Full text of 1994 : Text File, USDL: 95-342
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Table 1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 2. Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 3. Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 4. Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 5. Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 6. Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 7. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 8. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 9. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 10. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 11. Exchange rates, 12 countries, 1950-1994 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
Table 12. Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 13. Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 14. Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 15. Korea: Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
Table 16. Taiwan: Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
Technical information USDL: 95-342
(202) 606-5654 For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact Friday, September 8, 1995
(202) 606-5902
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 1994
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported on 1994
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 4 percent in 1994. Of the 10 foreign
economies for which productivity data are available, seven had productivity increases that matched or
exceeded the U.S. growth rate. Four countries -- Denmark, France, Germany (former West Germany), and
the Netherlands -- had growth rates greater than 7 percent (See table A and chart 1.)
U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs decreased 2.3 percent in 1994. Of the 12 foreign economies
for which these data are available, only three -- Korea, Taiwan, and Norway -- recorded increases in
unit labor costs in 1994. Five economies -- Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands --
had declines in unit labor costs that exceeded the U.S. rate of decline.
In evaluating competitive changes in unit labor costs, changes in relative currency values also
need to be taken into account. The value of the Canadian dollar fell 5-1/2 percent relative to the
U.S. dollar, and Canadian unit labor costs measured in U.S. dollars declined 6-1/2 percent. In
contrast, the value of the Japanese yen rose nearly 9 percent, and Japanese unit labor costs measured
in U.S. dollars increased 7-1/2 percent -- the largest U.S.-dollar-based increase among the 13
economies. Exchange rate movements played a smaller role in affecting relative changes in unit labor
costs in the other economies. (See table A and chart 2.)
The 1994 measures of percent changes in manufacturing productivity, unit labor costs, and related
variables for the United States, Canada, Japan, and the eight European countries for which data are
available are summarized in table A on page 2. Table A also shows percent changes in unit labor costs
for Korea and Taiwan. Comparable productivity figures for Korea and Taiwan are not available because
adequate labor input measures have not been developed. Table B shows average annual percent changes
for selected periods from 1979 for 14 economies, including Belgium in addition to the 13 economies for
which 1994 measures are available. 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. U.S. indexes for most of the measures are not currently available prior to
1977; see box on page 9.
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Table A. Manufacturing productivity* and labor costs in 13 countries or areas
Percent change, 1993-94
Unit labor costs
Output Hourly ----------------
per Employ- Average compen- National U.S. Exchange
Country hour Output Hours ment hours sation curr. dollars rate (1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States 4.0 6.4 2.3 1.2 1.1 1.7 - 2.3 - 2.3 ---
Canada 4.0 6.7 2.6 2.0 .5 3.0 - 1.0 - 6.5 - 5.6
Japan 2.9 .8 - 2.1 - 2.2 .0 1.9 -1.0 7.6 8.7
Korea (2) NA 10.4 NA NA NA NA 3.5 3.4 - .1
Taiwan (2) NA 6.1 NA NA NA NA 2.2 2.0 - .2
Denmark 7.5 8.5 .9 .9 .0 3.0 - 4.2 - 2.2 2.0
France 7.6 4.8 - 2.6 - 2.6 .0 2.6 - 4.7 - 2.6 2.2
Germany (3) 7.3 2.5 - 4.5 - 5.0 .6 4.1 - 3.0 - 1.0 2.0
Italy 3.6 5.3 1.6 - 1.1 2.8 1.1 - 2.4 - 4.7 - 2.4
Netherlands 7.3 3.8 - 3.3 - 3.3 .0 1.4 - 5.5 - 3.4 2.2
Norway 1.0 5.0 3.9 3.6 .3 2.7 1.7 2.3 .6
Sweden 5.1 10.7 5.3 1.0 4.3 5.0 - .1 1.0 1.0
United Kingdom 4.1 4.1 .0 - .6 .6 4.0 - .1 1.9 2.0
* 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.
(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) Data relate to the former West Germany.
NA=Not Available.
Productivity, output, and labor input
The U.S. productivity increase of 4 percent in 1994 was exceeded in Denmark, France, Germany, and
the Netherlands, which all had increases of about 7-1/2 percent, and Sweden, where productivity rose 5
percent. (These were the largest productivity increases in France since 1964, in Germany since 1976,
and in the Netherlands since 1984.) Canada and the United Kingdom had productivity increases of about
4 percent. Of the countries for which data are available, the only economies with lower growth rates
than the United States were Japan, where productivity rose about 3 percent, Italy, about 3-1/2
percent, and Norway, only 1 percent.
For the first time in several years, productivity growth was at least partially attributable to
increases in manufacturing output in each of the economies. Manufacturing output growth of 6-1/2
percent placed the United States in about the middle of the range for the foreign economies. Output
growth ranged from about 1 percent in Japan to 8-1/2 percent in Denmark and over 10 percent in Korea
and Sweden. Canada and Taiwan, like the United States, had output growth rates between 6 and 7
percent. Output growth in the other European economies ranged from 2-1/2 percent in Germany to about
5 percent in Italy and Norway.
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***AT THIS POINT, PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART 1. PERCENT CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PER HOUR, 1994.
- 4 -
The largest productivity increases generally were achieved in the countries that reduced labor
input the most (as measured by total hours worked). 1/ France, Germany, and the Netherlands each
recorded declines of 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 percent in total hours worked. Japan, where labor input fell 2
percent, was the only other country where the productivity gain was partially attributable to a
reduction in labor hours. The United States and Canada increased hours worked by about 2-1/2 percent,
and Norway posted a 4 percent increase. However, the biggest increase in hours worked occurred in
Sweden where, following three consecutive years of labor input reductions of 4-1/2 percent or more,
labor input increased nearly 5-1/2 percent. Most of the Swedish increase resulted from an increase in
average hours; employment rose only 1 percent. Swedish productivity grew 5 percent on the strength of
a 10.7 percent increase in output.
Hourly compensation and unit labor costs
Hourly compensation costs in manufacturing -- which include wages and salaries, supplements, and
employer payments for social security and other employer-financed benefit plans -- rose 1.7 percent in
the United States in 1994. Three other countries -- Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands -- also had
hourly compensation increases under 2 percent. The remaining countries had somewhat larger increases
of 2-1/2 to 5 percent.
Modest increases in compensation costs, combined with large increases in output in many
economies, meant that unit labor costs either remained flat or fell in 10 of the 13 economies
studied. 2/ The U.S. decline of 2.3 percent was typical of this group of economies, but unit labor
costs in Denmark, France, and the Netherlands dropped by more than 4 percent. At the opposite end of
the spectrum, Korea had an increase of 3-1/2 percent, and Taiwan and Norway each had unit labor cost
increases of around 2 percent.
Unit labor costs in U.S. dollars
The currencies of all the European countries studied, except the Italian lira, appreciated
somewhat relative to the U.S. dollar in 1994 -- about 1 to 2 percent. This contrasts with 1993, when
the relative values of the European currencies fell 5 to 25 percent. Canada and Italy were the only
economies in the group whose currencies showed any significant decline in value relative to the U.S.
dollar over the year -- the Canadian dollar dropped 5-1/2 percent and the lira was down 2-1/2 percent.
As in each of the previous 3 years, the Japanese yen continued to appreciate strongly in 1994, up
8-1/2 percent relative to the dollar. Between 1990 and 1994, the value of the yen rose 42 percent
against the U.S. dollar. Dollar exchange rates against the currencies of Korea and Taiwan were
virtually unchanged in 1994.
When measured in U.S. dollars to account for changes in relative currency values, unit labor
costs in 1994 fell 6-1/2 percent in Canada and about 4-1/2 percent in Italy, the two economies whose
currencies depreciated. Despite appreciating currencies, Denmark, France, Germany, and the
-----------------------------------------
1/ The average hours series used for Denmark was discontinued at the end of 1993; therefore, average
hours in 1994 have been held at the 1993 level.
2/ As noted above, unit labor cost measures are compiled for Korea and Taiwan in addition to the 11
countries for which productivity and hourly compensation measures are computed.
- 5 -
***At this point, printed copy has Chart 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs (U.S. dollar
basis), 1994.
- 6 -
Netherlands all had declines in unit labor costs on a U.S. dollar basis. The declines, in the range
of 1 to 3-1/2 percent, were similar in magnitude to the United States' drop of 2.3 percent. Korea,
which had the largest increase in unit labor costs measured on a national currency basis and a flat
exchange rate over the year, had one of the largest increases in U.S.-dollar-based unit labor costs,
3-1/2 percent. However, the strong yen made Japan -- where unit labor costs declined by 1 percent on
a national currency basis -- the economy with the largest increase in U.S.-dollar-based unit labor
costs, 7-1/2 percent. The other four economies -- Taiwan, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom --
had small increases of about 1 to 2 percent.
***At this point, printed copy has Chart 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 12
competitors, 1979-94.
Trade-weighted unit labor costs
The countries covered by the BLS comparative measures differ greatly in their relative importance
to U.S. trade in manufactured goods. Therefore, BLS constructs two summary measures: A "competitors"
index, which is the trade-weighted geometric average of the unit labor cost indexes for the other
economies; and a relative index, which is the ratio of the U.S. index to the "competitors" index.
Chart 3 shows U.S. relative unit labor cost indexes on both a national currency and U.S. dollar basis
over the 1979-94 period. Because 1994 data are not available for Belgium, it has been excluded from
this analysis; however, Belgium accounts for only about 2 percent of the total trade in manufactured
goods between the 13 foreign economies and the United States.
With this release, the trade weights have been updated from 1980 to 1989-91. The effect is to
increase the weights assigned to Canada, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan with corresponding reductions in the
weights assigned to the European countries. See the section on "Trade-Weighted Measures" in the
Technical Note.
U.S. relative unit labor costs, expressed on a national currency basis (i.e., unadjusted for
exchange rate changes), fell gradually, with only minor interruptions, between 1979 and 1994. The
overall decline amounted to almost 9 percentage points. Adjusted for relative changes in currency
exchange rates, however, the pattern was quite different. The U.S. dollar appreciated 36 percent on a
- 7 -
trade-weighted basis between 1979 and 1985, and U.S. relative unit labor costs rose more than 37
percent. Between 1985 and 1988, the U.S. dollar depreciated 32 percent, and U.S. relative unit labor
costs fell 36 percent. The trade-weighted value of the dollar rose moderately in 1989. Since 1989,
the dollar has generally declined, but at a much slower rate than in the 1985-88 period. The decline
since 1990 has been entirely attributable to the rise of the Japanese yen -- the U.S. dollar rose
relative to the Canadian dollar and the European currencies. 3/
Overall, the dollar depreciated 34 percent between 1985 and 1994, and, by the end of the period,
it was down 10 percent from its 1979 level. In 1994, U.S. relative unit labor costs, measured on a
U.S. dollar basis, were down 40 percent from their level in 1985 and 18 percent from their level in
1979.
Compared with 1979 levels, U.S. unit labor costs in 1994 were down 35 percent relative to Japan,
which has a weight of 30 percent in the overall trade-weighted indexes; 5 percent relative to Canada,
which has a weight of 24 percent; and 5 percent relative to Europe, which has a weight of 35 percent.
Charts 4 and 5 show U.S. unit labor cost indexes relative to Japan and Europe.
***At this point, the printed copy has Chart 4. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to
Japan, 1979-94.
----------------------------------------------
3/ Between 1990 and 1994, the dollar depreciated an average of 8-1/2 percent per year against the
yen but appreciated 4 percent annually against the Canadian dollar and about 2-1/2 percent
annually against the trade-weighted average for the European currencies.
- 8 -
***At this point, printed copy has Chart 5. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to
Europe, 1979-94.
Recent exchange rate changes
As of August 1995, the currencies of most of the economies studied had appreciated from their
1994 average levels relative to the dollar. The value of the Japanese yen was 8 percent higher than
its 1994 average and had been over 20 percent higher in April, May, and June. Individual European
exchange rate changes ranged from increases of 11 to 13 percent for Denmark, France, Germany, the
Netherlands, and Norway, 6-1/2 percent for Sweden, and 2 percent for the United Kingdom. The only
European currency to remain about unchanged was the Italian lira. The Canadian dollar was up 1
percent, the Korean won was up 5 percent, and the Taiwanese dollar was down 3 percent.
- 9 -
Note on U.S. output measures (NOTE: This section appears as a box on printed copy.)
The 1977-93 real manufacturing output data for the United States are the 1987 fixed-price-weighted
measures prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce for gross
product originating. Comparable manufacturing output data currently are not available prior to 1977.
The 1993-94 percent change in manufacturing output is based on the trend shown by the industrial
production indexes published by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board for the durable and nondurable goods
sectors, weighted by their shares in gross product originating.
The U.S. real output measures normally constructed by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are based
on fixed price weights of a single year. Fixed-weighted real output series have several advantages,
but, if there are major changes in relative prices over the period covered, the change in real output
becomes sensitive to the choice of price weights. In general, use of fixed-weighted measures of
output results in an understatement of growth for periods before the price-base year and an
overstatement of growth for periods after the price-base year. This issue is discussed in Robert P.
Parker, "Gross Product by Industry, 1977-90," Survey of Current Business, May 1993.
Until quite recently, this "bias" was considered small enough to ignore. However, changes in the
composition of output and in relative prices, particularly the sharp decline in computer prices along
with rapid output increases in the 1980's, have made the output measures much more sensitive to the
choice of price weights. Consequently, BEA is switching to chain-type annual-weighted indexes for its
featured measures of real output and prices. See J. Steven Landefeld and Robert P. Parker, "Preview
of the Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: BEA's New Featured Measures
of Output and Prices," Survey of Current Business, July 1995.
In late 1995 or early 1996, BLS will switch to an annually-weighted output index for its manufacturing
labor productivity and unit labor cost measures. BLS is presently studying several sources of
manufacturing data that use such a method. The use of annually-weighted output measures is
particularly important for manufacturing, because computers are made within that sector. When this
change is made, it may be possible to provide data for years prior to 1977. See Edwin Dean, Michael
Harper, and Phyllis Otto, "Improvements to the Quarterly Productivity Measures," forthcoming in the
October issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
Most of the foreign economies link fixed-weighted measures covering various periods, but some also
produce annual chain-weighted indexes. The output measures used in this article are fixed weighted,
with the following exception: The measures for Norway for 1987-92 are based on relative prices of the
preceding year (the 1993 and 1994 measures are currently based on 1991 prices).
- 10 -
Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94
Average annual rates of change (1)
Country 1979-94 1979-85 1985-90 1990-94 1991 1992 1993 1994
or area
Output per hour
United States 2.5 2.0 2.7 3.0 2.3 2.1 3.6 4.0
Canada 1.8 2.4 .4 2.8 .7 4.2 2.3 4.0
Japan 4.3 4.6 5.4 2.4 5.2 - .2 1.9 2.9
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA 5.1 2.3 NA 3.0 4.0 4.1 NA
Denmark 1.7 2.1 .1 3.2 1.9 1.9 1.5 7.5
France 3.1 3.0 3.4 2.8 - .4 3.1 .9 7.6
Germany (2) 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.8 3.6 -1.2 1.5 7.3
Italy 4.0 5.0 2.6 4.1 3.2 5.0 4.6 3.6
Netherlands 3.1 4.4 1.9 2.6 1.0 .4 1.9 7.3
Norway 2.1 2.9 1.5 1.7 - .5 4.1 2.1 1.0
Sweden 2.9 3.0 1.7 4.2 .0 5.3 6.6 5.1
U.K. 4.0 4.1 3.8 4.3 3.7 4.8 4.5 4.1
Continued on next page
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Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
Average annual rates of change (1)
Country 1979-94 1979-85 1985-90 1990-94 1991 1992 1993 1994
or area
Output
United States 1.9 .7 2.8 2.7 -1.9 1.5 5.0 6.4
Canada 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.2 -6.9 .7 5.0 6.7
Japan 4.4 5.8 5.8 .6 6.3 -2.0 -2.5 .8
Korea 9.9 8.8 13.2 7.4 9.1 5.1 5.0 10.4
Taiwan 6.8 8.1 7.0 4.6 6.7 3.2 2.5 6.1
Belgium NA 1.6 2.5 NA .4 .1 -3.1 NA
Denmark 1.4 2.9 - .5 1.5 - .1 1.0 -3.1 8.5
France .6 - .4 2.6 - .5 -1.8 - .1 -4.6 4.8
Germany (2) .6 .2 2.3 -1.0 3.7 -2.3 -7.7 2.5
Italy 2.2 1.8 4.0 .7 - .2 .4 -2.6 5.3
Netherlands 1.8 1.8 3.1 .3 .5 - .6 -2.2 3.8
Norway .2 1.0 -1.7 1.6 -3.3 3.2 1.7 5.0
Sweden 1.4 2.2 1.2 .4 -6.4 -3.4 1.6 10.7
U.K. .6 -1.2 3.4 - .2 -5.4 - .6 1.3 4.1
Total hours
United States - .6 -1.2 .0 - .3 -4.1 - .6 1.4 2.3
Canada - .4 - .9 1.1 -1.5 -7.5 -3.3 2.6 2.6
Japan .1 1.1 .4 -1.8 1.0 -1.8 -4.3 -2.1
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA -3.3 .2 NA -2.6 -3.8 -6.9 NA
Denmark - .3 .8 - .6 -1.6 -2.0 - .9 -4.5 .9
France -2.4 -3.3 - .8 -3.2 -1.4 -3.2 -5.5 -2.6
Germany (2) -1.6 -1.8 .3 -3.7 .1 -1.1 -9.1 -4.5
Italy -1.7 -3.1 1.3 -3.3 -3.3 -4.4 -6.9 1.6
Netherlands -1.2 -2.5 1.2 -2.2 - .6 -1.0 -4.1 -3.3
Norway -1.8 -1.9 -3.1 .0 -2.8 - .8 - .4 3.9
Sweden -1.5 - .8 - .5 -3.7 -6.4 -8.3 -4.7 5.3
U.K. -3.3 -5.0 - .3 -4.3 -8.8 -5.2 -3.1 .0
Continued on next page
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Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
Average annual rates of change (1)
Country 1979-94 1979-85 1985-90 1990-94 1991 1992 1993 1994
or area
Employment
United States -0.9 -1.4 -0.1 -1.0 -3.5 -1.7 0.1 1.2
Canada - .5 - .8 1.1 -2.1 -7.1 -3.5 .6 2.0
Japan .7 1.2 .8 .1 3.2 1.3 -2.0 -2.2
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA -2.7 - .5 NA - .9 -3.8 -5.4 NA
Denmark - .1 1.0 - .1 -1.6 -2.2 -1.2 -3.7 .9
France -2.0 -2.3 - .9 -3.1 -1.6 -3.4 -4.7 -2.6
Germany (2) - .8 -1.1 1.1 -2.9 1.4 -1.8 -5.9 -5.0
Italy -1.9 -2.9 .3 -3.2 -2.2 -4.3 -5.1 -1.1
Netherlands -1.0 -2.3 1.4 -2.1 - .3 - .8 -4.1 -3.3
Norway -1.8 -1.8 -2.9 - .6 -3.3 -1.9 - .7 3.6
Sweden -2.2 -1.2 - .8 -5.5 -6.2 -9.0 -7.3 1.0
U.K. -3.0 -4.6 - .4 -3.9 -7.1 -5.2 -2.6 - .6
Average hours
United States 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.7 -0.6 1.2 1.3 1.1
Canada .1 - .1 .0 .6 - .5 .2 2.0 .5
Japan - .6 .0 - .3 -1.9 -2.1 -3.1 -2.3 .0
Korea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Taiwan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Belgium NA - .6 .7 NA -1.7 - .0 -1.6 NA
Denmark - .3 - .3 - .5 .0 .3 .3 - .8 .0
France - .4 -1.0 .1 - .1 .2 .2 - .8 .0
Germany (2) - .8 - .7 - .9 - .9 -1.3 .7 -3.4 .6
Italy .2 - .1 1.0 - .1 -1.1 - .1 -2.0 2.8
Netherlands - .2 - .3 - .2 - .1 - .3 - .2 .0 .0
Norway .0 - .1 - .3 .5 .5 1.1 .2 .3
Sweden .8 .4 .3 1.9 - .2 .8 2.8 4.3
U.K. - .3 - .5 .0 - .4 -1.8 .0 - .5 .6
Continued on next page
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Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
Average annual rates of change (1)
Country 1979-94 1979-85 1985-90 1990-94 1991 1992 1993 1994
or area
Hourly compensation(3): National currency basis
United States 5.0 6.9 3.9 3.5 5.4 4.2 2.7 1.7
Canada 5.7 8.7 4.1 3.4 6.5 3.9 .3 3.0
Japan 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.1 5.8 4.2 4.5 1.9
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 6.3 5.2 3.8 NA
Denmark 6.0 8.1 5.4 3.7 3.9 4.0 3.9 3.0
France 7.5 12.7 4.5 3.7 4.9 3.4 3.8 2.6
Germany (2) 5.6 5.9 4.9 5.9 6.7 5.3 7.4 4.1
Italy 10.6 16.7 6.9 6.4 10.6 7.4 6.7 1.1
Netherlands 3.7 4.9 2.1 4.0 4.7 5.2 4.6 1.4
Norway 7.4 10.0 8.1 2.9 5.6 2.6 1.0 2.7
Sweden 7.8 9.6 8.4 4.2 8.9 4.6 -1.5 5.0
U.K. 9.2 11.5 7.6 7.9 10.4 10.2 7.3 4.0
Unit labor costs: National currency basis
United States 2.4 4.9 1.1 0.5 3.0 2.1 -0.8 -2.3
Canada 3.8 6.1 3.7 .6 5.7 - .3 -1.9 -1.0
Japan .2 .1 - .7 1.6 .5 4.4 2.6 -1.0
Korea 6.1 9.2 6.0 1.8 4.7 1.0 -1.8 3.5
Taiwan 4.7 7.3 3.5 2.3 1.4 4.5 .9 2.2
Belgium NA 5.9 5.2 NA 2.0 2.0 2.4 NA
Denmark 4.2 5.9 5.2 .5 2.0 2.0 2.4 -4.2
France 4.3 9.5 1.0 .9 5.3 .3 2.8 -4.7
Germany (2) 3.3 3.8 2.8 3.0 3.0 6.7 5.7 -3.0
Italy 6.3 11.1 4.2 2.2 7.1 2.3 1.9 -2.4
Netherlands .6 .5 .2 1.3 3.6 4.8 2.6 -5.5
Norway 5.2 6.9 6.5 1.3 6.1 -1.4 -1.1 1.7
Sweden 4.7 6.4 6.6 .0 8.9 - .7 -7.6 - .1
U.K. 5.0 7.1 3.7 3.5 6.4 5.1 2.6 - .1
Continued on next page
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Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
Average annual rates of change (1)
Country 1979-94 1979-85 1985-90 1990-94 1991 1992 1993 1994
or area
Unit labor costs: U.S. dollar basis
United States 2.4 4.9 1.1 0.5 3.0 2.1 -0.8 -2.3
Canada 2.8 3.4 7.1 -3.3 7.6 -5.4 -8.1 -6.5
Japan 5.4 -1.4 9.7 10.9 8.3 10.8 17.1 7.6
Korea 2.6 - .9 10.5 -1.4 1.1 -5.1 -4.5 3.4
Taiwan 6.8 5.5 12.0 2.7 2.0 11.2 -3.9 2.0
Belgium NA -8.8 13.9 NA .9 7.6 -7.3 NA
Denmark 2.9 -5.8 17.2 - .1 -1.4 8.2 -4.7 -2.2
France 2.4 -3.4 11.6 .4 1.5 7.0 -4.0 -2.6
Germany (2) 4.1 -4.1 15.9 2.9 .2 13.5 - .2 -1.0
Italy 1.7 -3.3 14.3 -5.1 3.4 3.0 -20.2 -4.7
Netherlands 1.3 -7.6 12.9 1.3 .8 11.6 -2.9 -3.4
Norway 2.9 -2.1 13.5 -1.7 2.2 3.0 -13.5 2.3
Sweden .7 -5.3 14.8 -6.4 6.6 3.2 -30.9 1.0
U.K. 2.7 -1.3 10.5 - .4 5.4 5.0 -12.7 1.9
Exchange rates (4)
United States 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Canada -1.0 -2.5 3.2 -3.9 1.8 -5.2 -6.3 -5.6
Japan 5.2 -1.5 10.5 9.1 7.7 6.2 14.1 8.7
Korea -3.3 -9.3 4.2 -3.1 -3.5 -6.1 -2.7 - .1
Taiwan 2.1 -1.7 8.2 .4 .6 6.4 -4.8 - .2
Belgium - .9 -11.1 12.2 .0 -2.3 6.4 -7.0 3.5
Denmark -1.3 -11.0 11.4 - .7 -3.3 6.1 -6.9 2.0
France -1.8 -11.7 10.5 - .5 -3.5 6.7 -6.6 2.2
Germany (2) .8 -7.6 12.7 - .1 -2.7 6.4 -5.6 2.0
Italy -4.3 -12.9 9.8 -7.1 -3.5 .7 -21.7 -2.4
Netherlands .7 -8.0 12.7 .0 -2.7 6.4 -5.4 2.2
Norway -2.2 -8.4 6.6 -3.0 -3.7 4.5 -12.5 .6
Sweden -3.8 -11.0 7.8 -6.4 -2.1 3.9 -25.3 1.0
U.K. -2.2 -7.9 6.6 -3.7 - .9 - .1 -15.0 2.0
(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.
- 15 -
TECHNICAL NOTE
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 aggregative 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. Hours refer to hours worked in all countries. (The figures for Canada are the
official measures prepared by Statistics Canada.)
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 1970) refer
to mining and manufacturing less energy-related products; the measures for Denmark include mining and
exclude manufacturing handicrafts from 1960 to 1966; and the measures for the Netherlands exclude
petroleum refining and include coal mining from 1969 to 1976.
Output: In general, the output measures are value added in manufacturing (gross product originating)
in constant prices from the national accounts of each country. However, output for Japan prior to
1970 and the Netherlands from 1969 to 1977 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 substantially from country to
country, the use of different procedures does not, in itself, connote lack of comparability--rather,
it reflects differences among countries in the availability and reliability of underlying data series.
Country differences in the price-base years used to measure real output, and in the frequency and
method of changing price weights, also can lead to differences in real output growth rates. See the
"Note on U.S. output measures" on page 9.
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 with the Ministry of
Labor for use with the national accounts employment figures. For the other countries, BLS constructs
its own estimates of average hours.
For the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, the Bureau 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.
- 16 -
Compensation (labor cost): The compensation measures are from the national accounts except those for
Belgium, which are developed by the Bureau 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 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 used for the long-term measures become available.
Trade-Weighted Measures: The economies covered by the BLS measures differ greatly in their relative
importance to U.S. trade in manufactured products. Therefore, BLS constructs trade-weighted measures
that take account of these differences. This release updates the weights from 1980 to 1989-91. The
former trade weights were derived by rescaling a series covering 21 economies that was developed by
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These weights were based on disaggregated 1980 trade data for
manufactured goods, and took account of both bilateral trade and the relative importance of "third
country" markets. Since the structure of trade can change substantially over time, it was likely that
the 1980 weights no longer reflected current trade patterns among the countries studied. The new
weights, for Canada, Japan, and the European countries were also obtained by rescaling a series of
weights developed by the IMF based on average trade flows over the 1989-1991 period. The new IMF
weights were calculated using aggregate trade data for total manufacturing.
The new IMF weights do not include Korea and Taiwan. These economies may be added to the IMF weights
later this year. In the meantime, in order to include Korea and Taiwan in the BLS trade-weighted
measures, the 1989-91 weights for these two economies were estimated based on the change from 1980 to
1990 in the proportions of U.S. trade in manufactured goods accounted for by Korea and Taiwan relative
to the group of 13 competitor economies studied. The resulting weights for Korea and Taiwan are, as
expected, substantially higher than their 1980 weights.
The following tabulation shows both the old and new rescaled weights for the 12 foreign economies for
which the 1994 unit labor cost measures are available:
Old New Old New
Country Weight Weight Country Weight Weight
Canada 19.43 24.43 Netherlands 2.77 2.17
Japan 25.63 29.50 Norway 0.59 0.46
Denmark 0.66 0.46 Sweden 2.10 1.83
France 8.41 5.69 United Kingdom 12.27 8.67
Germany 14.70 11.21 Korea 3.31 5.54
Italy 5.66 4.44 Taiwan 4.48 5.59
- 17 -
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 (PPPs), 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.
PPPs are available for total gross domestic product (GDP) from the United Nations' International
Comparisons Project (UNICP). However, these PPPs are derived from the expenditure side of the
national accounts (consumer, business, and government final expenditures for goods and services) and
not from the output side of the accounts (gross product originating by industry, or value added).
Therefore, they do not provide PPPs by industry. The PPPs for total GDP are not suitable for each
component industry, such as manufacturing.
Some analysts have constructed "proxy PPPs" for manufacturing using selected expenditure items from
the UNICP. However, since the prices used are based on consumer, business, and government final
expenditures, they have a number of shortcomings: they are based on final sales values rather than
industry value added or gross output; they include indirect taxes, distribution margins, and
transportation costs; they include the prices of imports and exclude the prices of exports; and the
prices of intermediate products, such as steel, paper, and cement, are represented only marginally and
indirectly as inputs to the final products included among the selected expenditures.
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 PPPs (referred
to as unit value ratios or UVRs) based on ratios of producers' sales values per unit of output for
matched products from country censuses of manufactures. 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 counterpoint in the other country; and other products can not be matched because
they represent a different mix of product varieties or because of large differences in qualities. 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.
Table 1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 35.5 NA NA 24.5 17.9 16.8 16.7 17.2 30.9 25.7 41.1
1955 NA 43.6 11.5 NA 26.7 22.6 25.1 23.4 21.5 36.0 28.2 44.3
1960 NA 51.6 18.5 26.2 32.4 29.6 37.1 29.3 27.3 46.4 36.0 50.3
1961 NA 54.4 21.0 26.5 34.3 31.5 39.0 31.6 28.8 48.0 37.9 50.3
1962 NA 58.2 22.0 27.9 36.0 33.6 41.7 35.0 29.6 48.0 40.8 51.5
1963 NA 60.3 23.8 28.9 37.2 35.4 43.5 36.0 30.7 50.5 43.2 54.2
1964 NA 63.2 27.0 30.8 40.2 38.2 47.2 36.3 33.4 53.3 46.9 57.8
1965 NA 66.1 28.1 32.3 42.2 40.9 50.1 40.5 35.5 56.5 50.4 59.5
1966 NA 67.6 30.8 34.5 44.3 44.3 52.1 44.0 37.7 58.9 52.6 61.4
1967 NA 68.9 34.9 36.5 47.6 47.0 55.3 46.2 40.4 61.1 57.1 64.3
1968 NA 74.0 39.0 39.7 51.9 52.0 59.9 49.8 45.1 64.8 62.3 68.9
1969 NA 77.9 44.7 43.4 54.0 55.3 64.2 51.6 49.4 70.8 67.2 70.6
1970 NA 76.9 50.3 47.9 57.2 58.6 66.4 54.9 54.4 73.0 68.9 72.1
1971 NA 82.4 53.4 50.7 61.1 62.0 68.9 56.0 57.3 75.9 71.9 75.6
1972 NA 86.4 59.2 56.5 66.0 64.9 73.2 60.6 62.3 80.3 75.5 80.6
1973 NA 91.9 64.4 62.5 72.7 69.4 77.9 65.1 69.2 85.4 81.1 86.2
1974 NA 93.3 65.9 65.9 75.1 71.0 80.7 69.3 75.0 89.2 84.5 87.4
1975 NA 90.1 68.7 68.6 82.6 73.5 84.0 67.1 73.3 88.1 85.8 86.0
1976 NA 96.4 73.7 75.6 85.7 78.0 90.1 76.3 81.6 90.9 87.2 89.6
1977 96.2 101.8 77.1 79.3 87.3 82.6 92.9 78.1 85.1 90.3 85.8 90.2
1978 96.3 102.9 81.3 84.1 88.5 86.3 96.1 83.0 90.7 91.9 88.2 91.2
1979 94.9 103.8 87.7 88.7 92.9 90.3 100.3 91.1 95.2 97.5 95.1 91.6
1980 92.9 99.9 91.1 86.9 98.0 90.8 98.5 95.5 96.1 96.3 96.6 91.0
1981 96.2 104.8 95.0 94.0 99.6 93.4 100.5 97.8 98.2 96.7 95.9 95.1
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 102.2 107.3 102.5 111.6 104.9 102.3 105.4 105.2 107.9 104.8 106.8 107.3
1984 103.5 116.3 107.9 117.5 104.3 103.9 109.0 115.7 118.5 112.2 111.8 112.4
1985 106.7 119.8 114.9 119.6 105.0 107.9 113.4 122.3 123.4 115.8 113.8 116.4
1986 109.5 117.9 113.0 121.4 98.9 109.7 114.2 123.7 125.3 114.7 115.7 120.6
1987 116.6 119.0 122.4 123.7 98.4 111.6 112.7 127.2 126.2 120.4 117.7 126.9
1988 119.2 119.5 129.6 128.6 102.1 119.3 116.7 130.0 128.9 119.5 118.6 133.5
1989 119.9 120.0 138.7 134.4 105.6 125.4 120.5 134.0 133.7 119.5 122.5 138.4
1990 122.1 122.0 149.1 134.1 105.5 127.6 125.6 139.3 135.4 124.5 124.0 140.1
1991 124.9 122.9 156.9 138.1 107.5 127.1 130.1 143.8 136.8 123.8 124.0 145.3
1992 127.5 128.0 156.6 143.6 109.6 131.1 128.5 151.0 137.4 128.9 130.6 152.3
1993 132.0 130.9 159.5 149.5 111.2 132.3 130.5 158.0 140.0 131.6 139.2 159.2
1994 137.4 136.2 164.2 NA 119.5 142.4 140.0 163.8 150.2 132.9 146.3 165.7
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, September 1995.
Table 2. Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 39.6 NA NA 33.1 21.9 23.0 19.0 21.2 40.6 34.9 48.2
1955 NA 46.8 12.9 NA 35.4 27.3 34.4 27.2 26.7 47.3 38.0 52.6
1960 NA 55.1 21.5 32.9 40.8 35.8 45.9 34.4 34.2 58.6 46.0 58.5
1961 NA 57.8 24.0 33.2 41.9 38.2 47.3 36.8 34.5 59.8 47.9 57.8
1962 NA 62.5 24.7 35.0 44.4 40.6 49.4 39.5 35.3 59.5 51.2 58.5
1963 NA 65.0 26.5 36.3 45.1 42.8 50.7 40.8 36.5 62.4 53.7 61.5
1964 NA 68.4 29.9 38.5 49.2 45.8 55.1 41.2 39.3 66.2 57.6 66.1
1965 NA 71.6 30.6 39.8 51.5 48.6 58.2 44.4 41.6 68.6 61.5 67.1
1966 NA 72.7 33.7 42.2 53.1 52.8 59.8 48.7 44.1 71.7 64.0 68.1
1967 NA 73.8 38.2 44.0 56.3 55.5 61.8 51.9 47.0 73.6 68.3 70.7
1968 NA 79.3 42.6 47.9 60.1 59.6 67.7 56.0 51.5 76.2 73.1 76.4
1969 NA 83.2 48.2 51.8 61.7 64.9 72.6 57.6 55.6 81.4 77.5 78.3
1970 NA 81.5 53.6 55.6 63.3 68.0 74.5 60.2 60.1 83.3 79.2 78.7
1971 NA 86.8 56.0 58.0 67.3 71.3 75.8 59.7 62.7 85.7 82.5 80.6
1972 NA 91.0 61.7 63.2 71.2 73.8 79.6 64.1 67.3 89.5 84.3 85.1
1973 NA 96.4 66.7 68.1 74.2 77.8 84.1 69.7 73.2 94.6 88.9 92.3
1974 NA 97.3 65.3 70.1 78.2 78.5 85.4 71.6 76.9 97.5 91.7 90.5
1975 NA 92.9 66.6 69.0 83.3 78.9 86.7 68.1 73.8 95.9 91.3 88.8
1976 NA 99.3 73.5 77.4 86.8 83.9 95.5 77.5 82.0 96.3 91.6 93.3
1977 99.8 105.1 77.1 80.9 87.6 88.1 96.9 78.8 85.1 94.2 89.5 94.5
1978 99.9 106.5 81.7 85.6 87.8 91.3 99.0 83.6 89.9 93.7 89.6 95.2
1979 97.9 106.6 88.6 90.3 92.1 95.4 102.9 91.1 93.2 97.7 95.2 95.2
1980 94.6 102.2 92.0 87.1 97.8 95.9 99.8 95.7 94.6 97.0 95.6 91.5
1981 97.9 105.9 95.2 92.0 98.2 97.4 100.5 98.0 97.2 97.5 95.5 94.1
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 105.0 108.7 102.7 108.8 106.3 101.9 105.1 105.2 108.0 105.2 108.1 107.6
1984 107.9 119.1 109.1 113.9 105.4 103.6 108.7 115.7 117.0 112.5 115.2 113.7
1985 111.3 122.6 115.9 117.6 102.6 107.0 111.3 121.2 118.7 115.6 116.4 117.7
1986 114.1 120.6 113.3 119.5 98.8 108.9 111.2 125.7 120.0 114.4 117.8 121.7
1987 122.1 122.6 123.2 122.8 96.1 111.6 109.1 131.6 120.2 117.1 121.4 129.0
1988 126.3 123.5 131.8 129.8 99.8 119.7 112.8 139.3 123.8 117.2 122.1 136.4
1989 126.9 123.1 139.5 134.9 101.9 125.5 115.0 143.3 127.6 117.8 125.7 141.2
1990 128.3 125.0 147.9 136.2 100.6 127.1 118.1 145.3 129.2 122.5 128.8 141.8
1991 130.4 125.3 152.4 137.9 102.8 126.8 120.8 148.3 130.2 122.5 128.6 144.5
1992 134.7 130.8 147.5 143.4 105.1 131.1 120.1 155.6 130.5 128.9 136.5 151.5
1993 141.3 136.6 146.7 146.8 105.8 131.2 117.9 159.6 132.9 131.9 149.6 157.5
1994 148.7 142.8 151.1 NA 113.8 141.2 127.2 170.0 142.7 133.7 163.9 164.9
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, September 1995.
Table 3. Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 29.1 3.1 NA 29.8 20.9 17.8 12.4 22.6 37.9 34.8 61.0
1955 NA 37.7 6.9 NA 32.8 26.0 33.8 19.1 31.0 46.4 40.3 71.7
1960 NA 44.1 15.1 40.8 45.4 35.1 51.0 28.1 42.8 56.0 51.8 82.9
1961 NA 45.9 18.1 42.6 47.9 37.7 54.0 31.0 44.3 58.3 55.3 83.0
1962 NA 51.1 19.7 46.0 52.0 40.5 56.7 34.4 46.5 58.8 59.5 83.2
1963 NA 54.5 21.9 48.2 52.7 43.6 57.8 36.6 48.4 62.3 62.4 86.1
1964 NA 60.0 25.5 52.5 58.9 47.6 62.8 37.1 53.0 66.8 67.9 94.0
1965 NA 66.0 26.5 54.2 62.7 50.0 67.5 39.0 56.7 70.3 72.7 96.7
1966 NA 70.3 30.0 57.4 64.0 54.6 68.7 42.6 59.8 74.5 74.8 98.4
1967 NA 71.8 36.0 58.1 64.7 57.2 67.1 46.8 62.1 76.9 77.2 99.1
1968 NA 76.6 41.6 62.1 69.7 60.4 74.1 51.2 68.0 78.8 81.2 106.0
1969 NA 82.0 48.4 69.5 73.5 67.6 82.8 54.5 74.6 84.5 87.6 110.1
1970 NA 78.5 55.1 76.5 75.7 72.7 87.0 58.8 80.5 88.4 91.0 110.5
1971 NA 83.5 57.8 80.0 77.2 77.2 87.9 59.8 82.5 91.5 91.6 109.3
1972 NA 90.3 63.8 86.0 83.9 80.8 90.6 63.0 85.5 95.9 92.1 111.6
1973 NA 100.0 71.8 93.9 88.5 87.0 96.4 70.5 91.5 101.3 98.6 121.9
1974 NA 103.0 69.7 97.6 89.9 88.7 95.4 75.1 95.5 106.4 104.0 120.4
1975 NA 96.1 67.1 90.3 87.7 86.9 91.0 70.8 88.5 104.1 104.3 112.1
1976 NA 103.1 73.6 97.1 91.9 92.0 98.0 81.4 94.5 104.3 104.3 114.2
1977 104.3 106.9 76.4 97.4 92.3 96.2 99.8 84.4 95.5 102.2 98.3 116.4
1978 108.7 111.7 79.8 98.8 92.0 98.4 101.7 88.5 98.4 99.8 95.7 117.0
1979 109.3 115.9 86.5 101.4 97.3 101.3 106.9 97.9 100.9 102.7 101.8 116.8
1980 102.0 110.7 91.5 95.7 101.7 100.6 104.7 103.1 101.1 101.7 102.2 106.7
1981 105.0 114.8 95.7 95.6 98.4 99.0 103.6 101.1 101.2 100.7 99.1 100.1
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 103.2 106.5 104.3 106.3 106.7 99.9 101.5 100.8 103.2 99.3 105.8 102.1
1984 111.3 120.2 113.2 109.9 111.7 98.7 104.6 105.4 109.1 105.0 113.4 105.9
1985 114.0 127.0 121.2 111.8 115.3 99.1 108.4 108.9 112.1 108.8 115.9 108.9
1986 115.2 127.9 117.9 111.9 115.3 99.1 110.1 111.5 114.8 108.8 117.4 110.3
1987 123.5 134.1 126.5 112.2 110.6 98.9 108.1 116.3 116.4 110.8 120.1 115.5
1988 130.0 140.9 138.2 117.7 112.3 104.6 111.5 125.0 120.8 105.5 122.9 123.6
1989 131.2 142.1 149.3 124.9 113.6 110.3 115.4 129.7 126.3 99.0 124.5 129.1
1990 130.6 136.8 160.6 126.5 112.4 112.4 121.7 132.3 130.5 99.8 123.3 128.9
1991 128.2 127.5 170.8 126.9 112.3 110.4 126.2 132.1 131.1 96.5 115.4 121.9
1992 130.1 128.3 167.4 127.0 113.4 110.2 123.3 132.6 130.3 99.6 111.5 121.1
1993 136.6 134.7 163.2 123.1 109.9 105.2 113.8 129.2 127.4 101.3 113.2 122.7
1994 145.4 143.8 164.4 NA 119.2 110.2 116.7 136.0 132.2 106.4 125.3 127.7
NA: Not Available
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 4. Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 87.4 82.0 NA NA 121.8 116.8 105.9 74.0 131.8 122.4 135.3 148.4
1955 96.6 86.5 59.9 NA 122.9 115.0 134.6 81.9 144.2 128.8 142.8 161.6
1960 94.1 85.5 81.7 156.2 140.0 118.5 137.2 96.2 156.8 120.9 143.7 164.9
1961 91.6 84.3 86.5 161.0 139.7 119.7 138.7 98.2 154.0 121.5 146.0 164.9
1962 95.4 87.9 89.4 165.0 144.3 120.5 135.8 98.1 156.8 122.6 145.8 161.7
1963 96.3 90.4 92.3 166.4 141.6 123.1 132.9 101.7 157.9 123.4 144.4 159.0
1964 98.4 95.0 94.5 170.7 146.3 124.5 133.2 102.0 158.9 125.2 144.8 162.8
1965 104.1 99.8 94.3 167.6 148.6 122.2 134.8 96.3 159.8 124.3 144.1 162.6
1966 110.8 103.9 97.5 166.1 144.4 123.3 131.7 96.8 158.4 126.5 142.1 160.2
1967 110.2 104.2 103.2 158.9 136.1 121.6 121.2 101.4 153.8 125.9 135.3 154.0
1968 111.8 103.6 106.5 156.4 134.3 116.2 123.5 102.7 150.7 121.6 130.3 153.8
1969 113.1 105.3 108.2 160.0 136.1 122.3 128.9 105.5 151.0 119.3 130.2 155.9
1970 106.5 102.1 109.6 159.9 132.3 123.9 131.1 107.0 148.1 121.1 132.0 153.3
1971 102.6 101.4 108.3 157.6 126.5 124.5 127.4 106.8 144.1 120.6 127.3 144.6
1972 107.2 104.5 107.8 152.1 127.0 124.6 123.8 104.0 137.2 119.4 122.0 138.5
1973 112.6 108.8 111.5 150.3 121.8 125.3 123.7 108.3 132.2 118.7 121.6 141.4
1974 110.2 110.3 105.7 148.0 119.7 125.0 118.2 108.4 127.3 119.3 123.0 137.8
1975 99.3 106.6 97.6 131.6 106.2 118.3 108.3 105.6 120.7 118.2 121.5 130.4
1976 104.0 106.9 100.0 128.5 107.3 118.0 108.7 106.7 115.8 114.8 119.7 127.5
1977 108.4 105.0 99.2 122.9 105.8 116.5 107.4 108.2 112.2 113.1 114.6 129.0
1978 112.9 108.6 98.2 117.4 104.0 114.1 105.8 106.6 108.5 108.6 108.5 128.3
1979 115.1 111.6 98.6 114.3 104.7 112.1 106.6 107.4 106.0 105.3 107.1 127.5
1980 109.8 110.8 100.5 110.1 103.7 110.8 106.3 108.0 105.3 105.5 105.9 117.3
1981 109.2 109.6 100.8 101.7 98.8 105.9 103.1 103.4 103.1 104.2 103.2 105.3
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 101.0 99.2 101.8 95.2 101.7 97.6 96.3 95.8 95.6 94.7 99.1 95.1
1984 107.6 103.3 104.9 93.6 107.1 95.0 96.0 91.1 92.0 93.5 101.5 94.2
1985 106.8 106.0 105.5 93.5 109.8 91.8 95.6 89.0 90.8 94.0 101.9 93.5
1986 105.2 108.5 104.3 92.2 116.6 90.3 96.4 90.1 91.7 94.8 101.5 91.5
1987 106.0 112.7 103.4 90.7 112.4 88.6 95.9 91.4 92.2 92.0 102.0 91.0
1988 109.0 117.9 106.7 91.5 110.0 87.7 95.6 96.1 93.7 88.3 103.6 92.6
1989 109.4 118.4 107.6 93.0 107.6 88.0 95.7 96.8 94.5 82.8 101.6 93.3
1990 107.0 112.2 107.7 94.3 106.6 88.1 96.9 95.0 96.3 80.2 99.4 92.0
1991 102.7 103.7 108.8 91.9 104.5 86.8 97.0 91.8 95.8 77.9 93.1 83.9
1992 102.0 100.3 106.9 88.4 103.5 84.1 96.0 87.8 94.9 77.3 85.4 79.5
1993 103.5 102.9 102.3 82.3 98.8 79.5 87.3 81.7 91.0 77.0 81.4 77.1
1994 105.8 105.6 100.1 NA 99.7 77.4 83.4 83.0 88.0 80.0 85.7 77.1
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, September 1995.
Table 5. Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 81.4 73.5 NA NA 90.2 95.5 77.2 65.1 106.5 93.3 99.7 126.6
1955 89.8 80.5 53.6 NA 92.7 95.1 98.1 70.3 116.2 97.9 106.0 136.1
1960 89.3 80.1 70.3 124.3 111.3 98.1 111.0 81.7 125.1 95.6 112.6 141.7
1961 86.9 79.4 75.6 128.4 114.4 98.9 114.3 84.3 128.2 97.7 115.4 143.7
1962 89.6 81.8 79.7 131.4 117.2 99.8 114.8 86.9 131.5 98.8 116.2 142.3
1963 90.2 83.8 82.9 132.6 116.8 102.0 114.0 89.7 132.8 100.0 116.3 140.1
1964 91.5 87.7 85.4 136.4 119.7 103.9 114.0 90.0 134.9 100.8 117.9 142.2
1965 95.8 92.2 86.6 136.3 121.8 102.9 116.0 87.9 136.1 102.4 118.3 144.1
1966 101.7 96.6 89.1 136.1 120.6 103.4 114.8 87.4 135.7 103.9 116.8 144.5
1967 103.0 97.4 94.3 131.9 114.9 103.0 108.6 90.2 132.3 104.5 113.0 140.0
1968 104.6 96.6 97.5 129.7 116.0 101.2 109.4 91.4 132.0 103.3 111.1 138.7
1969 106.7 98.6 100.4 134.1 119.1 104.2 114.0 94.5 134.2 103.8 113.0 140.6
1970 102.6 96.3 102.8 137.7 119.6 106.9 116.7 97.6 134.1 106.1 114.9 140.3
1971 98.6 96.2 103.3 137.8 114.7 108.2 115.9 100.2 131.7 106.7 111.0 135.6
1972 101.3 99.2 103.3 136.0 117.7 109.5 113.8 98.3 127.1 107.2 109.3 131.2
1973 106.6 103.7 107.7 137.8 119.3 111.8 114.5 101.2 124.9 107.2 110.9 132.1
1974 106.2 105.8 106.6 139.3 115.0 113.0 111.8 104.9 124.1 109.2 113.3 133.0
1975 97.1 103.4 100.7 130.8 105.3 110.2 104.9 104.0 119.9 108.6 114.2 126.3
1976 100.7 103.9 100.2 125.5 105.9 109.6 102.6 105.1 115.3 108.3 113.8 122.4
1977 104.5 101.7 99.2 120.5 105.3 109.1 103.0 107.1 112.2 108.4 109.9 123.1
1978 108.8 105.0 97.8 115.4 104.8 107.8 102.7 105.8 109.5 106.5 106.8 122.9
1979 111.7 108.7 97.6 112.3 105.6 106.2 103.9 107.4 108.3 105.1 107.0 122.6
1980 107.8 108.4 99.5 109.9 103.9 104.9 104.9 107.8 106.9 104.8 106.9 116.7
1981 107.2 108.4 100.5 103.9 100.2 101.6 103.0 103.2 104.2 103.3 103.7 106.4
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 98.3 98.0 101.6 97.6 100.4 98.0 96.7 95.8 95.5 94.4 97.9 94.9
1984 103.1 100.9 103.7 96.5 106.0 95.2 96.2 91.1 93.2 93.3 98.4 93.2
1985 102.4 103.6 104.6 95.1 112.4 92.6 97.4 89.8 94.4 94.1 99.6 92.5
1986 100.9 106.1 104.0 93.7 116.6 90.9 99.0 88.7 95.7 95.1 99.6 90.7
1987 101.1 109.3 102.7 91.4 115.1 88.7 99.0 88.4 96.8 94.6 98.9 89.5
1988 102.9 114.1 104.9 90.7 112.6 87.4 98.8 89.8 97.6 90.1 100.7 90.6
1989 103.4 115.4 107.0 92.6 111.5 87.9 100.3 90.5 99.0 84.0 99.0 91.5
1990 101.9 109.4 108.6 92.9 111.7 88.5 103.0 91.0 101.0 81.4 95.7 90.9
1991 98.3 101.7 112.1 92.0 109.2 87.0 104.5 89.0 100.7 78.8 89.8 84.4
1992 96.6 98.1 113.5 88.6 107.9 84.1 102.7 85.2 99.9 77.3 81.7 80.0
1993 96.7 98.7 111.2 83.8 103.8 80.2 96.6 80.9 95.8 76.8 75.7 77.9
1994 97.8 100.6 108.8 NA 104.8 78.1 91.7 80.0 92.6 79.6 76.5 77.4
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, September 1995.
Table 6. Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 107.4 111.6 NA NA 135.1 122.3 137.1 113.6 123.7 131.2 135.8 117.3
1955 107.5 107.5 111.8 NA 132.6 120.9 137.2 116.5 124.0 131.5 134.8 118.8
1960 105.3 106.8 116.3 125.6 125.9 120.7 123.6 117.7 125.3 126.4 127.6 116.3
1961 105.5 106.2 114.5 125.3 122.2 121.1 121.4 116.5 120.1 124.5 126.5 114.8
1962 106.5 107.4 112.2 125.6 123.1 120.7 118.4 112.8 119.2 124.1 125.5 113.6
1963 106.8 107.8 111.3 125.5 121.2 120.7 116.6 113.4 118.9 123.5 124.1 113.5
1964 107.5 108.3 110.7 125.1 122.2 119.9 116.8 113.4 117.8 124.3 122.8 114.4
1965 108.6 108.3 108.9 123.0 122.0 118.8 116.2 109.6 117.4 121.4 121.8 112.8
1966 109.0 107.5 109.4 122.0 119.8 119.3 114.7 110.8 116.7 121.7 121.7 110.9
1967 107.0 107.0 109.5 120.5 118.4 118.0 111.6 112.4 116.2 120.6 119.7 110.0
1968 106.8 107.2 109.2 120.5 115.7 114.8 112.9 112.4 114.2 117.7 117.2 110.9
1969 106.0 106.7 107.7 119.3 114.3 117.4 113.0 111.6 112.6 115.0 115.2 110.9
1970 103.8 106.0 106.6 116.2 110.7 115.9 112.3 109.6 110.5 114.1 115.0 109.2
1971 104.1 105.4 104.9 114.4 110.3 115.0 109.9 106.6 109.5 113.0 114.7 106.6
1972 105.8 105.4 104.3 111.8 107.9 113.8 108.8 105.8 107.9 111.4 111.6 105.6
1973 105.7 104.9 103.5 109.1 102.1 112.1 108.0 107.1 105.8 110.8 109.7 107.1
1974 103.7 104.2 99.2 106.3 104.1 110.6 105.8 103.3 102.5 109.3 108.5 103.6
1975 102.2 103.1 96.9 100.6 100.8 107.3 103.2 101.5 100.6 108.8 106.4 103.2
1976 103.3 102.9 99.8 102.4 101.3 107.7 106.0 101.5 100.5 106.0 105.1 104.1
1977 103.7 103.2 100.0 102.0 100.4 106.7 104.3 101.0 100.0 104.3 104.3 104.8
1978 103.7 103.5 100.4 101.7 99.2 105.8 103.0 100.8 99.0 101.9 101.6 104.4
1979 103.1 102.7 101.0 101.8 99.1 105.6 102.5 100.0 97.9 100.2 100.1 104.0
1980 101.8 102.3 101.0 100.2 99.8 105.6 101.3 100.3 98.5 100.7 99.0 100.5
1981 101.9 101.1 100.3 97.9 98.6 104.3 100.1 100.3 99.0 100.8 99.5 99.0
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 102.7 101.3 100.1 97.5 101.4 99.6 99.7 100.0 100.1 100.4 101.2 100.3
1984 104.3 102.4 101.1 96.9 101.1 99.8 99.7 100.0 98.7 100.2 103.1 101.1
1985 104.3 102.4 100.8 98.3 97.7 99.2 98.2 99.1 96.2 99.8 102.3 101.1
1986 104.2 102.3 100.2 98.4 100.0 99.3 97.4 101.6 95.8 99.7 101.8 100.9
1987 104.8 103.1 100.6 99.3 97.7 99.9 96.8 103.5 95.3 97.2 103.2 101.6
1988 105.9 103.3 101.7 100.9 97.7 100.3 96.7 107.1 96.0 98.1 102.9 102.2
1989 105.9 102.6 100.6 100.4 96.5 100.1 95.4 106.9 95.4 98.6 102.6 102.0
1990 105.1 102.5 99.2 101.6 95.4 99.6 94.1 104.3 95.4 98.4 103.8 101.3
1991 104.4 102.0 97.1 99.8 95.6 99.8 92.8 103.1 95.2 98.9 103.7 99.4
1992 105.7 102.2 94.2 99.8 96.0 100.0 93.5 103.0 95.0 100.0 104.5 99.4
1993 107.0 104.3 92.0 98.2 95.2 99.1 90.3 101.0 95.0 100.3 107.5 98.9
1994 108.2 104.9 92.0 NA 95.2 99.1 90.9 103.8 95.0 100.6 112.0 99.5
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, September 1995.
Table 7. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France* Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden* Kingdom*
1950 NA 9.0 NA NA 4.2 2.9 5.6 2.1 4.4 4.6 4.2 3.7
1955 NA 12.7 4.8 NA 5.7 5.0 8.3 3.0 6.4 7.0 6.7 5.4
1960 NA 16.4 6.6 9.1 7.7 7.6 13.5 3.9 9.1 9.9 9.3 7.1
1961 NA 16.9 7.6 9.7 8.7 8.4 15.1 4.4 10.4 10.8 10.2 7.6
1962 NA 17.4 8.7 10.4 9.5 9.3 17.1 5.1 11.1 11.8 11.4 8.0
1963 NA 18.1 9.7 11.5 10.3 10.1 18.3 6.1 12.2 12.6 12.6 8.4
1964 NA 18.9 11.0 13.0 11.2 11.0 19.8 6.5 14.1 13.5 13.7 9.0
1965 NA 19.9 12.3 14.4 12.4 11.9 21.8 6.9 15.9 14.9 15.1 9.8
1966 NA 21.5 13.6 15.9 14.1 12.6 23.6 7.4 17.8 16.3 16.6 10.6
1967 NA 22.8 15.2 17.4 15.8 13.6 24.9 8.2 19.7 18.2 18.4 10.9
1968 NA 24.6 17.7 18.6 17.4 15.4 26.8 8.7 21.9 20.1 20.0 11.7
1969 NA 26.6 21.0 20.3 19.5 16.4 29.3 9.6 24.8 22.1 21.7 12.8
1970 NA 28.7 25.0 23.2 22.3 18.5 34.5 11.6 28.5 24.6 24.4 14.7
1971 NA 30.9 28.9 26.5 25.6 20.7 38.6 13.4 32.6 28.1 27.4 17.1
1972 NA 33.2 33.3 30.6 28.4 22.9 42.7 15.0 37.3 31.3 30.6 19.9
1973 NA 35.9 40.7 35.5 34.5 26.2 48.2 17.7 44.5 35.3 34.3 22.6
1974 NA 41.3 53.3 43.2 41.7 31.1 54.9 23.1 53.0 41.4 40.3 27.1
1975 NA 47.3 62.1 52.4 49.7 37.9 60.4 29.2 60.5 49.6 49.4 36.2
1976 NA 54.1 66.9 59.4 55.5 43.5 65.2 36.2 67.8 57.3 57.8 42.0
1977 62.8 59.9 73.8 66.3 61.4 49.5 71.2 42.9 73.6 64.2 63.2 47.3
1978 67.9 64.4 78.7 71.5 67.6 55.7 76.7 49.4 79.7 70.9 70.4 55.0
1979 74.4 71.0 83.7 77.9 75.6 63.1 82.3 59.8 85.6 74.7 76.0 65.1
1980 83.3 78.6 89.0 86.3 83.4 72.7 89.2 70.2 90.2 81.2 84.5 78.9
1981 91.5 90.4 95.3 95.9 91.9 84.2 94.9 84.8 93.9 90.3 93.2 91.0
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 102.7 106.1 102.7 106.0 106.9 110.3 105.0 117.0 104.4 110.3 110.2 106.8
1984 106.0 111.1 105.8 114.8 113.0 119.6 110.0 134.3 108.4 120.9 119.6 114.6
1985 111.3 116.8 110.1 122.0 120.6 129.6 116.3 150.9 114.1 132.2 131.8 125.1
1986 115.8 121.3 115.8 127.0 123.1 135.1 121.2 157.1 118.6 145.0 142.4 135.4
1987 118.4 125.0 118.6 130.0 134.6 140.0 126.9 166.0 122.4 165.6 151.9 149.8
1988 123.1 130.5 120.6 132.7 139.4 145.4 131.8 172.5 122.0 175.7 161.8 159.4
1989 127.9 135.4 128.2 139.7 147.3 153.2 138.2 189.5 123.1 183.9 179.0 174.7
1990 134.7 143.0 138.3 147.5 156.5 161.3 147.9 210.8 126.4 194.7 197.5 180.6
1991 141.9 152.3 146.2 156.8 162.6 169.1 157.8 233.1 132.3 205.6 215.1 199.4
1992 147.9 158.2 152.4 164.9 169.1 174.9 166.2 250.4 139.2 210.9 225.0 219.6
1993 152.0 158.7 159.3 171.2 175.7 181.5 178.5 267.1 145.6 212.9 221.6 235.6
1994 154.5 163.5 162.3 NA 181.0 186.2 185.8 270.0 147.7 218.7 232.8 245.0
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, September 1995.
Table 8. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France* Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden* Kingdom*
1950 NA 10.1 NA NA 5.0 5.4 3.2 4.5 3.1 4.2 5.1 6.0
1955 NA 15.9 3.3 NA 6.9 9.5 4.8 6.5 4.5 6.3 8.1 8.5
1960 NA 20.9 4.5 8.4 9.3 10.2 7.9 8.6 6.4 8.9 11.3 11.5
1961 NA 20.6 5.3 8.9 10.5 11.3 9.1 9.5 7.6 9.7 12.4 12.3
1962 NA 20.1 6.0 9.6 11.5 12.5 10.4 11.2 8.2 10.7 13.9 12.9
1963 NA 20.7 6.7 10.5 12.5 13.6 11.1 13.2 9.1 11.4 15.2 13.4
1964 NA 21.6 7.5 11.9 13.5 14.8 12.1 14.1 10.5 12.2 16.7 14.3
1965 NA 22.8 8.5 13.3 14.9 16.0 13.2 15.1 11.8 13.5 18.4 15.7
1966 NA 24.7 9.3 14.6 17.0 16.9 14.3 16.0 13.1 14.7 20.2 16.9
1967 NA 26.1 10.5 16.0 18.9 18.2 15.2 17.7 14.6 16.4 22.4 17.2
1968 NA 28.2 12.2 17.0 19.4 20.5 16.3 18.9 16.2 18.1 24.3 16.0
1969 NA 30.4 14.6 18.6 21.7 20.9 18.1 20.6 18.3 20.0 26.4 17.5
1970 NA 33.9 17.4 21.3 24.8 22.0 22.9 25.1 21.1 22.2 29.5 20.2
1971 NA 37.7 20.7 25.0 28.9 24.7 27.0 29.4 25.0 25.8 33.7 23.8
1972 NA 41.3 27.3 31.8 34.1 29.8 32.5 34.9 31.0 30.7 40.4 28.5
1973 NA 44.3 37.4 41.8 47.7 38.8 44.2 41.2 42.7 39.7 49.4 31.7
1974 NA 52.2 45.6 50.9 57.2 42.4 51.6 48.1 52.7 48.5 57.1 36.3
1975 NA 57.3 52.1 65.4 72.3 58.3 59.7 60.5 64.1 61.4 75.0 46.0
1976 NA 67.7 56.2 70.5 76.6 59.9 62.9 59.0 68.5 67.7 83.4 43.3
1977 62.8 69.5 68.6 84.7 85.3 66.2 74.5 65.7 80.1 77.9 88.9 47.2
1978 67.9 69.8 94.0 104.2 102.5 81.5 92.8 78.8 98.5 87.3 98.0 60.4
1979 74.4 74.8 95.5 121.6 119.9 97.6 109.1 97.4 114.0 95.2 111.3 79.1
1980 83.3 83.0 98.3 135.4 123.7 113.4 119.3 111.1 121.4 106.2 125.5 105.0
1981 91.5 93.1 107.6 118.5 107.4 101.8 102.2 100.9 100.8 101.6 115.6 105.4
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 102.7 106.2 107.7 94.9 97.5 95.2 99.9 104.3 97.8 97.5 90.2 92.6
1984 106.0 105.9 111.0 91.0 91.0 90.1 93.9 103.5 90.3 95.7 90.9 87.6
1985 111.3 105.6 115.0 94.2 95.0 95.0 96.0 107.0 91.9 99.3 96.3 92.9
1986 115.8 107.8 171.2 130.2 126.9 128.3 135.6 142.7 129.4 126.5 125.6 113.7
1987 118.4 116.3 204.2 159.3 164.1 153.3 171.4 173.3 161.4 158.7 150.4 140.5
1988 123.1 130.9 234.4 165.1 172.6 160.5 182.1 179.3 164.8 173.9 165.7 162.4
1989 127.9 141.2 231.2 162.2 167.9 158.0 178.4 187.0 155.0 171.8 174.3 163.7
1990 134.7 151.3 237.5 202.0 211.0 194.8 222.2 238.1 185.4 201.0 209.5 184.3
1991 141.9 164.0 270.6 209.9 211.9 197.1 230.7 254.3 188.8 204.5 223.3 201.6
1992 147.9 161.6 299.4 234.8 233.7 217.4 258.4 275.1 211.5 219.1 242.7 221.9
1993 152.0 151.9 357.1 226.6 226.0 210.8 261.9 229.8 209.3 193.6 178.6 202.4
1994 154.5 147.7 395.5 NA 237.6 220.9 278.2 226.9 216.9 200.1 189.6 214.7
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.
* 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, September 1995.
Table 9. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 25.3 NA NA 17.0 16.0 33.3 12.5 25.7 14.8 16.4 9.1
1955 NA 29.2 41.4 NA 21.3 22.3 33.2 12.8 30.0 19.4 23.8 12.1
1960 NA 31.9 35.5 34.9 23.8 25.7 36.4 13.4 33.3 21.3 25.8 14.2
1961 NA 31.0 36.4 36.5 25.3 26.6 38.8 13.8 36.1 22.5 26.9 15.2
1962 NA 29.9 39.7 37.3 26.3 27.7 41.1 14.6 37.4 24.7 27.9 15.6
1963 NA 30.0 41.0 39.7 27.7 28.6 42.0 16.9 39.8 25.0 29.1 15.5
1964 NA 29.9 40.6 42.1 27.7 28.8 42.0 17.8 42.4 25.3 29.2 15.5
1965 NA 30.1 43.9 44.5 29.3 29.2 43.4 17.2 44.7 26.4 30.0 16.5
1966 NA 31.8 44.1 46.0 31.7 28.6 45.3 16.8 47.1 27.7 31.5 17.2
1967 NA 33.1 43.7 47.5 33.2 28.9 45.0 17.7 48.7 29.8 32.2 17.0
1968 NA 33.3 45.4 46.8 33.5 29.7 44.7 17.5 48.5 31.0 32.0 17.0
1969 NA 34.1 47.0 46.9 36.2 29.7 45.6 18.5 50.3 31.2 32.3 18.1
1970 NA 37.3 49.7 48.4 39.0 31.5 51.9 21.1 52.5 33.7 35.4 20.4
1971 NA 37.5 54.2 52.2 42.0 33.4 56.0 23.9 56.9 37.1 38.1 22.6
1972 NA 38.4 56.2 54.1 43.0 35.2 58.3 24.8 59.8 39.0 40.5 24.7
1973 NA 39.1 63.2 56.8 47.4 37.7 61.9 27.2 64.3 41.4 42.2 26.3
1974 NA 44.3 80.9 65.5 55.5 43.8 68.1 33.4 70.6 46.4 47.7 31.0
1975 NA 52.4 90.4 76.4 60.2 51.7 71.9 43.5 82.5 56.3 57.6 42.1
1976 NA 56.1 90.8 78.6 64.8 55.8 72.3 47.4 83.0 63.0 66.3 46.8
1977 65.3 58.8 95.7 83.6 70.3 59.9 76.7 54.9 86.5 71.1 73.6 52.4
1978 70.5 62.6 96.7 85.0 76.4 64.6 79.8 59.5 87.8 77.1 79.9 60.3
1979 78.4 68.4 95.4 87.8 81.4 69.9 82.1 65.6 89.9 76.6 79.9 71.1
1980 89.7 78.7 97.8 99.4 85.1 80.1 90.6 73.5 93.8 84.3 87.5 86.7
1981 95.1 86.3 100.4 102.0 92.2 90.1 94.4 86.8 95.6 93.5 97.2 95.8
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 100.5 98.9 100.2 95.0 101.9 107.9 99.7 111.2 96.8 105.2 103.2 99.5
1984 102.4 95.5 98.1 97.7 108.3 115.2 101.0 116.1 91.5 107.8 107.0 101.9
1985 104.2 97.6 95.8 102.0 114.9 120.2 102.6 123.4 92.5 114.2 115.8 107.5
1986 105.8 102.9 102.4 104.7 124.5 123.2 106.2 127.1 94.6 126.4 123.1 112.3
1987 101.6 105.0 96.8 105.1 136.8 125.5 112.6 130.5 97.0 137.5 129.0 118.0
1988 103.2 109.2 93.1 103.1 136.5 121.8 113.0 132.6 94.6 147.1 136.4 119.4
1989 106.7 112.8 92.4 103.9 139.5 122.2 114.6 141.4 92.1 154.0 146.1 126.2
1990 110.4 117.2 92.7 110.0 148.3 126.4 117.8 151.3 93.3 156.5 159.2 128.9
1991 113.7 123.9 93.2 113.5 151.2 133.0 121.3 162.1 96.7 166.1 173.4 137.2
1992 116.0 123.6 97.3 114.8 154.3 133.4 129.4 165.8 101.4 163.7 172.3 144.2
1993 115.1 121.2 99.8 114.5 158.0 137.2 136.8 169.0 104.0 161.8 159.3 148.0
1994 112.5 120.1 98.8 NA 151.4 130.8 132.7 164.9 98.3 164.5 159.2 147.8
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, September 1995.
Table 10. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 28.5 NA NA 20.6 30.2 19.3 27.0 18.1 13.4 20.0 14.6
1955 NA 36.6 28.7 NA 25.8 41.9 19.2 27.7 21.0 17.5 28.9 19.3
1960 NA 40.6 24.6 32.0 28.8 34.4 21.2 29.3 23.6 19.3 31.4 22.8
1961 NA 37.8 25.1 33.5 30.5 35.7 23.5 30.0 26.6 20.3 32.8 24.4
1962 NA 34.6 27.4 34.3 31.8 37.1 25.0 31.9 27.7 22.3 34.0 25.1
1963 NA 34.3 28.2 36.4 33.5 38.4 25.6 36.8 29.5 22.6 35.3 24.8
1964 NA 34.2 28.0 38.8 33.4 38.7 25.6 38.7 31.4 22.8 35.7 24.8
1965 NA 34.4 30.2 41.0 35.4 39.2 26.4 37.2 33.1 23.8 36.6 26.3
1966 NA 36.5 30.3 42.2 38.3 38.2 27.5 36.4 34.7 25.0 38.3 27.6
1967 NA 37.9 30.0 43.8 39.7 38.7 27.4 38.3 36.1 26.9 39.2 26.7
1968 NA 38.1 31.4 42.9 37.3 39.4 27.2 37.9 35.8 28.0 38.9 23.3
1969 NA 39.1 32.6 42.8 40.1 37.7 28.2 39.9 37.1 28.2 39.2 24.8
1970 NA 44.1 34.6 44.6 43.4 37.5 34.6 45.7 38.8 30.4 42.9 28.0
1971 NA 45.8 38.8 49.3 47.3 39.9 39.1 52.4 43.6 34.0 46.9 31.5
1972 NA 47.9 46.2 56.3 51.6 46.0 44.4 57.6 49.8 38.2 53.5 35.3
1973 NA 48.2 58.1 67.0 65.7 55.9 56.8 63.2 61.8 46.5 61.0 36.8
1974 NA 55.9 69.1 77.2 76.2 59.7 64.0 69.5 70.3 54.3 67.6 41.5
1975 NA 63.6 75.9 95.3 87.6 79.4 71.1 90.2 87.4 69.7 87.3 53.5
1976 NA 70.2 76.3 93.3 89.5 76.9 69.8 77.4 84.0 74.6 95.7 48.4
1977 65.3 68.3 89.0 106.9 97.8 80.2 80.2 84.2 94.2 86.3 103.6 52.3
1978 70.5 67.8 115.6 123.8 115.7 94.4 96.6 94.9 108.6 95.0 111.1 66.2
1979 78.4 72.1 108.9 137.0 129.1 108.1 108.7 106.9 119.8 97.6 117.1 86.4
1980 89.7 83.1 107.9 155.8 126.2 124.9 121.1 116.3 126.3 110.2 130.0 115.4
1981 95.1 88.9 113.3 126.2 107.8 109.0 101.7 103.2 102.7 105.1 120.5 110.9
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 100.5 99.0 105.0 85.0 92.9 93.1 94.8 99.1 90.6 93.1 84.5 86.3
1984 102.4 91.0 102.9 77.5 87.3 86.7 86.2 89.5 76.2 85.3 81.3 77.9
1985 104.2 88.2 100.1 78.7 90.4 88.0 84.7 87.5 74.5 85.8 84.6 79.8
1986 105.8 91.4 151.5 107.3 128.3 117.0 118.8 115.4 103.3 110.3 108.5 94.3
1987 101.6 97.8 166.8 128.8 166.7 137.3 152.1 136.3 127.9 131.7 127.7 110.7
1988 103.2 109.5 180.9 128.4 169.0 134.5 156.1 137.9 127.8 145.5 139.7 121.6
1989 106.7 117.6 166.7 120.7 159.0 126.0 148.0 139.5 115.9 143.8 142.2 118.3
1990 110.4 124.0 159.3 150.6 200.0 152.7 176.9 170.9 136.9 161.5 168.9 131.6
1991 113.7 133.5 172.5 152.0 197.1 155.0 177.3 176.8 138.0 165.2 180.1 138.7
1992 116.0 126.2 191.2 163.5 213.3 165.8 201.2 182.1 154.0 170.1 185.8 145.7
1993 115.1 116.0 223.8 151.6 203.3 159.3 200.8 145.4 149.5 147.2 128.4 127.1
1994 112.5 108.5 240.8 NA 198.8 155.1 198.7 138.5 144.4 150.6 129.6 129.6
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, September 1995.
Table 11. Exchange rates, 12 countries, 1950-1994 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 100.0 112.9 69.2 NA 120.9 188.0 57.9 216.8 70.1 90.5 121.5 160.2
1955 100.0 125.2 69.2 NA 120.8 187.9 57.7 216.6 70.1 90.4 121.5 159.7
1960 100.0 127.3 69.2 91.8 121.0 134.1 58.2 218.0 70.8 90.5 121.6 160.6
1961 100.0 121.9 69.0 91.8 120.8 134.1 60.5 218.0 73.6 90.4 121.6 160.3
1962 100.0 115.5 69.0 92.0 120.9 134.3 60.7 218.1 74.2 90.5 121.9 160.6
1963 100.0 114.4 68.9 91.8 120.9 134.2 60.9 217.8 74.2 90.3 121.1 160.2
1964 100.0 114.4 68.8 92.0 120.7 134.2 61.1 216.8 74.1 90.2 122.0 159.7
1965 100.0 114.5 68.9 92.2 120.7 134.2 60.8 216.7 74.2 90.3 121.8 159.9
1966 100.0 114.6 68.7 91.9 120.8 133.9 60.7 216.8 73.8 90.3 121.6 159.8
1967 100.0 114.4 68.8 92.1 119.5 133.7 60.9 216.9 74.2 90.3 121.7 157.3
1968 100.0 114.6 69.1 91.7 111.5 132.8 60.8 217.2 73.8 90.4 121.6 136.9
1969 100.0 114.6 69.5 91.3 111.0 127.0 61.9 215.8 73.7 90.4 121.5 136.7
1970 100.0 118.3 69.5 92.2 111.3 119.0 66.6 215.9 73.9 90.3 121.2 137.1
1971 100.0 122.2 71.7 94.3 112.7 119.4 69.8 219.0 76.5 91.7 123.1 139.8
1972 100.0 124.6 82.2 104.0 120.0 130.4 76.2 232.0 83.2 98.0 132.1 143.1
1973 100.0 123.4 91.9 117.9 138.5 148.3 91.7 232.8 96.1 112.4 144.3 140.2
1974 100.0 126.2 85.4 117.7 137.2 136.2 94.0 208.1 99.6 117.0 141.8 133.9
1975 100.0 121.3 83.9 124.8 145.5 153.7 98.9 207.5 105.9 123.8 151.7 127.1
1976 100.0 125.2 84.0 118.7 138.1 137.8 96.5 163.1 101.1 118.3 144.3 103.2
1977 100.0 116.2 93.0 127.8 139.0 133.9 104.6 153.4 108.9 121.3 140.6 99.8
1978 100.0 108.3 119.5 145.6 151.5 146.2 121.1 159.5 123.7 123.2 139.1 109.7
1979 100.0 105.4 114.2 156.1 158.6 154.6 132.5 162.9 133.2 127.5 146.6 121.4
1980 100.0 105.6 110.4 156.8 148.2 155.9 133.8 158.3 134.6 130.8 148.6 133.1
1981 100.0 103.0 112.9 123.6 116.9 121.0 107.7 118.9 107.4 112.4 124.0 115.8
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 100.0 100.2 104.8 89.5 91.2 86.3 95.1 89.1 93.6 88.4 81.9 86.7
1984 100.0 95.3 104.9 79.3 80.6 75.3 85.3 77.1 83.3 79.1 76.0 76.5
1985 100.0 90.4 104.4 77.2 78.7 73.3 82.5 70.9 80.5 75.1 73.0 74.2
1986 100.0 88.8 147.9 102.5 103.1 95.0 111.9 90.8 109.1 87.3 88.2 84.0
1987 100.0 93.1 172.2 122.5 121.9 109.4 135.0 104.4 131.9 95.8 99.0 93.8
1988 100.0 100.3 194.3 124.5 123.8 110.4 138.2 104.0 135.1 99.0 102.4 101.9
1989 100.0 104.2 180.4 116.2 114.0 103.1 129.1 98.7 125.9 93.4 97.3 93.7
1990 100.0 105.8 171.8 137.0 134.8 120.8 150.2 113.0 146.7 103.2 106.1 102.1
1991 100.0 107.7 185.1 133.9 130.3 116.5 146.2 109.1 142.7 99.5 103.8 101.1
1992 100.0 102.1 196.5 142.4 138.2 124.3 155.5 109.9 151.9 103.9 107.9 101.0
1993 100.0 95.7 224.2 132.4 128.6 116.1 146.8 86.0 143.8 90.9 80.6 85.9
1994 100.0 90.3 243.7 137.0 131.3 118.6 149.7 84.0 146.9 91.5 81.4 87.6
NA: Not Available
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 12. Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France* Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden* Kingdom*
1950 NA 10.0 NA NA 5.6 3.5 7.7 2.4 5.5 6.0 5.7 4.4
1955 NA 13.7 5.3 NA 7.6 6.1 11.4 3.5 8.0 9.2 9.0 6.4
1960 NA 17.6 7.6 11.5 9.7 9.2 16.7 4.6 11.4 12.5 11.9 8.3
1961 NA 17.9 8.8 12.1 10.6 10.2 18.4 5.1 12.5 13.4 12.9 8.8
1962 NA 18.7 9.8 13.0 11.7 11.2 20.3 5.8 13.2 14.7 14.3 9.1
1963 NA 19.5 10.9 14.4 12.5 12.2 21.3 6.9 14.5 15.6 15.6 9.5
1964 NA 20.4 12.1 16.2 13.6 13.2 23.1 7.3 16.6 16.8 16.8 10.2
1965 NA 21.6 13.4 17.7 15.1 14.2 25.3 7.6 18.6 18.1 18.4 11.1
1966 NA 23.1 14.9 19.4 16.9 15.1 27.1 8.2 20.7 19.8 20.2 11.7
1967 NA 24.4 16.7 20.9 18.7 16.1 27.8 9.2 22.9 21.9 22.0 12.0
1968 NA 26.4 19.4 22.4 20.1 17.7 30.2 9.8 25.0 23.6 23.4 13.0
1969 NA 28.4 22.6 24.3 22.3 19.3 33.1 10.7 28.0 25.4 25.0 14.2
1970 NA 30.4 26.6 26.9 24.7 21.4 38.7 12.7 31.5 28.0 28.0 16.1
1971 NA 32.5 30.3 30.3 28.3 23.8 42.4 14.3 35.7 31.8 31.4 18.2
1972 NA 35.0 34.7 34.2 30.6 26.0 46.4 15.9 40.2 34.9 34.1 21.0
1973 NA 37.7 42.1 38.7 35.2 29.3 52.1 18.9 47.0 39.1 37.6 24.2
1974 NA 43.1 52.9 45.9 43.4 34.4 58.1 23.9 54.3 45.3 43.7 28.1
1975 NA 48.7 60.2 52.7 50.1 40.7 62.4 29.6 60.9 53.9 52.5 37.4
1976 NA 55.7 66.8 60.8 56.2 46.8 69.1 36.8 68.1 60.7 60.8 43.7
1977 65.1 61.8 73.8 67.6 61.6 52.8 74.3 43.3 73.6 67.0 65.9 49.6
1978 70.4 66.7 79.0 72.8 67.1 59.0 79.0 49.7 78.9 72.3 71.6 57.4
1979 76.7 72.9 84.6 79.3 74.9 66.6 84.4 59.8 83.8 74.8 76.0 67.7
1980 84.8 80.4 89.9 86.5 83.3 76.8 90.4 70.3 88.8 81.7 83.6 79.3
1981 93.2 91.4 95.6 93.9 90.5 87.8 94.9 85.0 92.9 91.1 92.8 90.2
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 105.5 107.4 102.8 103.4 108.4 109.9 104.7 117.0 104.6 110.7 111.5 107.1
1984 110.5 113.7 107.0 111.3 114.2 119.4 109.8 134.3 107.0 121.2 123.3 115.9
1985 116.0 119.6 111.0 120.0 117.8 128.5 114.2 149.6 109.8 132.0 134.8 126.6
1986 120.7 124.1 116.0 125.0 123.1 134.2 118.1 159.7 113.5 144.6 145.1 136.7
1987 124.1 128.8 119.3 129.0 131.5 140.0 122.9 171.8 116.6 161.1 156.7 152.2
1988 130.4 134.8 122.7 133.9 136.2 145.8 127.5 184.7 117.1 172.3 166.6 162.8
1989 135.4 138.9 128.9 140.2 142.2 153.3 131.9 202.6 117.5 181.4 183.7 178.2
1990 141.6 146.5 137.1 149.8 149.3 160.6 139.1 219.9 120.6 191.7 205.0 182.9
1991 148.2 155.3 142.1 156.5 155.5 168.7 146.5 240.4 125.9 203.4 223.0 198.2
1992 156.3 161.7 143.5 164.6 162.3 174.9 155.4 257.9 132.2 211.0 235.2 218.4
1993 162.6 165.6 146.4 168.2 167.2 180.0 161.2 269.7 138.2 213.5 238.2 233.1
1994 167.2 171.5 149.3 NA 172.3 184.6 168.9 280.2 140.2 220.0 260.8 243.8
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, September 1995.
Table 13. Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 39.4 NA NA 31.9 23.0 15.7 22.4 20.3 31.4 29.7 36.3
1955 NA 49.5 23.2 NA 35.5 31.0 21.3 26.0 25.1 35.1 35.9 39.7
1960 NA 58.1 29.5 29.3 43.1 35.0 31.5 29.9 31.3 43.4 41.5 46.5
1961 NA 59.1 32.6 30.7 46.5 37.5 34.5 32.2 35.3 46.2 44.6 48.1
1962 NA 60.2 34.8 32.5 47.4 39.6 38.0 36.1 36.8 48.1 47.5 48.5
1963 NA 61.6 36.2 35.2 48.9 41.1 39.3 39.8 39.3 50.1 51.0 49.7
1964 NA 63.0 39.2 38.1 51.0 43.2 41.6 40.0 43.0 50.7 53.8 51.4
1965 NA 64.9 41.0 40.7 53.2 45.8 44.2 41.1 46.3 53.7 56.5 53.6
1966 NA 67.6 43.0 43.1 56.7 47.2 46.4 42.9 49.1 56.8 58.1 55.8
1967 NA 69.3 46.3 45.8 59.1 49.4 48.3 46.3 52.6 60.8 61.8 57.2
1968 NA 71.7 51.1 47.7 60.2 53.9 51.2 48.8 56.4 64.7 65.9 58.7
1969 NA 74.1 57.6 50.3 65.5 55.3 54.9 52.1 59.6 69.2 69.2 60.4
1970 NA 77.4 63.6 55.1 70.1 59.4 62.6 60.3 65.5 69.5 72.6 65.3
1971 NA 81.1 69.3 60.5 76.2 62.9 66.7 66.3 69.6 75.0 75.3 68.9
1972 NA 83.1 76.0 66.2 79.2 65.4 70.0 70.3 73.8 77.8 79.3 74.9
1973 NA 83.7 83.2 71.8 87.9 69.7 74.1 74.9 81.5 81.7 82.0 78.0
1974 NA 86.8 88.5 77.6 92.3 72.8 78.9 82.0 88.5 87.6 87.9 80.5
1975 NA 89.6 92.3 83.4 100.4 79.3 81.9 88.3 91.8 93.8 98.3 86.8
1976 NA 95.3 90.8 86.6 102.8 82.9 84.6 94.1 94.5 99.3 103.9 86.4
1977 100.0 97.7 92.6 90.3 102.3 86.1 89.4 93.3 96.2 102.1 101.2 83.8
1978 100.4 96.5 94.8 93.3 102.5 88.8 93.8 95.6 100.0 104.2 104.5 89.6
1979 98.9 97.5 97.2 97.2 104.5 90.9 97.0 100.0 103.1 104.8 105.6 93.4
1980 97.5 97.9 96.0 101.0 102.6 92.2 99.9 96.9 102.0 102.7 103.0 96.1
1981 97.1 100.2 97.9 104.2 101.2 94.2 99.9 98.7 99.5 100.6 101.5 99.6
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 99.5 100.3 100.8 98.5 100.0 100.7 101.8 101.8 101.6 101.7 99.2 102.2
1984 98.4 100.6 101.6 100.3 99.4 101.6 104.1 105.6 102.2 105.0 100.1 104.2
1985 99.8 101.8 103.6 101.6 101.4 103.9 107.9 109.3 105.2 108.6 102.6 107.3
1986 102.0 101.6 108.2 104.4 99.8 105.4 112.7 107.2 109.1 111.1 106.2 112.3
1987 100.6 100.2 110.8 105.2 105.0 106.0 117.9 108.3 113.2 116.4 108.6 119.2
1988 100.4 100.5 111.9 106.1 104.0 107.2 121.1 107.2 112.0 116.1 110.6 120.9
1989 99.5 99.4 116.3 108.4 104.8 109.0 123.3 110.5 111.6 116.2 115.4 122.9
1990 99.5 100.1 121.7 110.6 108.6 111.2 128.6 115.9 112.0 118.2 114.4 116.1
1991 100.5 101.0 124.6 113.8 110.1 112.8 132.5 120.3 112.7 120.7 114.2 121.1
1992 101.7 103.3 127.7 116.9 112.1 114.0 134.2 122.6 114.5 120.9 117.1 128.6
1993 101.5 101.8 131.7 118.1 115.1 115.9 138.8 125.4 117.3 119.3 112.0 135.8
1994 100.6 104.7 133.3 NA 116.2 117.0 140.3 122.1 115.1 120.9 115.1 137.8
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, September 1995.
Table 14. Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
United Nether- United
Year States Canada Japan Belgium Denmark France Germany Italy lands Norway Sweden Kingdom
1950 NA 43.9 NA NA 43.0 28.2 21.6 25.4 25.1 41.2 40.3 42.6
1955 NA 53.2 25.9 NA 47.1 37.5 29.2 30.3 31.2 46.2 48.3 47.1
1960 NA 62.0 34.3 36.8 54.3 42.3 39.0 35.2 39.2 54.8 53.0 54.1
1961 NA 62.7 37.3 38.5 56.8 45.4 41.9 37.5 42.4 57.5 56.4 55.3
1962 NA 64.7 39.1 40.8 58.3 47.8 45.0 40.7 43.9 59.7 59.6 55.1
1963 NA 66.4 40.2 44.1 59.3 49.6 45.9 45.1 46.7 61.9 63.3 56.4
1964 NA 68.2 43.4 47.7 62.3 51.8 48.6 45.4 50.6 63.0 66.0 58.8
1965 NA 70.3 44.6 50.0 64.9 54.4 51.4 45.1 54.4 65.2 68.8 60.5
1966 NA 72.7 47.0 52.6 67.9 56.3 53.2 47.5 57.3 69.1 70.8 61.9
1967 NA 74.2 50.7 55.1 70.0 58.4 53.8 52.0 61.1 73.3 74.0 62.9
1968 NA 76.9 55.9 57.5 69.7 61.9 57.8 54.8 64.4 76.2 77.2 65.1
1969 NA 79.1 62.1 60.0 74.8 64.9 62.1 58.2 67.0 79.6 79.7 67.0
1970 NA 82.0 67.9 64.0 77.6 68.9 70.3 66.1 72.4 79.4 83.5 71.3
1971 NA 85.4 72.7 69.2 84.0 72.4 73.3 70.6 76.2 84.7 86.3 73.5
1972 NA 87.6 79.2 74.1 85.4 74.4 76.2 74.4 79.6 86.7 88.5 79.1
1973 NA 87.8 86.1 78.3 89.8 78.1 80.1 80.2 86.2 90.5 89.9 83.5
1974 NA 90.5 87.8 82.5 96.1 80.5 83.5 84.7 90.8 95.7 95.3 83.4
1975 NA 92.3 89.4 83.9 101.2 85.2 84.5 89.6 92.4 102.1 104.5 89.6
1976 NA 98.1 90.6 88.7 104.2 89.3 89.7 95.5 94.9 105.2 109.3 89.9
1977 103.7 100.9 92.6 92.1 102.8 91.9 93.2 94.3 96.2 106.5 105.6 87.9
1978 104.2 99.9 95.2 94.9 101.7 94.0 96.6 96.3 99.1 106.3 106.2 93.6
1979 102.0 100.1 98.2 98.9 103.6 96.0 99.5 100.0 100.9 104.9 105.7 97.1
1980 99.3 100.2 96.9 101.3 102.4 97.4 101.2 97.1 100.4 103.4 102.0 96.6
1981 98.9 101.3 98.2 102.0 99.7 98.2 100.0 98.9 98.4 101.4 101.0 98.6
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 102.2 101.6 101.0 96.0 101.4 100.3 101.4 101.8 101.8 102.1 100.4 102.5
1984 102.6 103.0 102.7 97.2 100.5 101.4 103.8 105.6 100.9 105.2 103.2 105.4
1985 104.1 104.2 104.5 99.9 99.0 103.0 105.9 108.3 101.2 108.4 104.9 108.5
1986 106.3 103.9 108.5 102.8 99.8 104.7 109.8 109.0 104.5 110.8 108.2 113.3
1987 105.4 103.3 111.4 104.5 102.5 105.9 114.1 112.1 107.8 113.2 112.0 121.1
1988 106.3 103.9 113.8 107.1 101.6 107.5 117.1 114.8 107.5 113.8 113.8 123.5
1989 105.3 102.0 117.0 108.8 101.2 109.1 117.7 118.1 106.5 114.6 118.4 125.4
1990 104.5 102.6 120.7 112.4 103.5 110.7 120.9 120.9 106.8 116.3 118.8 117.6
1991 105.0 103.0 121.0 113.6 105.3 112.6 123.0 124.1 107.3 119.4 118.4 120.4
1992 107.5 105.6 120.2 116.7 107.6 114.0 125.5 126.3 108.7 120.9 122.4 127.8
1993 108.6 106.2 121.1 116.0 109.5 114.9 125.4 126.7 111.3 119.6 120.3 134.3
1994 108.9 109.8 122.6 NA 110.6 116.0 127.5 126.7 109.3 121.6 128.9 137.1
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, September 1995.
Table 15. Korea: Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
Unit Labor Costs
National U.S.
currency dollar Exchange
Year Output Compensation basis basis rate*
1970 19.5 3.0 15.5 36.6 235.4
1971 23.1 3.8 16.5 34.7 210.6
1972 26.4 4.8 18.2 33.9 186.1
1973 34.1 7.4 21.6 39.6 183.5
1974 40.0 10.6 26.4 47.8 180.8
1975 44.0 13.6 31.0 46.8 151.1
1976 55.6 21.4 38.5 58.2 151.1
1977 64.1 28.8 44.9 67.8 151.1
1978 78.3 41.8 53.3 80.5 151.1
1979 86.3 56.0 64.9 98.0 151.1
1980 84.9 69.9 82.4 99.1 120.4
1981 93.5 88.6 94.8 101.8 107.4
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 115.3 122.6 106.3 100.2 94.2
1984 129.7 148.5 114.5 103.8 90.7
1985 143.2 157.7 110.2 92.6 84.0
1986 171.0 186.8 109.2 90.6 82.9
1987 204.5 237.7 116.3 103.3 88.9
1988 232.6 302.8 130.2 130.1 99.9
1989 242.5 336.8 138.9 151.2 108.9
1990 266.0 393.0 147.7 152.6 103.3
1991 290.2 448.9 154.7 154.2 99.7
1992 304.9 476.5 156.3 146.4 93.7
1993 320.2 491.5 153.5 139.8 91.1
1994 353.4 561.1 158.8 144.5 91.0
*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 16. Taiwan: Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
(Indexes: 1982=100)
Unit Labor Costs
National U.S.
currency dollar Exchange
Year Output Compensation basis basis rate*
1970 27.0 8.1 29.9 29.3 97.8
1971 32.9 10.3 31.5 30.8 97.8
1972 39.7 12.6 31.8 31.1 97.8
1973 46.6 17.2 36.9 37.7 102.3
1974 44.1 24.5 55.6 57.3 103.0
1975 46.0 26.0 56.6 58.2 103.0
1976 56.4 33.0 58.5 60.2 103.0
1977 63.6 38.8 61.0 62.8 103.0
1978 76.8 47.1 61.4 64.9 105.6
1979 82.8 57.8 69.8 75.7 108.5
1980 91.0 73.4 80.7 87.6 108.6
1981 97.9 91.7 93.6 99.4 106.2
1982 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1983 111.5 109.3 98.0 95.7 97.7
1984 127.7 130.5 102.2 101.0 98.8
1985 131.9 140.4 106.5 104.5 98.2
1986 151.9 167.7 110.4 114.2 103.4
1987 171.8 189.2 110.1 135.8 123.3
1988 179.0 202.3 113.0 154.6 136.9
1989 185.6 219.0 118.0 174.8 148.2
1990 184.8 233.9 126.6 183.9 145.3
1991 197.2 253.1 128.3 187.6 146.2
1992 203.6 273.2 134.2 208.7 155.5
1993 208.7 282.5 135.4 200.5 148.1
1994 221.4 306.3 138.4 204.5 147.8
*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.