparisons differs from the output series used in last year's news release. In the July 17, 1996, release on international comparisons of manufacturing productivity and unit labor cost trends, the U.S. output measure was based on a fixed- price weight scheme in which the price weights were not changed over the entire 1977-95 period. The U.S. output series used for international comparisons also differs from the manufacturing series that BLS publishes in its news releases on quarterly measures of U.S. productivity and costs. While both series are based on annually-changing price weights, the quarterly U.S. manufacturing series is on a "sectoral" output basis rather than on a value added basis. Sectoral output is gross output less intra-sector transactions. (See William Gullickson, "Measurement of productivity growth in U.S. manufacturing," Monthly Labor Review, July 1995, pp. 13-28.)
Manufacturing productivity (output per hour) increased 3.2 percent in the United States in 1996. The combination of an output increase of 2.7 percent and a slight decrease in labor hours produced the same rate of productivity growth as in 1995. In addition to the United States, only Germany and Japan had productivity growth rates greater than 2-1/2 percent in 1996. Only Germany had a higher rate of productivity growth in 1996 than in 1995. Growth in output in the United States in 1996 was 2.7 percent, down from a 3.5-percent increase in 1995. Manufacturing output either declined or grew at a slower rate in 1996 than in 1995 in all countries. Korea and Taiwan had the largest increases in output. Labor input (as measured by total hours worked) declined or was essentially unchanged in 1996 in all but two of the economies for which data are available. The United States, with a decrease in hours worked of 0.5 percent, was among five countries with declining labor input. Germany (down 4.4 percent) and Italy (down 3.0 percent) had the largest declines in hours worked.
Hourly compensation costs in manufacturing - which include wages and salaries, supplements, and employer payments for social security and other employer-financed benefit plans - rose 2.9 percent in the United States in 1996. Only France and Japan had smaller increases than did the United States. Increases in the remaining countries ranged from about 4 to 7 percent. With productivity growth slightly outpacing the increase in hourly compensation costs, U.S. unit labor costs edged down in 1996. The decline offset the slight increase that occurred in 1995, leaving U.S. unit labor costs about at their 1994 level. Japan and Taiwan were the only foreign economies to have decreases in unit labor costs in 1996. Unit labor costs were unchanged in France, but increased in Korea and the remaining European countries at rates ranging to nearly 5 percent.
The currencies of all but three of the foreign economies studied depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar in 1996. Most of these declines were in the range of 1 to 5 percent, but the Japanese yen dropped 13-1/2 percent. Currencies in Canada, Italy, and Sweden appreciated relative to the U.S. dollar. Changes in currency values relative to the U.S. dollar can have an important effect on changes in competitiveness as measured by U.S. dollar-based unit labor costs. In 1996, the countries with the largest increases in unit labor costs measured on a national currency basis, Italy and Sweden, also had the largest increases in relative currency values. Thus, when measured on a U.S. dollar basis, these countries had unit labor costs increases of nearly 11 percent, far exceeding those of their competitors. In contrast, Japan had one of the largest declines in national currency-based unit labor costs and also the largest decline in currency value relative to the dollar. Consequently, Japanese unit labor costs measured in U.S. dollars plunged 16 percent.
Because the economies covered by the BLS comparative data differ greatly in their relative importance to U.S. trade in manufactured goods, BLS constructs indexes of U.S. unit labor cost trends relative to a trade-weighted average of unit labor cost trends in the other economies. (See chart 3.) The construction of the indexes shown in chart 3 is a three-step process. First, the indexes of unit labor costs for all economies are rebased to a common year (in this case 1979=100). Second, for each year, a "competitors" index is calculated as the weighted geometric mean of the indexes for all competitor economies. Finally, the U.S. index number for each year is divided by the competitors index number (and multiplied by 100) to obtain a relative ratio of the United States to the competitors. This process is used to calculate the relative trade-weighted unit labor cost indexes on both a national currency and a U.S. dollar basis. U.S. relative unit labor costs on a national currency basis fell at a rate of slightly more than 1 percent per year between 1979 and 1990 before leveling off between 1990 and 1996. Unit labor costs relative to Canada and Europe declined at a faster rate through 1990, but were partially offset by rising unit labor costs relative to Japan. Since 1990, unit labor costs relative to Canada and Japan increased slowly, but these increases were negated by declining unit labor costs relative to Europe. The movement of U.S. relative unit labor costs measured in U.S. dollars can be divided into three distinct periods between 1979 and 1996. During the first period, between 1979 and 1985, the U.S. dollar appreciated 35 percent on a trade-weighted basis. Thus, despite generally declining relative unit labor costs during that period on a national currency basis (the dashed line), relative unit labor costs on a U.S. dollar basis (the solid line) were up 25 percent, attributable entirely to appreciation of the dollar. Between 1985 and 1988, the value of the U.S. dollar plummeted 32 percent from its peak 1985 value. The falling value of the dollar was the main reason that U.S. relative unit labor costs on a dollar basis dropped 36 percent over the three- year span. Compared to their 1979 levels, relative unit labor costs had fallen 20 percent by 1988. Since 1988, changes in relative currency values and, consequently, U.S. relative unit labor costs on a U.S. dollar basis have moderated. The dollar depreciated less than 3 percent between 1988 and 1996, while relative unit labor costs, which rose slightly on a national currency basis, fell less than 1 percent on a U.S. dollar basis. Because 1996 data are not available for Belgium and the Netherlands, they have been excluded from this analysis; however, these two countries account for only about 4 percent of the total trade in manufactured goods between the 13 foreign economies and the United States. The trade weights used in chart 3 are discussed in the section "Trade-Weighted Measures" in the technical notes on pages 13-15. TECHNICAL NOTES ARE PRESENTED ON PAGES 13-15.
Country 1979-96 1979-85 1985-90 1990-96 1993 1994 1995 1996
or area
Output per hour
United States 2.7 3.3 2.2 2.4 1.6 4.2 3.2 3.2
Canada 1.7 2.4 .4 2.1 1.7 4.4 1.2 1.1
Japan 3.6 3.5 4.3 3.0 .5 1.3 7.3 4.5
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA 6.1 2.3 NA 4.1 5.7 - .6 NA
Denmark NA 2.1 .1 NA 6.8 NA NA NA
France 3.1 3.0 3.4 2.8 1.8 8.5 3.7 2.1
Germany /2 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.6 .4 7.5 2.9 4.1
Italy 3.7 4.9 2.6 3.4 4.5 2.8 3.1 2.3
Netherlands NA 4.4 1.9 NA 2.1 9.8 3.4 NA
Norway 1.7 2.4 1.4 1.1 .6 .8 1.1 .8
Sweden 3.2 3.0 1.8 4.7 6.7 8.8 5.1 2.3
United Kingdom 4.0 4.4 4.6 3.0 5.6 2.9 - .9 - .2
Output
United States 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 3.0 6.6 3.5 2.7
Canada 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.8 4.8 7.6 3.8 1.3
Japan 3.6 4.7 4.8 1.4 -4.0 - .7 5.4 4.5
Korea 9.8 8.8 13.2 8.0 5.0 10.4 10.8 7.4
Taiwan 6.6 8.1 7.0 4.9 2.5 5.7 6.0 5.3
Belgium NA 2.6 2.6 NA -3.1 4.5 3.1 NA
Denmark 1.2 2.9 - .5 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.8 - .3
France .8 - .4 2.6 .4 -3.8 5.3 4.0 .8
Germany /2 .4 .2 2.3 -1.1 -8.5 1.8 .3 - .5
Italy 2.1 1.7 4.0 1.0 -3.4 5.4 5.7 - .8
Netherlands NA 1.8 3.1 NA -1.7 5.1 2.3 NA
Norway .4 .6 -1.6 2.0 2.7 3.9 3.0 2.8
Sweden 2.1 2.2 1.2 2.7 1.3 14.1 9.8 2.2
United Kingdom .7 -1.2 3.4 .3 1.4 4.2 2.2 .5
Total hours
United States -0.5 -1.2 0.0 -0.2 1.4 2.4 0.3 -0.5
Canada - .1 - .9 1.1 - .3 3.0 3.1 2.6 .2
Japan .0 1.1 .5 -1.5 -4.4 -2.0 -1.8 .0
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA -3.3 .2 NA -6.8 -1.1 3.7 NA
Denmark NA .8 - .6 NA -5.3 NA NA NA
France -2.2 -3.3 - .8 -2.3 -5.5 -2.9 .3 -1.3
Germany /2 -1.9 -1.8 .2 -3.6 -8.9 -5.3 -2.6 -4.4
Italy -1.5 -3.1 1.3 -2.3 -7.6 2.6 2.6 -3.0
Netherlands NA -2.5 1.2 NA -3.7 -4.2 -1.0 NA
Norway -1.2 -1.8 -2.9 .9 2.1 3.1 1.9 1.9
Sweden -1.1 - .8 - .5 -1.9 -5.1 4.9 4.5 - .1
United Kingdom -3.1 -5.3 -1.2 -2.6 -4.0 1.2 3.2 .6
Employment
United States -0.7 -1.4 -0.1 -0.6 0.1 1.3 1.1 -0.5
Canada - .2 - .8 1.1 - .7 1.4 2.1 2.2 .9
Japan .5 1.2 .8 - .5 -2.1 -2.0 -2.5 - .8
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA -2.7 - .4 NA -5.4 -3.7 4.8 NA
Denmark .0 1.0 - .1 -1.0 -4.6 .6 3.2 -1.1
France -1.9 -2.3 - .9 -2.3 -4.7 -2.8 - .1 -1.4
Germany /2 -1.0 -1.1 1.1 -2.8 -6.0 -5.1 -2.3 -3.0
Italy -1.8 -2.9 .3 -2.3 -5.7 - .2 - .5 - .9
Netherlands NA -2.3 1.4 NA -3.7 -4.2 -1.3 NA
Norway -1.2 -1.8 -2.7 .7 1.8 2.8 2.8 2.0
Sweden -1.7 -1.2 - .8 -2.9 -7.4 1.8 3.5 .9
United Kingdom -3.0 -4.9 -1.2 -2.5 -3.5 .6 2.4 .3
Average hours
United States 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.3 1.1 -0.8 0.0
Canada .2 - .1 .0 .5 1.6 1.0 .4 - .7
Japan - .5 .0 - .3 -1.0 -2.3 .1 .7 .8
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA - .6 .7 NA -1.5 2.7 -1.1 NA
Denmark NA - .3 - .5 NA - .8 NA NA NA
France - .3 -1.0 .1 .0 - .8 - .2 .4 .1
Germany /2 - .8 - .7 -1.0 - .8 -3.1 - .3 - .4 -1.5
Italy .3 - .1 1.0 .1 -2.0 2.8 3.1 -2.2
Netherlands NA - .3 - .2 NA .0 .0 .3 NA
Norway .0 .0 - .2 .2 .3 .2 - .9 - .1
Sweden .6 .4 .3 1.0 2.6 3.1 1.0 -1.0
United Kingdom - .2 - .5 .0 .0 - .5 .6 .8 .4
Hourly compensation /3: National currency basis
United States 4.9 7.1 3.9 3.5 2.4 2.7 3.5 2.9
Canada 5.3 8.7 4.1 2.9 .1 2.0 1.8 4.4
Japan 4.2 4.7 4.6 3.5 4.6 2.1 3.1 1.5
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA 7.8 3.9 NA 5.0 3.3 3.0 NA
Denmark NA 8.1 5.4 NA 2.4 NA NA NA
France 6.8 12.8 4.5 3.1 3.6 2.5 1.4 2.2
Germany /2 5.5 5.9 5.0 5.5 6.1 5.7 4.8 5.0
Italy 9.8 16.7 6.9 5.7 7.1 - .5 2.5 7.2
Netherlands NA 4.9 2.1 NA 3.8 3.2 2.7 NA
Norway 7.0 10.0 7.8 3.6 1.5 2.9 4.6 4.4
Sweden 7.5 9.6 8.5 4.5 -2.0 3.1 6.2 6.5
United Kingdom 8.6 11.8 8.7 5.5 6.6 3.1 .8 3.8
Unit labor costs: National currency basis
United States 2.2 3.7 1.6 1.1 0.8 -1.4 0.3 -0.3
Canada 3.5 6.1 3.7 .8 -1.6 -2.3 .6 3.2
Japan .7 1.2 .3 .5 4.1 .8 -4.0 -2.9
Korea 5.3 9.2 6.0 .9 -1.8 - .7 - .6 2.7
Taiwan 3.8 7.3 3.5 .7 .9 1.1 .1 -3.5
Belgium NA 1.6 1.5 NA .9 -2.3 3.6 NA
Denmark 4.1 5.9 5.2 1.4 -4.1 2.1 4.4 2.6
France 3.6 9.5 1.0 .3 1.8 -5.5 -2.3 .0
Germany /2 3.1 3.8 2.7 2.8 5.6 -1.7 1.8 .8
Italy 5.9 11.2 4.2 2.2 2.5 -3.2 - .6 4.8
Netherlands NA .5 .2 NA 1.7 -6.0 - .7 NA
Norway 5.3 7.4 6.4 2.4 .9 2.1 3.5 3.5
Sweden 4.1 6.4 6.6 - .1 -8.2 -5.2 1.1 4.1
United Kingdom 4.5 7.1 3.9 2.4 1.0 .1 1.7 4.0
Unit labor costs: U.S. dollar basis
United States 2.2 3.7 1.6 1.1 0.8 -1.4 0.3 -0.3
Canada 2.6 3.4 7.1 -1.8 -7.9 -7.7 .2 3.9
Japan 4.9 - .3 10.8 5.4 18.8 9.5 4.4 -16.1
Korea 2.2 - .9 10.5 -1.3 -4.5 - .8 3.6 -1.6
Taiwan 5.5 5.5 12.0 .4 -3.9 .9 - .1 -6.9
Belgium NA -9.7 13.8 NA -6.2 1.1 17.5 NA
Denmark 3.5 -5.8 17.2 2.5 -10.8 4.2 18.5 -1.0
France 2.5 -3.3 11.7 1.3 -4.9 -3.5 8.7 -2.5
Germany /2 4.3 -4.1 15.8 4.0 - .3 .3 15.3 -4.0
Italy 2.1 -3.2 14.3 -2.0 -19.7 -5.5 -1.7 10.7
Netherlands NA -7.6 12.9 NA -3.8 -4.0 12.6 NA
Norway 3.8 -1.7 13.3 1.9 -11.7 2.7 15.2 1.5
Sweden 1.4 -5.2 14.8 -2.2 -31.4 -4.3 9.2 10.8
United Kingdom 2.6 -1.3 10.7 .2 -14.1 2.1 4.8 2.8
Exchange rates /4
United States 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Canada - .9 -2.5 3.2 -2.6 -6.3 -5.6 - .4 .6
Japan 4.2 -1.5 10.5 4.9 14.1 8.7 8.7 -13.6
Korea -2.9 -9.3 4.2 -2.1 -2.7 - .1 4.2 -4.1
Taiwan 1.6 -1.7 8.2 - .3 -4.8 - .2 - .1 -3.5
Belgium - .3 -11.1 12.2 1.3 -7.0 3.5 13.4 -4.8
Denmark - .6 -11.0 11.4 1.1 -6.9 2.0 13.5 -3.5
France -1.1 -11.7 10.5 1.0 -6.6 2.2 11.2 -2.5
Germany /2 1.2 -7.6 12.7 1.2 -5.6 2.0 13.2 -4.8
Italy -3.6 -12.9 9.8 -4.1 -21.7 -2.4 -1.1 5.6
Netherlands 1.0 -8.0 12.7 1.3 -5.4 2.2 13.4 -4.9
Norway -1.4 -8.4 6.6 - .5 -12.5 .6 11.4 -1.9
Sweden -2.6 -11.0 7.8 -2.1 -25.3 1.0 8.1 6.4
United Kingdom -1.8 -7.9 6.6 -2.2 -15.0 2.0 3.0 -1.1
1/ Rates of change based on the compound 3/ Adjusted to include employment taxes
rate method. that are not compensation to employees
but are labor costs to employers.
2/ Data relate to the former West Germany.
4/ Value of foreign currency relative to
NA = Not available. the U.S. dollar.
Table
1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 NA 27.9 NA NA 22.3 13.9 13.2 11.2 12.3 24.5 19.7 24.9 1955 NA 34.2 8.7 NA 24.3 17.6 19.7 15.6 15.4 28.5 21.6 26.9 1960 NA 40.5 14.0 17.8 29.5 23.0 29.2 19.6 19.6 36.7 27.6 30.5 1961 NA 42.7 15.8 18.1 31.2 24.5 30.6 21.2 20.6 38.0 29.0 30.5 1962 NA 45.7 16.6 19.0 32.8 26.1 32.7 23.4 21.2 38.0 31.3 31.2 1963 NA 47.4 18.0 19.7 33.9 27.5 34.1 24.1 22.0 40.0 33.1 32.9 1964 NA 49.6 20.4 21.0 36.6 29.7 37.0 24.3 23.9 42.2 36.0 35.0 1965 NA 52.0 21.2 22.1 38.4 31.8 39.3 27.1 25.4 44.7 38.7 36.1 1966 NA 53.1 23.3 23.6 40.4 34.4 40.9 29.4 27.0 46.6 40.3 37.3 1967 NA 54.2 26.3 24.9 43.3 36.5 43.4 30.9 29.0 48.3 43.7 39.0 1968 NA 58.1 29.5 27.1 47.3 40.3 47.0 33.3 32.4 51.3 47.8 41.8 1969 NA 61.2 33.8 29.6 49.2 42.9 50.4 34.5 35.4 56.1 51.5 42.8 1970 NA 60.4 38.0 32.7 52.1 45.5 52.1 36.8 38.6 57.8 52.8 43.7 1971 NA 64.7 40.2 34.6 55.6 48.2 54.1 37.4 41.0 60.1 55.1 45.8 1972 NA 67.8 44.1 38.6 60.1 50.4 57.4 40.5 44.2 63.6 57.9 48.4 1973 NA 72.2 48.1 42.6 66.1 53.9 61.1 43.9 48.9 67.6 62.1 51.9 1974 NA 73.3 49.3 45.0 68.3 55.1 63.3 46.7 52.5 70.6 64.8 52.8 1975 NA 70.8 50.7 46.8 75.2 57.0 65.9 45.2 51.7 69.7 65.8 51.6 1976 NA 75.8 53.8 51.5 77.9 60.5 70.7 51.4 57.2 71.9 66.8 53.9 1977 70.5 79.9 55.9 54.1 79.4 64.1 72.9 52.4 61.9 71.5 65.8 54.4 1978 71.1 80.8 58.1 57.4 80.6 67.0 75.4 55.8 66.1 72.8 67.6 55.1 1979 72.1 81.6 62.9 60.5 84.6 70.1 78.7 61.2 69.3 78.1 72.9 55.5 1980 71.9 78.5 63.9 64.5 89.2 70.5 77.3 64.0 70.0 76.7 74.0 54.9 1981 75.4 82.3 66.0 68.9 90.7 72.6 78.9 65.5 71.5 76.5 73.5 57.7 1982 77.7 78.6 68.7 72.9 91.0 77.7 78.5 66.6 72.8 79.7 76.7 60.9 1983 81.4 84.3 69.6 80.6 95.5 79.4 82.6 70.2 78.5 82.4 81.8 65.7 1984 84.6 91.4 71.9 84.6 95.0 80.7 85.5 77.1 86.3 87.4 85.6 69.2 1985 87.7 94.1 77.3 86.3 95.6 83.8 88.9 81.5 89.8 90.2 87.1 71.9 1986 88.2 92.6 76.9 87.6 90.0 85.2 89.5 82.6 91.2 89.0 88.5 74.7 1987 94.3 93.5 81.2 88.7 89.6 86.7 88.4 85.0 91.9 93.3 90.1 78.8 1988 97.8 93.9 84.8 91.7 92.9 92.7 91.6 86.6 93.9 92.1 90.8 83.1 1989 97.0 94.3 89.5 96.7 96.1 97.4 94.4 89.4 97.3 94.6 93.8 87.1 1990 97.7 95.8 95.4 96.9 96.0 99.1 99.0 92.8 98.6 96.6 95.0 90.1 1991 98.2 96.3 99.4 99.1 97.9 98.7 102.0 95.3 99.6 97.5 95.0 94.4 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 101.6 101.7 100.5 104.1 106.8 101.8 100.4 104.5 102.1 100.6 106.7 105.6 1994 105.8 106.2 101.8 110.0 NA 110.4 108.0 107.4 112.1 101.4 116.1 108.7 1995 109.2 107.5 109.2 109.3 NA 114.5 111.1 110.7 115.9 102.5 122.0 107.7 1996 112.7 108.6 114.1 NA NA 117.0 115.7 113.3 NA 103.3 124.8 107.5 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Table
2. Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries,
1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 NA 30.1 NA NA 31.4 17.0 19.2 12.3 16.0 32.0 25.6 29.3 1955 NA 35.7 10.4 NA 33.6 21.2 28.8 17.7 20.1 37.4 27.9 32.0 1960 NA 41.9 17.3 22.4 38.7 27.7 38.4 22.4 25.8 46.2 33.7 35.6 1961 NA 44.0 19.3 22.7 39.7 29.6 39.6 23.9 26.1 47.2 35.1 35.2 1962 NA 47.6 19.8 23.9 42.1 31.4 41.3 25.7 26.7 47.0 37.5 35.6 1963 NA 49.5 21.2 24.8 42.8 33.1 42.4 26.5 27.5 49.2 39.3 37.4 1964 NA 52.1 24.0 26.3 46.6 35.5 46.1 26.8 29.7 52.3 42.3 40.2 1965 NA 54.5 24.5 27.2 48.9 37.6 48.7 28.8 31.4 54.1 45.1 40.8 1966 NA 55.4 27.0 28.8 50.4 40.9 50.0 31.6 33.2 56.6 47.0 41.4 1967 NA 56.2 30.6 30.1 53.4 43.0 51.7 33.7 35.4 58.1 50.1 43.0 1968 NA 60.4 34.2 32.7 57.0 46.2 56.6 36.4 38.9 60.1 53.6 46.5 1969 NA 63.3 38.6 35.4 58.6 50.3 60.7 37.4 41.9 64.3 56.8 47.6 1970 NA 62.1 43.0 38.0 60.0 52.7 62.4 39.1 45.0 65.7 58.1 47.9 1971 NA 66.1 44.8 39.7 63.9 55.3 63.4 38.6 47.2 67.6 60.5 49.0 1972 NA 69.3 48.9 43.2 67.6 57.2 66.6 41.6 50.2 70.6 61.8 51.3 1973 NA 73.4 52.8 46.6 70.4 60.3 70.4 45.6 54.5 74.6 65.2 55.7 1974 NA 74.1 52.0 47.9 74.1 60.9 71.4 46.8 56.7 76.9 67.3 54.8 1975 NA 70.8 52.2 47.1 79.0 61.1 72.5 44.5 54.8 75.6 67.0 53.5 1976 NA 75.6 57.0 52.9 82.2 65.1 79.9 50.6 60.5 76.0 67.2 56.3 1977 69.2 80.0 59.4 55.2 83.1 68.3 81.1 51.4 65.2 74.4 65.6 57.2 1978 69.8 81.1 62.0 58.5 83.3 70.8 82.8 54.6 68.9 73.9 65.7 57.7 1979 70.3 81.2 67.5 61.7 87.4 73.9 86.0 59.4 71.4 78.0 69.8 57.9 1980 69.3 77.8 68.6 64.7 92.8 74.3 83.5 62.2 72.5 77.1 70.1 55.4 1981 72.7 80.7 70.3 67.5 93.1 75.5 84.1 63.7 74.5 76.9 70.1 57.4 1982 73.6 76.1 73.0 73.1 94.9 77.5 83.7 64.7 76.7 79.4 73.4 61.1 1983 79.1 82.7 74.0 78.7 100.9 79.0 87.9 68.2 82.8 82.5 79.2 66.1 1984 83.5 90.7 77.3 82.1 100.0 80.3 90.9 74.8 89.7 87.4 84.4 70.2 1985 86.6 93.3 82.8 85.0 97.3 82.9 93.1 78.4 91.0 89.8 85.2 72.9 1986 87.1 91.8 81.9 86.3 93.7 84.4 93.0 81.4 92.0 88.7 86.3 75.6 1987 93.5 93.4 86.7 88.1 91.1 86.5 91.3 85.3 92.2 90.7 88.9 80.3 1988 98.0 94.0 91.7 92.7 94.6 92.8 94.4 90.0 94.9 90.3 89.4 85.2 1989 97.2 93.8 95.6 97.2 96.7 97.3 96.2 92.8 97.8 93.3 92.1 89.1 1990 97.2 95.2 100.5 98.6 95.5 98.5 98.8 94.0 99.0 95.1 94.3 91.6 1991 97.0 95.2 102.5 99.1 97.6 98.3 101.0 95.4 99.8 96.4 94.3 94.3 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 102.9 103.3 98.1 102.5 106.0 100.9 97.3 102.5 102.1 100.9 109.5 105.1 1994 108.4 109.0 99.5 111.3 107.3 109.3 104.3 108.2 112.1 102.0 122.7 108.9 1995 110.9 110.6 107.5 109.4 106.8 113.9 107.0 115.0 116.2 102.1 130.3 108.7 1996 114.5 111.1 113.2 NA 107.8 116.4 109.8 115.0 NA 102.8 131.9 109.0 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Table
3. Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 NA 22.6 2.2 NA 26.3 19.2 14.5 9.4 16.8 38.2 31.2 50.3 1955 NA 29.3 4.9 NA 28.9 24.0 27.5 14.6 23.0 46.7 36.1 59.2 1960 NA 34.2 10.7 30.7 40.1 32.4 41.5 21.5 31.8 56.5 46.5 68.4 1961 NA 35.6 12.8 32.1 42.3 34.8 44.0 23.7 32.9 58.8 49.6 68.5 1962 NA 39.7 13.9 34.6 45.9 37.3 46.2 26.2 34.6 59.3 53.4 68.7 1963 NA 42.3 15.5 36.2 46.5 40.2 47.1 27.9 36.0 62.9 56.0 71.1 1964 NA 46.5 18.0 39.5 52.0 43.9 51.2 28.3 39.4 67.3 61.0 77.6 1965 NA 51.2 18.7 40.8 55.4 46.0 55.0 29.7 42.2 70.9 65.3 79.8 1966 NA 54.5 21.2 43.1 56.5 50.3 55.9 32.4 44.5 75.1 67.1 81.2 1967 NA 55.8 25.4 43.7 57.1 52.7 54.7 35.7 46.2 77.5 69.3 81.8 1968 NA 59.5 29.3 46.7 61.5 55.6 60.3 39.0 50.6 79.4 72.9 87.5 1969 NA 63.7 34.1 52.2 64.9 62.3 67.4 41.5 55.5 85.2 78.6 90.9 1970 NA 61.0 38.8 57.5 66.8 66.9 70.9 44.8 59.7 89.1 81.7 91.2 1971 NA 64.8 40.7 60.1 68.2 71.1 71.6 45.5 61.7 92.3 82.2 90.2 1972 NA 70.1 44.4 64.7 74.0 74.5 73.8 48.0 63.3 96.7 82.7 92.1 1973 NA 77.6 50.0 70.6 78.1 80.1 78.5 54.1 67.9 102.2 88.5 100.6 1974 NA 79.9 48.7 73.4 79.3 81.7 77.7 57.6 70.4 107.3 93.3 99.4 1975 NA 74.6 46.2 67.9 77.4 80.0 74.1 54.3 65.8 105.0 93.6 92.6 1976 NA 80.0 50.2 73.0 81.1 84.7 79.8 62.4 69.8 105.2 93.6 94.3 1977 74.9 83.0 51.8 73.2 81.5 88.6 81.3 64.6 73.3 103.0 88.3 96.1 1978 78.7 86.7 53.3 74.3 81.2 90.7 82.8 67.8 75.5 100.6 85.9 96.6 1979 81.3 90.0 57.9 76.2 85.9 93.3 87.1 74.8 77.5 104.7 91.4 96.4 1980 77.4 85.9 59.9 78.2 89.7 92.7 85.3 78.7 77.6 103.6 91.8 88.1 1981 80.7 89.1 62.1 77.2 86.9 91.2 84.4 77.1 77.7 101.7 88.9 82.7 1982 76.2 77.6 64.1 80.4 88.3 92.1 81.5 75.9 76.7 101.3 89.8 82.6 1983 80.6 82.6 66.1 84.5 94.2 92.0 82.7 76.6 79.2 99.9 95.0 84.3 1984 89.2 93.3 70.4 87.2 98.6 90.9 85.2 80.0 83.7 104.7 101.7 87.4 1985 91.8 98.5 76.1 88.9 101.7 91.2 88.3 82.6 86.0 108.5 103.9 89.9 1986 91.0 99.3 74.9 89.0 101.7 91.2 89.7 84.8 88.1 108.1 105.2 91.1 1987 97.9 104.1 78.4 88.7 97.6 91.1 88.0 88.5 89.3 110.7 107.7 95.3 1988 104.4 109.4 84.6 93.1 99.1 96.3 90.9 94.8 92.7 105.3 110.2 102.0 1989 104.0 110.3 90.2 98.9 100.3 101.6 94.0 98.6 96.9 101.3 111.6 106.6 1990 102.5 106.2 96.3 101.0 99.3 103.5 99.1 100.4 100.1 100.2 110.6 106.4 1991 98.8 98.7 101.4 100.7 99.2 101.7 102.8 99.7 100.6 98.3 103.6 100.6 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 103.0 104.8 96.0 96.9 101.1 96.2 91.5 96.6 98.3 102.7 101.3 101.4 1994 109.8 112.8 95.4 101.4 103.0 101.3 93.1 101.9 103.3 106.7 115.7 105.6 1995 113.6 117.1 100.5 104.4 105.9 105.4 93.4 107.7 105.8 109.9 127.0 108.0 1996 116.7 118.6 105.0 NA 105.6 106.2 92.9 106.8 NA 112.9 129.8 108.5 NA: Not Available Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Table
4. Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 85.6 81.0 NA NA 118.1 138.6 109.9 84.2 136.8 156.0 158.5 202.0 1955 94.7 85.5 55.9 NA 119.2 136.4 139.7 93.3 149.6 164.1 167.3 220.0 1960 92.2 84.5 76.3 172.1 135.8 140.6 142.4 109.6 162.7 154.0 168.3 224.4 1961 89.8 83.3 80.8 177.4 135.5 142.0 143.9 111.8 159.8 154.8 171.0 224.5 1962 93.5 86.9 83.4 181.9 140.0 143.0 141.0 111.7 162.7 156.2 170.8 220.1 1963 94.5 89.3 86.1 183.4 137.3 146.1 138.0 115.9 163.9 157.3 169.1 216.4 1964 96.5 93.8 88.2 188.1 141.9 147.7 138.2 116.2 164.9 159.5 169.6 221.5 1965 102.1 98.6 88.0 184.8 144.1 145.0 140.0 109.7 165.8 158.4 168.8 221.3 1966 108.7 102.7 91.0 183.1 140.0 146.3 136.7 110.3 164.4 161.1 166.5 218.0 1967 108.1 103.0 96.3 175.1 132.0 144.2 125.8 115.4 159.5 160.4 158.4 209.6 1968 109.7 102.3 99.4 172.4 130.2 137.8 128.2 117.0 156.3 154.9 152.6 209.4 1969 111.0 104.0 100.9 176.4 131.9 145.1 133.8 120.2 156.7 152.0 152.5 212.3 1970 104.5 100.9 102.3 176.3 128.3 147.0 136.1 121.8 154.5 154.3 154.7 208.6 1971 100.6 100.2 101.1 173.8 122.6 147.6 132.3 121.6 150.6 153.6 149.1 196.8 1972 105.2 103.3 100.6 167.7 123.1 147.9 128.5 118.5 143.4 152.1 142.9 190.3 1973 110.5 107.5 104.0 165.6 118.1 148.7 128.4 123.4 138.7 151.2 142.5 194.0 1974 108.1 109.0 98.7 163.2 116.1 148.2 122.7 123.4 134.1 152.0 144.0 188.3 1975 97.3 105.3 91.1 145.1 103.0 140.3 112.4 120.3 127.3 150.5 142.3 179.2 1976 102.0 105.7 93.3 141.7 104.1 140.0 112.8 121.5 121.9 146.2 140.2 175.0 1977 106.2 103.8 92.5 135.4 102.6 138.2 111.4 123.2 118.3 144.1 134.2 176.7 1978 110.7 107.3 91.6 129.4 100.8 135.4 109.8 121.4 114.4 138.3 127.1 175.3 1979 112.8 110.3 92.0 126.0 101.5 133.0 110.6 122.4 111.8 134.1 125.5 173.6 1980 107.6 109.5 93.8 121.4 100.6 131.5 110.3 123.0 111.0 135.0 124.0 160.3 1981 107.1 108.3 94.1 112.1 95.8 125.7 107.0 117.8 108.7 133.0 121.0 143.1 1982 98.0 98.8 93.3 110.2 97.0 118.6 103.7 113.9 105.4 127.1 117.2 135.5 1983 99.0 98.1 95.0 104.9 98.6 115.8 100.1 109.1 100.8 121.2 116.1 128.3 1984 105.4 102.1 97.9 103.1 103.8 112.7 99.6 103.8 97.0 119.7 118.9 126.3 1985 104.7 104.8 98.4 103.0 106.5 108.9 99.4 101.4 95.8 120.2 119.4 125.1 1986 103.1 107.2 97.3 101.6 113.1 107.2 100.1 102.7 96.6 121.6 118.9 121.9 1987 103.9 111.4 96.6 100.0 109.0 105.1 99.6 104.1 97.2 118.6 119.5 120.9 1988 106.8 116.5 99.8 101.5 106.6 104.0 99.2 109.5 98.7 114.3 121.4 122.7 1989 107.2 117.0 100.8 102.3 104.3 104.4 99.5 110.2 99.6 107.1 119.0 122.3 1990 104.9 110.8 100.9 104.3 103.3 104.5 100.1 108.2 101.6 103.7 116.4 118.0 1991 100.6 102.5 102.0 101.6 101.3 103.0 100.8 104.6 101.0 100.8 109.0 106.6 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 101.4 103.0 95.6 93.2 94.7 94.5 91.1 92.4 96.3 102.1 94.9 96.0 1994 103.8 106.2 93.7 92.2 NA 91.8 86.2 94.8 92.2 105.2 99.6 97.2 1995 104.1 108.9 92.0 95.6 NA 92.0 84.0 97.2 91.3 107.2 104.1 100.3 1996 103.5 109.1 92.0 NA NA 90.8 80.3 94.3 NA 109.3 104.0 100.9 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Table
5. Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 84.4 74.9 NA NA 83.9 113.5 75.2 76.4 105.0 119.3 122.0 171.7 1955 93.1 82.0 47.1 NA 86.2 113.1 95.5 82.5 114.5 125.2 129.7 184.7 1960 92.6 81.6 61.7 136.8 103.5 116.6 108.1 95.9 123.3 122.2 137.8 192.2 1961 90.0 80.9 66.4 141.3 106.4 117.5 111.3 98.9 126.3 124.8 141.3 194.9 1962 92.9 83.4 70.0 144.5 109.1 118.7 111.8 102.0 129.6 126.3 142.2 193.1 1963 93.5 85.5 72.8 145.9 108.7 121.2 111.0 105.3 130.9 127.8 142.4 190.0 1964 94.9 89.4 75.0 150.1 111.4 123.5 111.0 105.6 133.0 128.8 144.3 193.0 1965 99.3 94.0 76.1 150.0 113.3 122.3 113.0 103.1 134.1 130.9 144.8 195.5 1966 105.4 98.5 78.3 149.8 112.2 122.9 111.8 102.5 133.7 132.8 143.0 196.0 1967 106.7 99.3 82.8 145.2 106.9 122.4 105.8 105.9 130.4 133.5 138.3 190.0 1968 108.5 98.5 85.7 142.8 108.0 120.3 106.6 107.3 130.0 132.0 136.0 188.2 1969 110.6 100.5 88.2 147.6 110.8 123.8 111.0 110.9 132.2 132.6 138.4 190.7 1970 106.3 98.2 90.3 151.5 111.3 127.0 113.6 114.6 132.7 135.6 140.6 190.4 1971 102.2 98.1 90.7 151.6 106.7 128.6 112.9 117.6 130.7 136.4 135.9 183.9 1972 105.0 101.1 90.8 149.7 109.5 130.1 110.8 115.4 126.2 136.9 133.8 179.6 1973 110.5 105.7 94.6 151.6 111.0 132.9 111.5 118.7 124.5 136.9 135.8 180.6 1974 110.1 107.9 93.7 153.3 107.0 134.3 108.9 123.1 124.2 139.5 138.7 181.3 1975 100.7 105.4 88.5 144.0 98.0 130.9 102.2 122.1 120.1 138.7 139.8 173.1 1976 104.3 105.9 88.0 138.1 98.6 130.2 99.9 123.3 115.3 138.4 139.4 167.5 1977 108.2 103.7 87.1 132.6 98.0 129.7 100.3 125.7 112.3 138.5 134.5 168.1 1978 112.7 107.0 85.9 127.0 97.5 128.2 100.0 124.1 109.7 136.1 130.7 167.4 1979 115.6 110.8 85.7 123.6 98.3 126.2 101.2 126.1 108.5 134.2 131.0 166.4 1980 111.6 110.5 87.4 120.9 96.7 124.7 102.2 126.4 107.0 134.5 130.9 159.0 1981 111.0 110.5 88.3 114.3 93.3 120.7 100.3 121.1 104.3 132.3 127.0 144.0 1982 103.5 101.9 87.9 110.0 93.1 118.8 97.4 117.3 100.1 127.5 122.4 135.1 1983 101.8 99.9 89.3 107.4 93.4 116.5 94.1 112.4 95.6 121.0 119.9 127.5 1984 106.8 102.9 91.1 106.2 98.6 113.1 93.7 106.9 93.3 119.8 120.5 124.6 1985 106.0 105.6 91.9 104.6 104.6 110.0 94.9 105.4 94.5 120.7 122.0 123.3 1986 104.5 108.1 91.4 103.1 108.5 108.1 96.4 104.1 95.8 122.0 121.9 120.4 1987 104.7 111.4 90.4 100.6 107.1 105.4 96.4 103.7 96.9 122.0 121.1 118.7 1988 106.6 116.3 92.4 100.4 104.7 103.9 96.3 105.3 97.7 116.6 123.3 119.8 1989 107.0 117.7 94.3 101.7 103.7 104.4 97.6 106.3 99.1 108.7 121.2 119.6 1990 105.5 111.6 95.8 102.5 104.0 105.1 100.3 106.8 101.1 105.4 117.2 116.2 1991 101.8 103.7 98.9 101.6 101.6 103.4 101.8 104.5 100.8 101.9 109.9 106.7 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 100.1 101.4 97.9 94.6 95.4 95.3 94.0 94.3 96.3 101.8 92.6 96.5 1994 101.3 103.5 95.9 91.1 96.0 92.7 89.3 94.1 92.2 104.7 94.2 97.0 1995 102.5 105.8 93.5 95.5 99.1 92.6 87.3 93.6 91.0 107.6 97.5 99.3 1996 102.0 106.7 92.7 NA 98.0 91.2 84.6 92.8 NA 109.8 98.4 99.6 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Table
6. Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1996
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 101.5 108.2 NA NA 140.7 122.1 146.1 110.2 130.3 130.8 129.9 117.7 1955 101.6 104.2 118.7 NA 138.2 120.7 146.2 113.0 130.6 131.1 129.0 119.1 1960 99.6 103.5 123.5 125.8 131.2 120.5 131.7 114.3 131.9 126.0 122.1 116.7 1961 99.7 103.0 121.6 125.5 127.3 120.9 129.4 113.1 126.5 124.1 121.1 115.2 1962 100.7 104.1 119.2 125.8 128.3 120.5 126.2 109.5 125.6 123.7 120.1 114.0 1963 101.0 104.5 118.2 125.7 126.3 120.5 124.3 110.0 125.2 123.1 118.8 113.9 1964 101.7 105.0 117.6 125.3 127.4 119.7 124.5 110.0 124.0 123.9 117.5 114.8 1965 102.8 104.9 115.6 123.2 127.2 118.6 123.9 106.4 123.6 121.0 116.6 113.2 1966 103.1 104.2 116.2 122.2 124.8 119.1 122.2 107.6 122.9 121.3 116.4 111.2 1967 101.3 103.7 116.3 120.7 123.4 117.8 118.9 109.1 122.4 120.2 114.5 110.4 1968 101.1 103.9 116.0 120.7 120.6 114.6 120.3 109.1 120.2 117.3 112.2 111.3 1969 100.3 103.5 114.4 119.5 119.1 117.2 120.5 108.3 118.5 114.6 110.2 111.3 1970 98.3 102.7 113.3 116.3 115.3 115.7 119.7 106.4 116.4 113.8 110.0 109.6 1971 98.5 102.2 111.4 114.6 114.9 114.8 117.2 103.4 115.3 112.6 109.7 107.0 1972 100.2 102.2 110.8 112.0 112.4 113.6 116.0 102.7 113.6 111.0 106.8 106.0 1973 100.0 101.7 109.9 109.3 106.4 111.9 115.2 103.9 111.4 110.4 104.9 107.4 1974 98.1 101.0 105.3 106.4 108.5 110.4 112.7 100.3 108.0 108.9 103.8 103.9 1975 96.7 99.9 103.0 100.7 105.1 107.1 110.0 98.5 106.0 108.5 101.8 103.6 1976 97.8 99.8 106.0 102.6 105.6 107.5 113.0 98.5 105.8 105.7 100.6 104.5 1977 98.2 100.1 106.2 102.1 104.6 106.5 111.1 98.0 105.3 104.0 99.8 105.2 1978 98.2 100.3 106.7 101.9 103.4 105.6 109.8 97.8 104.3 101.6 97.2 104.7 1979 97.6 99.5 107.3 102.0 103.3 105.4 109.3 97.1 103.1 99.9 95.8 104.3 1980 96.4 99.2 107.3 100.4 104.0 105.4 108.0 97.3 103.7 100.4 94.8 100.8 1981 96.5 98.0 106.5 98.1 102.7 104.1 106.6 97.3 104.2 100.6 95.3 99.4 1982 94.7 96.9 106.2 100.2 104.2 99.8 106.5 97.1 105.3 99.7 95.7 100.3 1983 97.3 98.2 106.4 97.7 105.6 99.4 106.3 97.1 105.4 100.1 96.8 100.6 1984 98.7 99.2 107.4 97.1 105.3 99.6 106.4 97.1 104.0 99.9 98.6 101.4 1985 98.8 99.2 107.1 98.5 101.8 99.0 104.7 96.2 101.3 99.6 97.9 101.4 1986 98.7 99.1 106.5 98.6 104.2 99.2 103.9 98.6 100.8 99.7 97.5 101.2 1987 99.2 99.9 106.8 99.4 101.8 99.8 103.3 100.4 100.3 97.2 98.7 101.9 1988 100.3 100.2 108.0 101.1 101.8 100.1 103.0 104.0 101.1 98.0 98.5 102.4 1989 100.2 99.5 106.8 100.6 100.6 99.9 101.9 103.7 100.5 98.6 98.2 102.3 1990 99.4 99.3 105.3 101.8 99.4 99.4 99.8 101.2 100.5 98.4 99.3 101.6 1991 98.8 98.9 103.2 100.0 99.7 99.6 99.1 100.1 100.2 98.9 99.2 99.9 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 101.3 101.6 97.7 98.5 99.2 99.2 96.9 98.0 100.0 100.3 102.6 99.5 1994 102.4 102.6 97.7 101.2 NA 99.0 96.6 100.7 100.0 100.5 105.7 100.2 1995 101.6 103.0 98.4 100.1 NA 99.5 96.3 103.8 100.3 99.6 106.7 101.0 1996 101.5 102.3 99.2 NA NA 99.6 94.9 101.6 NA 99.5 105.7 101.3 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France* Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden* Kingdom* 1950 8.7 5.7 NA NA 2.5 1.6 3.4 0.8 3.1 2.2 1.9 1.6 1955 11.7 8.1 3.1 NA 3.4 2.9 5.0 1.2 4.6 3.4 3.0 2.3 1960 14.9 10.5 4.3 5.5 4.6 4.3 8.1 1.6 6.4 4.7 4.1 3.1 1961 15.3 10.8 5.0 5.9 5.1 4.8 9.1 1.7 7.3 5.2 4.5 3.3 1962 15.9 11.1 5.7 6.3 5.6 5.3 10.3 2.0 7.9 5.7 5.0 3.5 1963 16.4 11.6 6.4 7.0 6.1 5.7 11.0 2.4 8.6 6.1 5.6 3.7 1964 17.1 12.0 7.2 7.9 6.6 6.2 11.9 2.6 10.0 6.5 6.1 3.9 1965 17.5 12.7 8.1 8.7 7.3 6.8 13.1 2.8 11.2 7.2 6.7 4.3 1966 18.2 13.7 9.0 9.7 8.3 7.2 14.3 2.9 12.6 7.8 7.3 4.6 1967 19.2 14.6 10.0 10.5 9.3 7.7 15.0 3.2 13.9 8.7 8.1 4.8 1968 20.7 15.7 11.7 11.3 10.3 8.7 16.2 3.5 15.5 9.6 8.8 5.1 1969 22.2 17.0 13.8 12.4 11.6 9.3 17.7 3.8 17.6 10.6 9.6 5.6 1970 23.8 18.3 16.5 14.1 13.2 10.5 20.8 4.6 20.4 11.8 10.8 6.5 1971 25.3 19.7 19.0 16.1 15.2 11.7 23.3 5.3 23.3 13.5 12.1 7.4 1972 26.6 21.2 21.9 18.6 16.8 13.0 25.8 6.0 26.7 15.1 13.5 8.5 1973 28.6 22.9 26.8 21.6 20.4 14.9 29.1 7.0 31.8 17.0 15.2 9.7 1974 31.8 26.4 35.1 26.3 24.7 17.7 33.1 9.2 38.0 19.9 17.8 11.6 1975 35.6 30.2 40.9 31.8 29.4 21.6 36.5 11.6 43.4 23.8 21.9 15.5 1976 38.6 34.5 44.0 36.1 32.8 24.7 39.3 14.4 48.5 27.5 25.6 17.9 1977 42.0 38.2 48.6 40.3 36.3 28.1 43.0 17.1 52.9 30.9 28.0 20.3 1978 45.4 41.1 51.8 43.5 40.0 31.6 46.3 19.7 57.2 34.1 31.2 23.6 1979 49.8 45.3 55.1 47.3 44.7 35.9 49.7 23.8 61.5 35.8 33.6 28.1 1980 55.8 50.2 58.6 52.5 49.4 41.3 53.8 27.9 64.8 39.0 37.4 33.9 1981 61.3 57.7 62.7 58.2 54.4 47.9 57.3 33.8 67.7 43.3 41.3 39.3 1982 67.2 63.8 65.8 60.8 59.2 56.9 60.4 39.8 71.8 48.2 44.3 43.3 1983 69.0 67.7 67.6 64.4 63.3 62.7 63.3 46.6 75.0 52.9 48.8 46.5 1984 71.4 70.9 69.7 69.8 66.9 68.1 66.3 53.5 77.9 57.9 53.0 50.2 1985 75.3 74.6 72.5 74.1 71.4 73.7 70.1 60.1 82.0 63.4 58.4 54.9 1986 78.6 77.5 76.1 77.2 72.9 76.8 73.1 62.6 85.2 69.1 63.1 59.7 1987 80.8 79.8 77.9 79.0 79.7 79.7 76.6 66.1 87.9 78.5 67.3 66.3 1988 84.0 83.3 79.2 80.6 82.5 82.7 79.6 68.7 87.6 83.3 71.7 70.6 1989 86.8 86.4 84.2 84.8 87.2 87.2 83.4 75.5 88.4 87.2 79.4 75.2 1990 91.0 91.3 90.7 89.6 92.6 91.8 89.4 84.0 90.8 92.3 87.6 83.5 1991 95.7 97.1 95.9 95.3 96.2 96.3 95.1 93.1 95.2 97.5 95.4 93.1 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 102.4 100.1 104.6 105.0 102.4 103.6 106.1 107.1 103.8 101.5 98.0 106.6 1994 105.1 102.1 106.7 108.4 NA 106.2 112.1 106.6 107.1 104.4 101.1 109.9 1995 108.8 103.9 110.0 111.7 NA 107.7 117.5 109.2 109.9 109.2 107.4 110.8 1996 112.0 108.5 111.6 NA NA 110.0 123.4 117.1 NA 114.0 114.3 115.0 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. * Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor costs to employers. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France* Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden* Kingdom* 1950 8.7 6.3 NA NA 2.2 2.5 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.9 2.1 2.6 1955 11.7 10.0 1.1 NA 2.9 4.3 1.9 2.3 2.1 2.9 3.3 3.7 1960 14.9 13.1 1.5 3.6 4.0 4.7 3.1 3.1 3.0 4.1 4.7 5.0 1961 15.3 12.9 1.8 3.8 4.5 5.1 3.6 3.4 3.6 4.5 5.1 5.3 1962 15.9 12.6 2.0 4.1 4.9 5.7 4.0 4.1 3.8 4.9 5.7 5.6 1963 16.4 12.9 2.3 4.5 5.3 6.2 4.3 4.8 4.2 5.3 6.3 5.8 1964 17.1 13.5 2.5 5.1 5.8 6.7 4.7 5.1 4.9 5.6 6.9 6.2 1965 17.5 14.2 2.8 5.7 6.4 7.3 5.1 5.5 5.5 6.2 7.6 6.8 1966 18.2 15.4 3.1 6.2 7.3 7.7 5.6 5.8 6.1 6.8 8.3 7.3 1967 19.2 16.3 3.5 6.8 8.1 8.3 5.9 6.4 6.8 7.6 9.2 7.4 1968 20.7 17.6 4.1 7.3 8.3 9.3 6.3 6.8 7.5 8.4 10.0 6.9 1969 22.2 19.0 4.9 7.9 9.3 9.5 7.0 7.5 8.5 9.2 10.8 7.6 1970 23.8 21.2 5.8 9.1 10.6 10.0 8.9 9.1 9.9 10.3 12.1 8.8 1971 25.3 23.6 6.9 10.7 12.4 11.3 10.5 10.6 11.7 11.9 13.8 10.2 1972 26.6 25.8 9.2 13.6 14.6 13.6 12.6 12.6 14.6 14.2 16.6 12.0 1973 28.6 27.7 12.5 17.9 20.4 17.7 17.2 14.9 20.1 18.4 20.3 13.4 1974 31.8 32.6 15.3 21.7 24.5 19.4 20.0 17.4 24.9 22.4 23.5 15.4 1975 35.6 35.8 17.5 27.9 31.0 26.6 23.2 21.9 30.3 28.4 30.8 19.5 1976 38.6 42.3 18.8 30.1 32.8 27.4 24.4 21.4 32.3 31.3 34.2 18.3 1977 42.0 43.5 23.0 36.2 36.5 30.2 28.9 23.8 37.9 36.0 36.5 20.0 1978 45.4 43.6 31.5 44.4 43.9 37.2 36.0 28.5 46.6 40.4 40.2 25.7 1979 49.8 46.8 32.0 51.9 51.3 44.6 42.3 35.3 53.9 43.9 45.7 33.8 1980 55.8 51.8 32.9 57.8 53.0 51.8 46.3 40.3 57.4 49.0 51.5 44.6 1981 61.3 58.2 36.1 50.6 46.0 46.6 39.7 36.6 47.9 46.9 47.5 45.1 1982 67.2 62.5 33.5 42.7 42.8 45.7 38.9 36.2 47.3 46.4 41.1 42.9 1983 69.0 66.4 36.1 40.5 41.8 43.6 38.7 37.8 46.2 45.0 37.1 39.9 1984 71.4 66.1 37.2 38.8 39.0 41.3 36.4 37.5 42.7 44.1 37.3 38.0 1985 75.3 66.0 38.5 40.2 40.7 43.5 37.2 38.8 43.4 45.8 39.5 40.4 1986 78.6 67.4 57.3 55.6 54.3 58.7 52.6 51.7 61.2 58.1 51.6 49.6 1987 80.8 72.7 68.3 68.0 70.3 70.2 66.5 62.8 76.3 72.3 61.8 61.5 1988 84.0 81.8 78.4 70.4 73.9 73.5 70.7 65.0 77.9 79.3 68.1 71.2 1989 86.8 88.2 77.3 69.2 71.9 72.3 69.2 67.8 73.3 78.4 71.7 69.7 1990 91.0 94.5 79.3 86.2 90.4 89.2 86.4 86.3 87.6 91.7 86.2 84.3 1991 95.7 102.4 90.3 89.6 90.7 90.3 89.4 92.5 89.4 93.3 91.8 93.2 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 102.4 93.7 119.3 97.6 95.3 96.8 100.1 83.9 98.2 88.8 73.3 90.7 1994 105.1 90.3 132.4 104.3 NA 101.4 108.0 81.5 103.5 92.0 76.3 95.3 1995 108.8 91.5 148.4 121.8 NA 114.3 128.2 82.6 120.5 107.1 87.6 99.0 1996 112.0 96.1 130.1 NA NA 113.8 128.1 93.5 NA 109.7 99.3 101.6 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. * Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor costs to employers. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 NA 20.5 NA NA 11.1 11.7 25.6 7.4 25.4 9.0 9.5 6.6 1955 NA 23.8 36.1 NA 13.9 16.3 25.5 7.6 29.6 11.8 13.7 8.7 1960 NA 25.9 30.9 31.1 15.5 18.7 28.0 8.0 32.9 12.9 14.9 10.3 1961 NA 25.2 31.8 32.5 16.4 19.4 29.9 8.2 35.7 13.6 15.6 11.0 1962 NA 24.3 34.6 33.2 17.1 20.2 31.6 8.7 37.0 15.0 16.1 11.3 1963 NA 24.4 35.7 35.3 18.0 20.9 32.3 10.1 39.3 15.2 16.8 11.2 1964 NA 24.3 35.4 37.5 18.0 21.0 32.3 10.6 41.9 15.4 16.9 11.2 1965 NA 24.4 38.3 39.6 19.1 21.3 33.4 10.2 44.1 16.0 17.3 11.9 1966 NA 25.9 38.5 41.0 20.6 20.8 34.8 10.0 46.5 16.8 18.2 12.5 1967 NA 26.9 38.1 42.3 21.6 21.1 34.6 10.5 48.1 18.1 18.6 12.3 1968 NA 27.0 39.6 41.6 21.8 21.7 34.4 10.4 47.9 18.8 18.5 12.3 1969 NA 27.7 41.0 41.7 23.5 21.7 35.1 11.0 49.7 19.0 18.7 13.1 1970 NA 30.3 43.3 43.1 25.3 23.0 39.9 12.6 52.7 20.4 20.5 14.8 1971 NA 30.5 47.3 46.5 27.3 24.4 43.0 14.3 56.8 22.5 22.0 16.0 1972 NA 31.2 49.6 48.2 28.0 25.7 44.8 14.8 60.4 23.7 23.4 17.6 1973 NA 31.8 55.7 50.6 30.8 27.6 47.6 16.0 65.0 25.1 24.4 18.7 1974 NA 36.0 71.1 58.4 36.1 32.0 52.3 19.7 72.4 28.2 27.5 22.1 1975 NA 42.6 80.6 68.0 39.1 37.8 55.3 25.7 84.0 34.2 33.3 30.0 1976 NA 45.6 81.9 70.0 42.1 40.8 55.6 28.1 84.7 38.3 38.3 33.3 1977 59.6 47.8 86.8 74.5 45.7 43.8 58.9 32.6 85.4 43.2 42.6 37.3 1978 63.8 50.9 89.1 75.7 49.7 47.2 61.3 35.2 86.6 46.8 46.2 42.9 1979 69.1 55.5 87.5 78.2 52.9 51.1 63.1 39.0 88.7 45.8 46.2 50.6 1980 77.6 63.9 91.7 81.4 55.3 58.6 69.6 43.7 92.6 50.8 50.6 61.7 1981 81.3 70.1 95.1 84.6 60.0 66.0 72.6 51.6 94.7 56.6 56.1 68.1 1982 86.5 81.2 95.8 83.3 65.0 73.2 76.9 59.8 98.7 60.5 57.8 71.1 1983 84.9 80.3 97.2 79.9 66.3 79.0 76.7 66.4 95.5 64.2 59.7 70.8 1984 84.4 77.6 96.8 82.5 70.4 84.4 77.6 69.4 90.2 66.3 61.9 72.5 1985 85.8 79.3 93.8 85.9 74.7 88.0 78.9 73.8 91.3 70.2 67.1 76.4 1986 89.1 83.6 99.0 88.1 81.0 90.2 81.6 75.8 93.4 77.7 71.3 79.9 1987 85.7 85.3 96.0 89.1 89.0 92.0 86.7 77.8 95.7 84.1 74.7 84.1 1988 85.9 88.7 93.4 87.9 88.8 89.3 86.9 79.4 93.3 90.4 79.0 84.9 1989 89.4 91.7 94.0 87.8 90.7 89.5 88.3 84.4 90.8 92.2 84.7 86.3 1990 93.1 95.2 95.0 92.5 96.5 92.6 90.3 90.5 92.1 95.6 92.3 92.6 1991 97.5 100.9 96.5 96.1 98.3 97.6 93.2 97.7 95.5 100.0 100.4 98.6 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 100.8 98.4 104.1 100.9 95.9 101.8 105.6 102.5 101.7 100.9 91.8 101.0 1994 99.4 96.1 104.9 98.6 97.9 96.2 103.9 99.2 95.5 102.9 87.0 101.1 1995 99.7 96.7 100.7 102.2 102.2 94.0 105.7 98.6 94.9 106.5 88.0 102.9 1996 99.3 99.9 97.8 NA 104.9 94.0 106.6 103.3 NA 110.3 91.6 107.0 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 NA 22.7 NA NA 9.7 17.7 9.5 14.6 11.7 7.8 10.7 10.4 1955 NA 29.1 12.7 NA 12.1 24.6 9.5 15.0 13.7 10.2 15.5 13.8 1960 NA 32.3 10.9 20.0 13.5 20.2 10.5 15.9 15.4 11.3 16.8 16.3 1961 NA 30.1 11.2 21.0 14.4 21.0 11.6 16.2 17.3 11.9 17.6 17.4 1962 NA 27.5 12.1 21.4 15.0 21.8 12.3 17.3 18.0 13.0 18.2 17.9 1963 NA 27.3 12.5 22.8 15.8 22.5 12.7 19.9 19.2 13.2 18.9 17.7 1964 NA 27.2 12.4 24.2 15.7 22.7 12.7 20.9 20.4 13.3 19.1 17.7 1965 NA 27.4 13.4 25.7 16.6 23.0 13.1 20.1 21.6 13.9 19.6 18.8 1966 NA 29.0 13.5 26.4 18.0 22.5 13.6 19.7 22.6 14.6 20.5 19.7 1967 NA 30.2 13.3 27.4 18.7 22.7 13.6 20.7 23.5 15.7 21.0 19.1 1968 NA 30.3 13.9 26.8 17.5 23.2 13.4 20.5 23.3 16.4 20.9 16.6 1969 NA 31.1 14.5 26.8 18.9 22.1 14.0 21.6 24.1 16.5 21.0 17.7 1970 NA 35.1 15.3 27.9 20.4 22.0 17.1 24.7 25.6 17.8 23.0 20.0 1971 NA 36.5 17.3 30.8 22.3 23.4 19.3 28.5 28.6 19.9 25.1 22.2 1972 NA 38.1 20.8 35.2 24.3 27.0 22.0 31.2 33.1 22.3 28.7 24.9 1973 NA 38.4 26.1 41.9 30.9 32.9 28.1 34.0 41.1 27.2 32.7 25.9 1974 NA 44.5 30.9 48.3 35.8 35.1 31.6 37.3 47.5 31.7 36.2 29.2 1975 NA 50.6 34.5 59.6 41.2 46.7 35.2 48.6 58.6 40.7 46.8 37.7 1976 NA 55.8 35.0 58.3 42.1 45.3 34.5 41.7 56.4 43.6 51.3 34.0 1977 59.6 54.4 41.1 66.8 46.0 47.2 39.7 45.5 61.2 50.4 55.5 36.8 1978 63.8 54.0 54.2 77.4 54.5 55.6 47.8 51.1 70.5 55.5 59.5 46.6 1979 69.1 57.3 50.9 85.7 60.7 63.6 53.8 57.8 77.8 56.2 62.8 60.8 1980 77.6 66.1 51.5 89.6 59.4 73.5 59.9 62.9 82.0 63.9 69.6 81.3 1981 81.3 70.7 54.6 73.4 50.7 64.2 50.3 55.9 66.9 61.3 64.6 78.1 1982 86.5 79.5 48.8 58.5 47.0 58.9 49.5 54.4 64.9 58.2 53.6 70.4 1983 84.9 78.8 51.8 50.3 43.7 54.9 46.9 53.8 58.9 54.7 45.3 60.8 1984 84.4 72.4 51.7 45.9 41.1 51.2 42.6 48.7 49.5 50.5 43.6 54.8 1985 85.8 70.1 49.9 46.5 42.6 51.9 41.9 47.6 48.4 50.8 45.4 56.2 1986 89.1 72.7 74.5 63.4 60.4 69.0 58.7 62.6 67.1 65.3 58.3 66.4 1987 85.7 77.8 84.2 76.7 78.4 81.0 75.3 73.9 83.0 77.5 68.5 78.0 1988 85.9 87.1 92.4 76.8 79.5 79.3 77.2 75.1 83.0 86.1 75.0 85.6 1989 89.4 93.6 86.3 71.6 74.8 74.3 73.3 75.8 75.3 82.9 76.4 80.0 1990 93.1 98.6 83.1 88.9 94.1 90.0 87.2 93.0 88.9 95.0 90.8 93.5 1991 97.5 106.4 90.9 90.4 92.7 91.5 87.7 97.0 89.8 95.7 96.6 98.7 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 100.8 92.1 118.8 93.8 89.2 95.1 99.7 80.3 96.2 88.3 68.6 85.9 1994 99.4 85.0 130.1 94.8 93.0 91.8 100.0 75.8 92.4 90.7 65.7 87.7 1995 99.7 85.2 135.9 111.5 110.2 99.8 115.3 74.6 104.0 104.5 71.8 91.9 1996 99.3 88.5 114.0 NA 109.1 97.3 110.7 82.5 NA 106.1 79.6 94.5 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 100.0 110.5 35.2 NA 87.5 151.3 37.2 197.3 46.2 87.1 112.6 158.6 1955 100.0 122.5 35.2 NA 87.4 151.2 37.1 197.1 46.1 87.0 112.6 158.0 1960 100.0 124.6 35.2 64.5 87.6 107.9 37.4 198.4 46.6 87.1 112.7 159.0 1961 100.0 119.4 35.1 64.5 87.4 107.9 38.9 198.4 48.5 87.0 112.7 158.6 1962 100.0 113.1 35.1 64.6 87.5 108.0 39.1 198.5 48.8 87.1 113.0 159.0 1963 100.0 112.0 35.1 64.5 87.4 108.0 39.2 198.2 48.8 86.9 112.3 158.5 1964 100.0 112.0 35.0 64.6 87.3 108.0 39.3 197.3 48.8 86.8 113.1 158.1 1965 100.0 112.1 35.1 64.8 87.3 108.0 39.1 197.2 48.8 86.9 112.9 158.3 1966 100.0 112.2 35.0 64.5 87.4 107.7 39.1 197.3 48.6 86.9 112.8 158.1 1967 100.0 112.0 35.0 64.7 86.5 107.6 39.2 197.4 48.8 86.9 112.9 155.7 1968 100.0 112.2 35.2 64.4 80.7 106.9 39.1 197.7 48.6 87.0 112.7 135.5 1969 100.0 112.2 35.4 64.1 80.3 102.2 39.8 196.4 48.5 87.0 112.7 135.3 1970 100.0 115.8 35.4 64.7 80.5 95.7 42.8 196.5 48.6 86.9 112.3 135.6 1971 100.0 119.7 36.5 66.2 81.6 96.1 44.9 199.3 50.4 88.3 114.1 138.4 1972 100.0 122.0 41.8 73.0 86.8 104.9 49.0 211.1 54.8 94.3 122.5 141.6 1973 100.0 120.8 46.8 82.8 100.2 119.3 59.0 211.8 63.3 108.2 133.8 138.8 1974 100.0 123.6 43.5 82.7 99.3 109.6 60.5 189.4 65.5 112.6 131.4 132.5 1975 100.0 118.8 42.7 87.6 105.3 123.6 63.6 188.9 69.7 119.2 140.6 125.8 1976 100.0 122.6 42.8 83.3 99.9 110.9 62.1 148.4 66.6 113.9 133.7 102.2 1977 100.0 113.7 47.3 89.7 100.6 107.7 67.3 139.6 71.7 116.8 130.4 98.8 1978 100.0 106.0 60.8 102.3 109.6 117.6 77.9 145.2 81.4 118.6 129.0 108.6 1979 100.0 103.2 58.1 109.6 114.8 124.4 85.2 148.3 87.7 122.7 135.9 120.2 1980 100.0 103.4 56.2 110.1 107.3 125.4 86.0 144.1 88.6 125.9 137.8 131.7 1981 100.0 100.8 57.5 86.8 84.6 97.3 69.3 108.2 70.7 108.2 115.0 114.6 1982 100.0 97.9 50.9 70.2 72.3 80.5 64.3 91.0 65.8 96.2 92.7 99.0 1983 100.0 98.1 53.4 62.9 66.0 69.5 61.2 81.1 61.6 85.1 75.9 85.8 1984 100.0 93.3 53.4 55.7 58.3 60.6 54.9 70.2 54.8 76.2 70.4 75.7 1985 100.0 88.5 53.2 54.2 57.0 58.9 53.1 64.6 53.0 72.3 67.7 73.5 1986 100.0 87.0 75.3 72.0 74.6 76.4 72.0 82.6 71.8 84.0 81.7 83.1 1987 100.0 91.1 87.7 86.1 88.2 88.0 86.9 95.0 86.8 92.2 91.8 92.8 1988 100.0 98.2 98.9 87.4 89.6 88.8 88.9 94.6 88.9 95.2 94.9 100.8 1989 100.0 102.1 91.8 81.6 82.5 83.0 83.0 89.8 82.9 89.9 90.2 92.7 1990 100.0 103.6 87.4 96.2 97.5 97.2 96.6 102.8 96.6 99.4 98.4 101.0 1991 100.0 105.5 94.2 94.0 94.3 93.7 94.0 99.3 93.9 95.7 96.3 100.1 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 100.0 93.7 114.1 93.0 93.1 93.4 94.4 78.3 94.6 87.5 74.7 85.0 1994 100.0 88.4 124.1 96.2 95.0 95.4 96.3 76.5 96.7 88.1 75.5 86.7 1995 100.0 88.1 134.9 109.1 107.8 106.2 109.1 75.6 109.6 98.1 81.6 89.4 1996 100.0 88.6 116.5 103.8 104.1 103.5 103.8 79.9 104.3 96.2 86.8 88.4 NA: Not Available Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France* Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden* Kingdom* 1950 8.8 6.2 NA NA 3.5 2.0 4.9 0.9 4.1 2.9 2.4 1.9 1955 11.9 8.5 3.7 NA 4.7 3.4 7.4 1.3 6.0 4.4 3.8 2.8 1960 14.8 10.9 5.3 7.0 6.0 5.2 10.7 1.8 8.5 6.0 5.0 3.7 1961 15.3 11.1 6.1 7.4 6.5 5.8 11.8 2.0 9.3 6.4 5.5 3.9 1962 16.0 11.6 6.8 7.9 7.2 6.3 13.1 2.2 9.9 7.0 6.1 4.0 1963 16.6 12.1 7.6 8.8 7.7 6.9 13.7 2.7 10.8 7.5 6.6 4.2 1964 17.4 12.6 8.5 9.9 8.4 7.5 14.9 2.8 12.4 8.0 7.1 4.5 1965 17.9 13.3 9.4 10.8 9.3 8.0 16.3 2.9 13.9 8.7 7.8 4.9 1966 18.8 14.3 10.4 11.8 10.4 8.5 17.4 3.2 15.5 9.5 8.6 5.2 1967 19.5 15.1 11.7 12.7 11.5 9.1 17.9 3.5 17.1 10.5 9.3 5.3 1968 20.9 16.3 13.5 13.6 12.4 10.0 19.4 3.8 18.6 11.3 9.9 5.7 1969 22.3 17.5 15.8 14.8 13.8 10.9 21.3 4.1 20.9 12.2 10.6 6.2 1970 23.4 18.8 18.6 16.4 15.2 12.1 24.9 4.9 23.7 13.4 11.9 7.1 1971 24.9 20.1 21.2 18.5 17.4 13.5 27.3 5.5 26.8 15.2 13.3 7.9 1972 26.6 21.6 24.3 20.8 18.9 14.7 29.9 6.1 30.3 16.7 14.5 9.0 1973 28.6 23.3 29.4 23.6 21.7 16.6 33.5 7.3 35.4 18.7 15.9 10.4 1974 31.2 26.7 37.0 27.9 26.8 19.5 37.4 9.2 41.0 21.7 18.5 12.1 1975 34.5 30.1 42.1 32.1 30.9 23.1 40.1 11.4 46.0 25.8 22.3 16.0 1976 37.8 34.4 46.7 37.0 34.6 26.6 44.4 14.2 51.3 29.1 25.8 18.7 1977 41.2 38.2 51.6 41.2 38.0 29.9 47.8 16.7 55.7 32.1 27.9 21.3 1978 44.6 41.3 55.2 44.3 41.4 33.4 50.8 19.2 59.7 34.6 30.3 24.7 1979 48.6 45.1 59.1 48.2 46.2 37.8 54.3 23.1 63.4 35.8 32.2 29.3 1980 53.8 49.7 62.9 52.7 51.4 43.6 58.1 27.2 67.1 39.1 35.4 34.2 1981 59.1 56.6 66.8 57.1 55.8 49.8 61.1 32.9 70.6 43.6 39.3 39.1 1982 63.6 61.9 69.9 60.9 61.7 56.8 64.3 38.7 75.6 48.1 42.4 43.5 1983 67.2 66.5 71.9 62.9 66.8 62.4 67.4 45.3 79.1 53.0 47.3 46.8 1984 70.5 70.3 74.8 67.7 70.4 67.8 70.6 51.9 80.9 57.9 52.3 50.9 1985 74.3 74.0 77.6 73.0 72.7 73.0 73.4 57.8 83.1 63.1 57.2 55.7 1986 77.6 76.8 81.1 76.1 75.9 76.2 75.9 61.7 85.9 68.9 61.5 60.4 1987 80.2 79.7 83.3 78.5 81.1 79.5 79.1 66.4 88.2 76.3 66.4 67.5 1988 84.2 83.4 85.6 81.5 84.0 82.8 82.0 71.4 88.6 81.7 70.6 72.3 1989 86.9 86.0 89.9 85.3 87.7 87.1 85.0 78.3 88.8 86.0 77.9 76.9 1990 90.4 90.7 95.5 91.2 92.1 91.2 89.2 85.0 91.2 90.9 87.0 84.8 1991 94.6 96.0 98.9 95.3 95.9 95.9 94.2 93.2 95.4 96.4 94.6 93.0 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 103.7 101.6 102.1 103.4 101.6 102.8 102.8 105.0 103.8 101.8 100.5 106.1 1994 107.7 104.7 104.3 109.7 105.1 105.2 108.4 107.3 107.1 105.0 106.8 110.1 1995 110.5 107.0 108.2 111.8 109.2 107.1 113.2 113.4 110.3 108.8 114.6 111.8 1996 113.7 110.9 110.8 NA 113.0 109.5 117.1 118.9 NA 113.4 120.9 116.6 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. * Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor costs to employers. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 50.6 38.5 NA NA 28.4 20.1 11.8 18.2 17.2 26.3 25.2 27.1 1955 61.2 48.3 18.2 NA 31.7 27.1 16.0 21.2 21.4 29.4 30.5 29.7 1960 70.6 56.8 23.2 25.1 38.5 30.5 23.6 24.3 26.6 36.3 35.3 34.8 1961 72.0 57.7 25.6 26.3 41.5 32.7 25.8 26.2 30.0 38.7 37.9 36.0 1962 74.0 58.8 27.4 27.9 42.3 34.5 28.4 29.3 31.3 40.3 40.3 36.2 1963 75.2 60.1 28.4 30.2 43.6 35.9 29.4 32.4 33.4 42.0 43.3 37.2 1964 77.3 61.5 30.8 32.7 45.5 37.7 31.1 32.6 36.5 42.5 45.7 38.4 1965 77.7 63.4 32.2 34.8 47.5 39.9 33.1 33.4 39.4 45.0 48.0 40.1 1966 79.0 66.1 33.8 37.0 50.6 41.1 34.7 34.9 41.7 47.6 49.4 41.7 1967 80.8 67.7 36.4 39.2 52.7 43.1 36.1 37.7 44.7 50.9 52.5 42.8 1968 83.4 70.1 40.2 40.9 53.7 47.0 38.3 39.7 47.9 54.2 56.0 43.9 1969 85.0 72.4 45.3 43.1 58.4 48.2 41.1 42.4 50.6 58.0 58.8 45.2 1970 86.1 75.6 50.0 47.3 62.6 51.8 46.8 49.1 56.1 58.3 61.7 48.9 1971 87.5 79.2 54.4 51.9 68.0 54.9 49.9 53.9 59.6 62.8 64.0 50.8 1972 89.2 81.2 59.7 56.8 70.6 57.0 52.4 57.2 63.4 65.3 67.4 54.7 1973 90.5 81.7 65.4 61.6 78.4 60.8 55.5 60.9 69.9 68.5 69.7 57.0 1974 90.5 84.8 69.5 66.5 82.3 63.6 59.1 66.7 76.3 73.4 74.7 59.1 1975 93.0 87.5 72.5 71.5 89.6 69.3 61.3 71.8 79.1 78.6 83.5 63.4 1976 95.2 93.1 71.4 74.3 91.7 72.5 63.3 76.5 81.0 83.2 88.3 63.1 1977 97.2 95.5 72.8 77.4 91.3 75.2 66.9 75.9 82.9 85.6 86.0 61.4 1978 97.6 94.3 74.5 79.9 91.4 77.6 70.2 77.8 86.2 87.4 88.8 65.8 1979 96.2 95.2 76.4 83.3 93.2 79.5 72.6 81.4 88.9 87.6 89.8 68.8 1980 94.9 95.7 75.4 86.6 91.6 80.6 74.8 78.8 87.9 86.0 87.5 70.5 1981 94.6 97.9 77.0 89.3 90.3 82.4 74.8 80.3 86.1 84.1 86.2 73.5 1982 97.7 97.7 78.6 85.7 89.2 87.5 74.9 81.3 86.2 84.1 85.0 74.0 1983 97.2 98.0 79.2 84.4 89.2 88.1 76.1 82.8 87.6 85.1 84.3 76.0 1984 96.4 98.3 79.8 86.0 88.7 89.0 77.8 85.9 88.0 87.7 85.0 77.9 1985 98.1 99.4 81.4 87.1 90.5 90.9 80.7 88.9 90.6 90.8 87.2 80.5 1986 100.6 99.2 85.0 89.5 89.1 92.2 84.3 87.2 94.0 92.4 90.3 84.5 1987 99.8 97.9 86.9 90.2 93.7 92.7 88.2 88.1 97.5 96.2 92.3 90.1 1988 99.6 98.2 87.8 91.0 92.8 93.9 90.6 87.2 96.5 96.0 94.0 91.5 1989 98.2 97.1 91.1 92.9 93.5 95.4 92.3 89.9 96.2 96.1 98.1 90.4 1990 97.6 97.8 95.3 94.8 96.9 97.3 96.4 94.3 96.5 97.7 97.4 91.7 1991 98.6 98.6 97.6 97.6 98.3 98.9 99.0 98.2 98.1 99.8 97.2 96.6 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 99.4 98.3 103.2 102.2 101.1 101.6 102.3 102.8 101.2 99.2 95.3 105.0 1994 99.5 100.1 104.7 103.1 NA 102.4 105.2 98.4 101.6 100.7 96.2 105.6 1995 100.2 99.7 107.9 104.6 NA 102.0 108.4 95.6 102.5 102.8 98.0 102.9 1996 100.1 102.5 109.4 NA NA 102.2 112.3 98.9 NA 105.9 103.5 104.3 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
United Nether- United Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom 1950 51.4 41.6 NA NA 40.0 24.5 17.2 20.1 22.5 34.4 32.8 31.9 1955 62.2 50.4 21.6 NA 43.8 32.7 23.3 24.0 27.9 38.6 39.3 35.4 1960 70.3 58.7 28.6 31.6 50.5 36.8 31.1 27.8 35.1 45.8 43.1 40.6 1961 71.8 59.4 31.1 33.0 52.8 39.5 33.4 29.6 38.0 48.0 45.8 41.5 1962 74.5 61.3 32.6 35.1 54.2 41.6 35.9 32.1 39.3 49.9 48.4 41.3 1963 76.0 62.9 33.6 37.9 55.1 43.2 36.6 35.6 41.8 51.7 51.5 42.3 1964 78.6 64.6 36.2 40.9 58.0 45.1 38.8 35.8 45.3 52.6 53.7 44.1 1965 79.9 66.5 37.2 42.9 60.3 47.3 41.0 35.6 48.7 54.5 56.0 45.4 1966 81.5 68.9 39.2 45.2 63.1 49.0 42.4 37.5 51.3 57.8 57.5 46.4 1967 81.8 70.2 42.3 47.3 65.1 50.8 43.0 41.1 54.7 61.2 60.2 47.2 1968 84.4 72.8 46.6 49.4 64.8 53.8 46.1 43.3 57.6 63.6 62.8 48.8 1969 85.3 74.9 51.8 51.5 69.6 56.5 49.5 45.9 60.0 66.5 64.8 50.3 1970 84.6 77.7 56.6 55.0 72.2 59.9 56.1 52.2 65.3 66.3 67.9 53.5 1971 86.2 80.9 60.6 59.4 78.1 63.0 58.4 55.7 68.7 70.8 70.2 54.3 1972 89.4 82.9 66.1 63.6 79.4 64.8 60.8 58.7 72.0 72.5 72.0 57.9 1973 90.5 83.1 71.9 67.2 83.5 68.0 63.9 63.3 77.9 75.6 73.1 61.2 1974 88.8 85.7 73.2 70.8 89.4 70.2 66.6 66.9 82.3 80.0 77.5 61.3 1975 89.9 87.4 74.7 72.0 94.1 74.3 67.4 70.8 83.8 85.3 85.0 65.6 1976 93.2 92.9 75.7 76.2 96.8 77.9 71.5 75.4 85.7 87.9 88.8 65.9 1977 95.5 95.5 77.3 79.1 95.6 80.1 74.3 74.4 87.3 89.0 85.9 64.5 1978 95.9 94.6 79.4 81.5 94.5 82.0 77.1 76.1 89.9 88.8 86.3 68.9 1979 93.9 94.8 82.0 84.9 96.3 83.8 79.3 79.0 91.6 87.5 86.0 71.8 1980 91.6 94.9 80.9 87.0 95.3 85.0 80.8 76.7 91.1 86.3 83.0 71.1 1981 91.2 95.9 82.0 87.6 92.7 85.8 79.8 78.1 89.7 84.6 82.1 73.1 1982 92.5 94.7 83.5 85.9 93.0 87.3 79.8 79.0 90.7 83.8 81.3 74.3 1983 94.6 96.2 84.3 82.4 94.3 87.6 80.9 80.4 92.4 85.3 81.7 76.5 1984 95.2 97.5 85.7 83.5 93.4 88.6 82.8 83.4 91.5 87.7 83.9 79.1 1985 96.9 98.7 87.2 85.8 92.1 89.9 84.5 85.5 91.8 90.4 85.3 81.6 1986 99.3 98.4 90.5 88.3 92.8 91.4 87.5 86.1 94.8 92.1 88.0 85.5 1987 99.1 97.8 92.8 89.7 95.3 92.5 91.1 88.5 97.8 93.5 91.0 91.8 1988 99.9 98.4 94.8 92.0 94.5 94.0 93.4 90.6 97.5 94.1 92.6 93.7 1989 98.3 96.5 97.4 93.5 94.1 95.3 94.1 93.2 96.7 94.7 96.3 92.5 1990 97.1 97.2 100.3 96.5 96.3 96.7 96.2 95.4 96.9 96.2 96.7 93.1 1991 97.4 97.5 100.6 97.6 97.9 98.5 98.0 98.3 98.3 98.7 96.4 96.5 1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1993 100.7 99.9 100.8 100.6 100.3 100.7 99.1 100.8 101.2 99.5 97.8 104.5 1994 101.9 102.7 102.3 104.3 101.7 101.4 101.6 99.1 101.6 101.2 101.7 105.8 1995 101.8 102.7 106.2 104.7 103.6 101.5 104.3 99.3 102.8 102.4 104.6 103.9 1996 101.7 104.8 108.6 NA 105.0 101.8 106.5 100.4 NA 105.4 109.4 105.7 NA: Not Available Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Unit Labor Costs
National U.S.
currency dollar Exchange
Year Output Compensation basis basis rate*
1970 6.4 0.6 9.9 25.0 251.4
1971 7.6 0.8 10.5 23.7 224.9
1972 8.6 1.0 11.7 23.2 198.7
1973 11.2 1.5 13.8 27.1 196.0
1974 13.1 2.2 16.9 32.6 193.0
1975 14.4 2.9 19.8 32.0 161.3
1976 18.2 4.5 24.7 39.8 161.3
1977 21.0 6.0 28.7 46.3 161.3
1978 25.7 8.8 34.1 55.0 161.3
1979 28.3 11.7 41.5 67.0 161.3
1980 27.8 14.7 52.7 67.7 128.5
1981 30.7 18.6 60.7 69.5 114.6
1982 32.8 21.0 64.0 68.3 106.8
1983 37.8 25.7 68.0 68.4 100.6
1984 42.5 31.2 73.2 70.9 96.9
1985 46.9 33.1 70.5 63.3 89.7
1986 56.1 39.2 69.9 61.9 88.6
1987 67.1 49.9 74.4 70.6 94.9
1988 76.3 63.5 83.3 88.9 106.7
1989 79.5 70.7 88.9 103.3 116.3
1990 87.2 82.5 94.5 104.2 110.3
1991 95.2 94.2 99.0 105.4 106.4
1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1993 105.0 103.1 98.2 95.5 97.3
1994 116.0 113.1 97.5 94.7 97.2
1995 128.5 124.6 96.9 98.1 101.2
1996 138.1 137.3 99.5 96.5 97.0
*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
Unit Labor Costs
National U.S.
currency dollar Exchange
Year Output Compensation basis basis rate*
1970 13.2 3.0 22.3 14.0 62.9
1971 16.2 3.8 23.4 14.7 62.9
1972 19.5 4.6 23.7 14.9 62.9
1973 22.9 6.3 27.5 18.1 65.8
1974 21.7 9.0 41.5 27.5 66.2
1975 22.6 9.5 42.1 27.9 66.2
1976 27.7 12.1 43.6 28.9 66.2
1977 31.2 14.2 45.4 30.1 66.2
1978 37.7 17.3 45.8 31.1 67.9
1979 40.7 21.2 52.0 36.3 69.8
1980 44.7 26.9 60.1 42.0 69.8
1981 48.1 33.6 69.8 47.6 68.3
1982 49.1 36.6 74.5 47.9 64.3
1983 54.8 40.0 73.0 45.9 62.8
1984 62.7 47.8 76.2 48.4 63.5
1985 64.8 51.4 79.3 50.1 63.1
1986 74.6 61.4 82.3 54.7 66.5
1987 84.4 69.2 82.1 65.1 79.3
1988 87.9 74.0 84.2 74.1 88.0
1989 91.2 80.2 87.9 83.8 95.3
1990 90.8 85.6 94.3 88.2 93.5
1991 96.9 92.6 95.6 89.9 94.0
1992 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1993 102.5 103.4 100.9 96.1 95.2
1994 108.4 110.6 102.0 97.0 95.1
1995 114.9 117.2 102.1 96.9 95.0
1996 121.0 119.3 98.5 90.3 91.6
*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1997.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs trend indexes of
manufacturing labor productivity (output per hour), hourly
compensation costs, and unit labor costs from three basic
aggregate measures-output, total labor hours, and total
compensation. The hours and compensation measures refer to all
employed persons, including self-employed persons and unpaid
family workers, in the United States, Canada, Japan, France,
Germany, Norway, and Sweden and to all employees (wage and salary
earners) in the other economies. For all of the countries, the
term "hours" refers to hours worked.
In general, the measures relate to total manufacturing as
defined by the International Standard Industrial Classification
(ISIC). However, the measures for France and Italy (beginning in
1970) refer to mining and manufacturing less energy-related
products, and the measures for Denmark include mining and exclude
manufacturing handicrafts from 1960 to 1966.
Output. For most countries, the output measures are value
added in manufacturing from the national accounts. However,
output for Japan prior to 1970 and for the Netherlands prior to
1960 are indexes of industrial production. The national accounts
measures for the United Kingdom are essentially identical to
their indexes of industrial production. While methods of
deriving national accounts measures differ from country to
country, BLS has reviewed these methods and determined that the
series are sufficiently comparable for measuring comparative
trends in productivity and unit labor costs.
In this release, the 1977-94 manufacturing output data for the
United States are the gross product originating (value added)
measures prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the
U.S. Department of Commerce. Comparable manufacturing output
data currently are not available prior to 1977. The 1994-95 and
1995-96 percent changes in manufacturing output are based on the
trend shown by the industrial production index published by the
U.S. Federal Reserve Board for the manufacturing sector.
U. S. gross product originating is a chain-type annual-
weighted series.(Footnote 1) The Japanese value-added series is based
upon one set of fixed price weights for the years 1970 through 1996.
Output series for other foreign economies also employ fixed price
weights, but the weights are updated periodically (for example,
every 5 or 10 years).
To preserve the comparability of the U.S. measures with those
of the other economies covered, BLS uses gross product
originating in manufacturing for the United States for these
comparative measures. The gross product originating series
differs from the manufacturing output series that BLS publishes
in its news releases on quarterly measures of U.S. productivity
and costs. The quarterly measures are on a "sectoral output"
basis rather than a value-added basis. Sectoral output is gross
output less intra-sector transactions.
Labor Input. The total hours measures are developed from
statistics of manufacturing employment and average hours. The
series used for France (from 1970 forward), Norway, and Sweden
are official series published with the national accounts. Where
official total hours series are not available, the measures are
developed by BLS using employment figures published with the
national accounts, or other comprehensive employment series, and
estimates of annual hours worked. For Germany, BLS uses
estimates of average hours worked, developed by a research
institute connected to the Ministry of Labor for use with the
national accounts employment figures. For the other countries,
BLS constructs its own estimates of average hours.
Denmark has not published estimates of average hours for 1994-
1996 and, therefore, the BLS measure of labor input for Denmark
ends in 1993. For Korea and for Taiwan, BLS publishes only
measures of unit labor costs and the data on output and total
compensation that underlie the computations of unit labor costs.
Total hours, and consequently productivity, are not computed for
Korea and Taiwan because BLS has not yet developed adequate labor
input series.
Compensation (labor cost). The compensation measures are from
the national accounts except those for Belgium, which are
developed by BLS using statistics on employment, average hours,
and hourly compensation. Compensation includes employer
expenditures for legally required insurance programs and
contractual and private benefit plans, in addition to all
payments made in cash or in-kind directly to employees. For
France and Sweden, compensation is increased to account for other
significant taxes on payroll or employment. For the United
Kingdom, compensation is reduced between 1967 and 1991 to account
for subsidies. Self-employed workers are included in the all-
employed-persons measures by assuming that their hourly
compensation is equal to the average for wage and salary
employees.
Current Indicators. The measures for recent years may be
based on current indicators of output (such as industrial
production indexes), employment, average hours, and hourly
compensation until national accounts and other statistics,
normally used for the long-term measures, become available.
Trade-Weighted Measures. The trade weights for Canada, Japan,
and the European countries were obtained by rescaling a series of
weights, developed by the International Monetary Fund, based on
average trade flows over the 1989-91 period. These weights are
based on aggregate trade data for total manufacturing and take
account of both bilateral trade and the relative importance of
"third country" markets. The 1989-91 weights do not include
Korea and Taiwan. BLS developed weights for Korea and Taiwan by
using data from an earlier study from the International Monetary
Fund and other sources.
The following weights were used for the entire period for
which trade-weighted unit labor cost measures are produced:
Country Weight
Canada 24.97
Japan 30.16
Denmark 0.47
France 5.82
Germany 11.45
Italy 4.54
Norway 0.47
Sweden 1.87
United Kingdom 8.87
Korea 5.66
Taiwan 5.72
Level comparisons. The BLS measures are limited to trend
comparisons. BLS does not prepare level comparisons of
manufacturing productivity and unit labor costs because of data
limitations and technical problems in comparing the levels of
manufacturing output among countries. Each country measures
manufacturing output in its own currency units. To compare
outputs among countries, a common unit of measure is needed.
Market exchange rates are not suitable as a basis for comparing
output levels. What are needed are purchasing power parities,
which are the number of foreign currency units required to buy
goods and services equivalent to what can be bought with one unit
of U.S. currency.
Purchasing power parities are available for total gross
domestic product (GDP) from the United Nations International
Comparisons Project. However, these parities are derived for
expenditures made by consumers, business, and government for
goods and services-not for value added by industry. Therefore,
they do not provide purchasing power parities by industry. The
parities for total GDP are not suitable for each component
industry, such as manufacturing.
Some analysts have constructed "proxy purchasing power
parities" for manufacturing, using selected expenditure items
from the United Nations International Comparisons Project.
However, the prices used in this method have a number of
shortcomings because they are based on consumer, business, and
government final expenditures. The data reflect sales to final
users, rather than the output of specific industries, and thus
prices include indirect taxes, distribution margins, and
transportation costs. Further, the purchasing power parities
exclude items which, although they are outputs of the
manufacturing sector (e.g. steel, paper, cement, etc.), are only
intermediate inputs with respect to final sales. They also do
not reflect an industry's output because they include imports and
exclude exports.
A different approach has been used by researchers at the
International Comparisons of Output and Productivity project at
the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. They develop
unit value ratios for matched products, based on censuses of
manufactures data in the various countries. Unit values are
obtained by dividing producers' sales values by quantities
shipped. This procedure also has shortcomings, primarily because
only a portion of manufactured products can be matched and the
matched products may not be adequately representative. For many
products, values are reported but not quantities; for some
products, there is no counterpart in the other country; and other
products cannot be matched because they represent a different mix
of product varieties or because of large differences in
qualities. (Footnote 2)
_______________________
1 For more information on the U. S. measure, see Robert E. Yuskavage,
"Improved Estimates of Gross Product by Industry, 1959-94," Survey of
Current Business, August 1996, pp. 133-55.
2 For an article based on this approach, see Bart van Ark, "Manufacturing
prices, productivity, and labor costs in five economies," Monthly Labor Review,
July 1995, pp. 56-72.
Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov USDL: 97-285 Technical information: (202) 606-5654 For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Media contact: (202) 606-5902 Friday, August 15, 1997
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