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Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov
Technical information: (202) 691-5654
Media contact: (202) 691-5902

USDL: 00-295
For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Tuesday, October 17, 2000

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 1999
In 1999, the productivity growth rate for manufacturing was the highest in
the United States among the 10 countries for which comparable data were
available, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor. Labor productivity in manufacturing increased by 6.2
percent in the U.S.; the countries with the next largest increases were the
United Kingdom and France. Only one country, Norway, showed no increase in
productivity. (See chart 1.)
This release contains preliminary estimates for 1999, as well as revisions
to the estimates through 1998, and are based on data available in June 2000.
The U.S. manufacturing output series used for international comparisons differs
from the manufacturing series that BLS publishes quarterly on U.S. productivity
and costs. Labor productivity for this release is computed as value added
output per hour worked. (See technical notes.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT
Chart 1. Percent change in manufacturing output per hour, 1999
-2Unit labor costs - the cost of labor input required to produce one unit of
output - are computed as the ratio of labor costs in nominal terms divided by
real output. Unit labor costs also can be expressed as the ratio of hourly
compensation to labor productivity. An increase in productivity represents a
decrease in the amount of labor input used to produce a unit of output; thus, an
increase in productivity can offset an increase in compensation per hour in its
effects on unit labor costs.
Unit labor costs in manufacturing, expressed in national currency units,
declined in 7 of the 13 countries compared in 1999 and rose in 5. Unified

Germany showed no change. The United States experienced a decline of -1.1
percent. The largest declines occurred in Korea (-4.3 percent), Taiwan (-2.2
percent), and Japan (-1.4 percent). The largest increases were in Denmark (6.0
percent) and Norway (5.7 percent). (See table A.)
In order to properly assess international competitiveness trends in
manufactured products, it is essential to take into account changes in exchange
rates. Converted to U.S. dollars at market exchange rates, unit labor costs
increased in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan in 1999. Denmark and Norway still showed
increased unit labor costs, which were smaller than in national currency units.
All the other countries experienced declines. (See chart 2.)
The increase in unit labor costs in U.S. dollars in Japan, Korea, and
Taiwan occurred because the exchange rates of their currencies strengthened
against the U.S. dollar during 1999. The exchange rates of all the other
currencies weakened against the U.S. dollar. (See table A.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs (U.S. dollar basis),
1999

-3Table A summarizes changes in manufacturing productivity, unit labor costs,
and related variables between 1998 and 1999. Output and unit labor cost data
are presented for 13 economies. Comparable productivity data are not shown for
Korea, Taiwan, and Denmark. (See technical notes.) No 1999 data are available
for the Netherlands. For Canada, Sweden, and Belgium, output per hour rose
because output increased more than hours. Except for the U.K., all other
countries with positive productivity growth experienced an increase in output
and a decrease in hours. The U.K. growth in productivity was the result of a
decline in hours worked greater than the decline in output. Norway's unchanged
productivity was due to equal decreases in hours worked and in output.
Unit labor costs are affected by the degree and direction of changes in
both hourly compensation and productivity. Of the 10 countries for which hours
worked series are available, all except Norway showed an increase in both hourly
compensation and labor productivity in 1999. In Italy, Sweden, and the U.K.,
hourly compensation grew more than productivity, resulting in increases in unit
labor costs. In unified Germany, hourly compensation and productivity increased
at approximately the same rates. In the other countries, productivity growth
was greater than the rise in hourly compensation, causing unit labor costs to
decline. In Norway, no change in productivity and an increase in hourly
compensation resulted in a rise in unit labor costs.

Table A. Manufacturing productivity and labor costs in 13 countries or areas
Percent change, 1998-99

Country
or area

Output
per
hour

Output

Hours

Employment

Average
hours

Total
compensation

Hourly
compensation

Unit labor costs
National
U.S.
currency
dollars

Exchange
rate (1)

United States

6.2

4.3

- 1.7

- 1.6

- 0.2

3.2

5.0

- 1.1

- 1.1

---

Canada
Japan
Korea (2)
Taiwan (2)
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.4
3.1
NA
NA
0.7
NA
4.0

6.2
0.3
21.8
6.4
1.8
- 3.3
2.5

3.8
- 2.7
NA
NA
1.1
NA
- 1.4

2.9
- 2.5
NA
NA
0.0
- 2.1
0.2

0.9
- 0.2
NA
NA
1.1
NA
- 1.7

5.5
- 1.1
16.5
4.0
1.5
2.5
2.3

1.7
1.6
NA
NA
0.4
NA
3.8

-

0.7
1.4
4.3
2.2
0.3
6.0
- 0.1

- 0.9
13.6
12.6
1.5
- 4.4
1.6
- 4.3

- 0.1
15.2
17.7
3.8
- 4.1
- 4.1
- 4.2

Germany (unified)
Italy
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

1.4
1.7
0.0
2.9
4.3

1.2
1.0
- 3.0
4.2
- 0.2

- 0.2
- 0.7
- 3.0
1.3
- 4.3

- 0.2
- 0.3
- 2.6
1.0
- 3.2

0.1
- 0.4
- 0.4
0.3
- 1.2

1.3
2.1
2.5
4.6
0.2

1.5
2.8
5.7
3.3
4.7

0.0
1.1
5.7
0.4
0.4

- 4.1
- 3.4
2.3
- 3.5
- 2.0

-

(1)
(2)

Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
Productivity not available because suitable labor input measures have not been developed by BLS.

NA=Not Available

Although the productivity measure relates output to the hours worked 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
-4technology, capital investment, capacity utilization, energy use, and managerial
skills, as well as the skills and efforts of the work force.
Table B (pages 7-11) shows average annual percent changes for selected
periods, beginning in 1979. Annual indexes of the data are in tables 1-15
(pages 17-31).

4.2
4.4
3.3
3.9
2.4

BOX: Notes about the measures

The measures in this news release are based on data available to BLS as of June
2000. Revisions for 1998 and some earlier years were made to the measures for
several countries to incorporate data not available at the time of the April
2000 news release.
U.S. manufacturing output measure
The output measure for the United States is the chain-weighted index of real
gross product originating (deflated value added), introduced by the Bureau of
Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. Department of Commerce, in August 1996. This
series is based on annually changing price weights.
The U.S. output data through 1998 were published by BEA in June 2000 and
incorporate the results of the comprehensive revision of the gross product by
industry estimates released in June 2000.
The BLS estimate of real U.S. output for 1999 was derived by extrapolating the
1998 number forward, using the annual growth rate of the Federal Reserve Board's
(FRB) Industrial Production Index for Total Manufacturing.
The U.S. output series used for international comparisons differs from the
manufacturing series that BLS publishes on quarterly measures of U.S.
productivity and costs. While both series are based on annually-changing price
weights, the international comparisons program uses a value added output
concept, while the quarterly U.S. manufacturing series is on a sectoral output
basis. For information on the differences between the value added and the
sectoral output measures, see technical notes.
Unified Germany
Previous editions of this news release contained comparative estimates for the
former West Germany only. Sufficient time series data for unified Germany have
now been published by the German Federal Statistical Office to make possible the
estimation of comparative manufacturing productivity and unit labor cost
measures for the whole of Germany, beginning with 1991. Although time series
data for the former West Germany end with 1998, comparative indexes for West
Germany also are included in this report for historical comparison purposes.
New measures of National Accounts
Member states of the European Union are
Integrated National Accounts (ESA 95).
System of National Accounts recommended
ESA 95 is based. Revisions to date due
incorporated in this news release.

implementing the European System of
Some other countries are adopting the
by the United Nations (SNA 93), on which
to these conversions to new systems are

END OF BOX (Notes about the measures)
-5Productivity, output, and labor input
In the 10 countries for which hours worked data are available, nine showed
labor productivity increases in 1999. Productivity in Norway was unchanged.
(See table B.)
U.S. output per hour increased 6.2 percent in 1999, the largest increase
among the countries compared, as well as the largest U.S. increase in over a
decade and well above its average annual increase between 1979 and 1999. In
1999, U.S. output grew 4.3 percent and hours worked fell 1.7 percent, the second
year that U.S. manufacturing hours declined. (See table B.)
In three countries, Canada, Japan, and Italy, productivity grew in 1999
following declines in 1998. In France, Sweden, and the U.K., productivity
increased more in 1999 than in 1998, whereas in unified Germany and Belgium the
increase was less in 1999 than in 1998. (See table B.)
Following a 0.8 percent productivity increase in 1998, Norway's
productivity was unchanged in 1999, with a 3.0 percent decline in hours worked
being matched by a 3.0 percent drop in output. (See table B.)
Two other countries, the U.K. and Denmark, also recorded
manufacturing output in 1999 than in 1998, following positive
previous year. Manufacturing output in 1999 increased in the
countries. Korean output grew by 21.8 percent in 1999, after
percent in 1998. The other increases ranged from 6.4 percent
0.3 percent (Japan). Japanese output had dropped 6.7 percent
table B.)

lower
output growth the
remaining 10
declining 7.4
(Taiwan) to only
in 1998. (See

During the 20-year period 1979-99, manufacturing output increased in all
the countries compared, from an average of 0.4 percent per year in Norway to 8.9
percent per year in Korea. The number of countries where the 1999 rate of
output growth was below the 1979-1999 yearly average is slightly higher (seven)
than the number of countries (five) with output growth above the average for
those same years. (See table B.)
Total hours worked in manufacturing declined over the 20-year period 197999 in all the countries for which hours data are available, except Canada.
Canadian hours worked rose at an average rate of 0.3 percent per year during the
1979-99 period and have been going up at a quicker rate over the last four
years, increasing by 3.8 percent in 1999. (See table B.)

For the other countries, the average 1979-99 declines in hours ranged from
2.5 percent per year in the U.K. to 0.4 percent per year in the U.S. Hours in
1999 were down in all these countries except Belgium and Sweden, from 4.3
percent (U.K.) to 0.2 percent (unified Germany). (See table B.)
Hourly compensation and unit labor costs
Unit labor costs, expressed in national currency units, declined in seven
of the countries compared in 1999, increased in five, and were unchanged in
unified Germany. The biggest declines occurred in Korea (-4.3 percent) and
Taiwan (-2.2 percent); the largest increases were in Denmark (6.0 percent) and
Norway (5.7 percent). Unit labor costs in Korea have now
-6declined for three consecutive years, while those in Denmark, Norway, and the
U.K. have risen for five or more consecutive years. U.S. unit labor costs went
down 1.1 percent in 1999, following a small rise in 1998 and declines in 1997
and 1996. (See tables B and 9.)
Hourly compensation increased in 1999 in all the countries for which hours
worked data were available. The largest increases occurred in Norway (5.7
percent), the U.S. (5.0 percent), and the U.K. (4.7 percent). (See table B.)
A change in unit labor costs can be expressed as a change in hourly
compensation divided by labor productivity. Therefore, an increase in unit
labor costs indicates that labor compensation is rising faster than
productivity, while the inverse is true for declining unit labor costs. Based
on this relationship, table B shows that, for the pre-1990 periods of comparison
for all countries, average annual increases in compensation in national currency
surpassed average annual increases in labor productivity. U.S. unit labor costs
have declined at an average annual rate of 0.3 percent since 1990 and have gone
down in three of the last four years. In 1999 a 1.1 percent drop occurred
despite a 5.0 percent increase in hourly compensation, since productivity went
up by 6.2 percent. (See table B.)
For the last several years, the U.S. dollar has strengthened against most
of the currencies of the countries being compared. During 1999, all the
European currencies weakened against the U.S. dollar, by 2.4 to 4.4 percent.
The Canadian dollar also lost ground to the U.S. dollar. However, the
currencies of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan appreciated in value during 1999,
reversing several consecutive years of declines. The Japanese yen rose by 15.2
percent, the Korean won by 17.7 percent, and the Taiwanese dollar by 3.8
percent. (See tables B and 11.)
These movements in the currency markets had a noticeable effect on

comparative unit labor costs expressed in U.S. dollars. The strengthening of
currencies in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan against the dollar in 1999 caused unit
labor costs in these countries to rise when expressed in U.S. dollars, although
they went down in terms of their own currencies. These increases were 13.6
percent in Japan, 12.6 percent in Korea, and 1.5 percent in Taiwan. (See table
B.)
On the other hand, unit labor costs expressed in U.S. dollars declined in
1999 in Sweden (-3.5 percent), Italy (-3.4 percent), and the U.K. (-2.0
percent), although going up in terms of their national currencies. (See table
B.)

-7Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

Output per hour
United States

3.3

3.5

2.4

3.7

2.8

3.5

4.9

6.2

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.1
3.5
NA
NA
3.6
NA
3.4

3.3
3.5
NA
NA
6.0
2.1
3.0

0.7
4.3
NA
NA
2.2
0.5
3.4

2.1
3.0
NA
NA
2.8
NA
3.6

-1.3
5.9
NA
NA
2.0
NA
0.5

3.0
4.9
NA
NA
6.0
NA
6.6

-0.3
-0.8
NA
NA
0.9
NA
1.1

2.4
3.1
NA
NA
0.7
NA
4.0

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
3.0
NA
1.4
3.4
3.3

NA
4.6
4.4
2.4
3.1
4.1

NA
2.3
2.1
1.4
1.9
4.1

NA
2.2
NA
0.8
4.4
2.4

3.2
0.2
1.7
0.1
2.1
-1.5

4.8
1.9
5.0
0.9
6.8
0.8

3.5
-0.4
1.7
0.8
2.0
0.6

1.4
1.7
NA
0.0
2.9
4.3

Output

United States

2.9

2.2

2.5

3.6

2.4

5.3

4.6

4.3

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.4
3.0
8.9
6.5
2.0
1.2
1.2

1.8
4.7
8.3
8.2
2.6
2.9
-0.4

2.0
4.8
12.2
7.0
2.5
-0.2
2.6

3.0
0.8
7.5
5.1
1.3
0.9
1.6

1.4
6.1
6.8
4.8
0.9
-4.3
-0.3

6.9
4.1
6.6
6.7
4.6
2.6
4.9

3.9
-6.7
-7.4
3.3
1.7
2.5
1.6

6.2
0.3
21.8
6.4
1.8
-3.3
2.5

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
1.9
NA
0.4
2.6
0.7

NA
1.4
1.8
0.6
2.2
-1.2

NA
3.6
3.1
-1.6
1.4
3.4

NA
1.2
NA
1.4
3.5
0.5

-1.9
-1.4
0.5
1.1
2.1
0.4

3.0
2.5
5.3
5.1
5.8
1.3

4.7
1.8
2.2
1.6
4.3
0.3

1.2
1.0
NA
-3.0
4.2
-0.2

Continued on next page

-8Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

United States

-0.4

-1.2

0.0

-0.2

-0.3

1.7

-0.3

-1.7

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.3
-0.5
NA
NA
-1.5
NA
-2.1

-1.5
1.1
NA
NA
-3.2
0.8
-3.3

1.3
0.5
NA
NA
0.4
-0.6
-0.8

0.9
-2.1
NA
NA
-1.5
NA
-2.0

2.8
0.2
NA
NA
-1.0
NA
-0.7

3.8
-0.8
NA
NA
-1.4
NA
-1.6

4.2
-5.9
NA
NA
0.8
NA
0.5

3.8
-2.7
NA
NA
1.1
NA
-1.4

Germany (unified)
Italy

NA
-1.0

NA
-3.0

NA
1.3

NA
-1.0

-4.9
-1.6

-1.7
0.7

1.2
2.3

-0.2
-0.7

Total hours

Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
-1.0
-0.7
-2.5

-2.5
-1.8
-0.8
-5.1

1.0
-2.9
-0.5
-0.6

NA
0.6
-0.8
-1.9

-1.2
1.0
0.0
1.9

0.3
4.1
-1.0
0.5

0.4
0.8
2.3
-0.3

NA
-3.0
1.3
-4.3

United States

-0.6

-1.4

-0.1

-0.3

-0.3

1.0

0.7

-1.6

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.1
0.1
NA
NA
-1.5
0.0
-1.7

-1.3
1.2
NA
NA
-2.6
1.0
-2.3

1.2
0.8
NA
NA
-0.3
-0.2
-0.9

0.5
-1.1
NA
NA
-1.5
-0.7
-1.8

2.3
-0.6
NA
NA
-1.4
0.2
-0.9

2.7
-0.1
NA
NA
-1.5
-0.4
-2.1

4.8
-3.9
NA
NA
0.6
2.3
0.2

2.9
-2.5
NA
NA
0.0
-2.1
0.2

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
-1.2
NA
-0.9
-1.4
-2.4

NA
-2.9
-2.2
-1.8
-1.2
-4.8

NA
0.3
1.2
-2.7
-0.8
-0.8

NA
-0.8
NA
0.6
-1.9
-1.7

-2.8
-0.8
-1.1
1.6
-0.3
1.8

-1.9
0.3
0.7
4.3
-1.1
0.5

0.0
2.5
0.6
0.6
2.3
0.9

-0.2
-0.3
NA
-2.6
1.0
-3.2

Employment

Continued on next page
-9Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

Average hours
United States
Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.0

0.7

-1.0

-0.2

0.1
-0.5
NA
NA

-0.2
0.0
NA
NA

0.1
-0.3
NA
NA

0.3
-1.0
NA
NA

0.5
0.8
NA
NA

1.1
-0.6
NA
NA

-0.6
-2.1
NA
NA

0.9
-0.2
NA
NA

Belgium
Denmark
France

0.0
NA
-0.4

-0.6
-0.3
-1.0

0.7
-0.5
0.1

0.0
NA
-0.2

0.4
NA
0.1

0.1
NA
0.5

0.2
NA
0.3

1.1
NA
-1.7

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
0.1
NA
-0.1
0.7
-0.1

NA
-0.1
-0.3
0.0
0.4
-0.3

NA
1.0
-0.2
-0.2
0.3
0.2

NA
-0.2
NA
0.0
1.1
-0.2

-2.1
-0.8
-0.1
-0.6
0.2
0.1

0.2
0.4
-0.4
-0.2
0.1
0.0

1.2
-0.2
-0.2
0.2
0.0
-1.2

0.1
-0.4
NA
-0.4
0.3
-1.2

Labor compensation in manufacturing 2/:
United States
Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

National currency basis

4.2

5.8

3.9

3.3

1.0

3.7

5.0

3.2

5.3
3.4
15.1
9.9
3.0
5.0
4.1

7.5
5.9
18.7
15.9
4.7
9.0
9.1

5.6
5.1
19.7
10.7
4.0
4.6
3.6

3.7
0.8
10.4
5.6
1.4
2.6
1.1

1.9
1.6
12.2
4.2
0.1
2.9
0.9

6.9
1.9
-2.2
5.0
2.0
3.7
0.9

7.1
-4.4
-9.4
4.8
2.2
3.3
2.2

5.5
-1.1
16.5
4.0
1.5
2.5
2.3

NA
7.5
NA
5.7
6.1
5.0

NA
13.0
2.3
8.0
8.8
5.9

NA
8.2
3.1
4.7
7.9
8.1

NA
3.6
NA
4.8
3.4
2.8

0.5
5.0
1.1
5.1
7.3
2.7

0.5
4.9
2.6
8.7
3.8
3.6

1.9
0.4
2.6
7.2
5.4
4.7

1.3
2.1
NA
2.5
4.6
0.2

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

Continued on next page

-10Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-99

Hourly compensation 2/:

1979-85

1985-90

National currency basis

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

United States

4.7

7.2

3.9

3.4

1.3

1.9

5.3

5.0

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

5.0
3.9
NA
NA
4.6
NA
6.3

9.1
4.7
NA
NA
8.1
8.1
12.8

4.2
4.6
NA
NA
3.7
5.3
4.5

2.8
2.9
NA
NA
2.9
NA
3.1

-0.9
1.4
NA
NA
1.2
NA
1.7

3.0
2.7
NA
NA
3.4
NA
2.5

2.8
1.7
NA
NA
1.4
NA
1.7

1.7
1.6
NA
NA
0.4
NA
3.8

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
8.6
NA
6.8
6.9
7.8

NA
16.6
5.0
10.0
9.8
11.6

NA
6.8
2.1
7.8
8.4
8.8

NA
4.6
NA
4.2
4.2
4.7

5.7
6.7
2.3
4.1
7.4
0.7

2.2
4.2
2.3
4.4
4.8
3.0

0.7
-1.9
2.2
6.3
3.0
5.0

1.5
2.8
NA
5.7
3.3
4.7

Unit labor costs:

National currency basis

United States

1.3

3.6

1.4

-0.3

-1.4

-1.5

0.4

-1.1

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.8
0.4
5.7
3.2
1.0
3.7
2.8

5.6
1.2
9.6
7.2
2.0
5.9
9.5

3.5
0.3
6.7
3.5
1.5
4.8
1.0

0.7
0.0
2.6
0.5
0.0
1.7
-0.5

0.4
-4.3
5.1
-0.5
-0.8
7.6
1.2

-0.1
-2.1
-8.3
-1.6
-2.5
1.1
-3.9

3.1
2.5
-2.1
1.4
0.5
0.8
0.6

-0.7
-1.4
-4.3
-2.2
-0.3
6.0
-0.1

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
5.5
NA
5.3
3.4
4.3

NA
11.4
0.5
7.4
6.5
7.2

NA
4.4
0.0
6.4
6.4
4.5

NA
2.3
NA
3.3
-0.2
2.3

2.4
6.5
0.6
4.0
5.2
2.3

-2.5
2.3
-2.5
3.5
-1.9
2.2

-2.7
-1.4
0.4
5.4
1.0
4.4

0.0
1.1
NA
5.7
0.4
0.4

Continued on next page

-11Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99

Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

Unit labor costs:
United States

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

U.S. dollar basis
1.3

3.6

1.4

-0.3

-1.4

-1.5

0.4

-1.1

1.6
3.7
1.1
3.8
-0.3
2.2
0.9

2.9
-0.3
-0.5
5.4
-9.3
-5.8
-3.3

6.8
10.8
10.9
12.0
13.8
16.7
11.7

-2.0
2.7
-3.1
-1.6
-1.3
0.3
-1.8

1.1
-17.3
0.8
-4.0
-5.6
3.9
-1.4

-1.6
-12.0
-22.3
-6.0
-15.6
-11.3
-15.8

-3.8
-5.3
-33.5
-13.0
-0.9
-0.6
-0.5

-0.9
13.6
12.6
1.5
-4.4
1.6
-4.3

NA
1.4
NA
3.0
0.1
2.9

NA
-3.0
-7.6
-1.7
-5.2
-1.3

NA
14.6
12.8
13.3
14.7
11.4

NA
-2.3
NA
0.8
-3.8
1.2

-2.5
12.5
-4.3
2.0
11.9
1.1

-15.4
-7.4
-15.8
-5.7
-13.9
7.3

-4.0
-3.3
-1.2
-1.1
-2.9
5.6

-4.1
-3.4
NA
2.3
-3.5
-2.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

-1.2
3.3
-4.4
0.5
-1.3
-1.4
-1.8

-2.5
-1.5
-9.2
-1.7
-11.1
-11.0
-11.7

3.2
10.5
3.9
8.2
12.2
11.4
10.5

-2.6
2.7
-5.6
-2.0
-1.4
-1.3
-1.4

0.6
-13.6
-4.0
-3.5
-4.8
-3.5
-2.5

-1.5
-10.1
-15.3
-4.5
-13.5
-12.2
-12.4

-6.7
-7.6
-32.1
-14.2
-1.4
-1.4
-1.0

-0.1
15.2
17.7
3.8
-4.1
-4.1
-4.2

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
-3.8
-0.2
-2.1
-3.2
-1.4

NA
-12.9
-8.0
-8.4
-11.0
-7.9

NA
9.8
12.7
6.6
7.8
6.6

NA
-4.5
-1.4
-2.4
-3.6
-1.1

-4.8
5.6
-4.9
-1.9
6.4
-1.1

-13.3
-9.5
-13.6
-8.8
-12.2
4.9

-1.4
-1.9
-1.6
-6.2
-3.9
1.2

-4.2
-4.4
-4.1
-3.3
-3.9
-2.4

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

Exchange rates 3/
United States

1/ Rates of change based on the compound

3/ Value of foreign currency relative to

rate method.
2/ Adjusted to include employment taxes
that are not compensation to employees
but are labor costs to employers.

the U.S. dollar.
NA = Not available.

-12Trade-weighted unit labor costs
Because the economies covered 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.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 12 competitors, 1979-99
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.
In chart 3, the solid line indicates that U.S. unit labor costs rose faster
than "competitors" costs between 1979 and 1985 on a U.S. dollar basis. In most
years between 1985 and 1995, U.S. costs either rose at a slower rate than the
"competitors" costs or fell at a faster rate. Since 1995, however, the strength
of the U.S. dollar has once again caused relative U.S. unit labor costs to rise.
The data underlying this chart are shown in table C.
- 13 Table C. U.S. manufacturing unit labor
costs relative to 12 competitors, 1979-99

Year

Unit Labor Costs
National Currency Basis
Own
Competitors'
Index
Index
Ratio

Unit Labor Costs
U.S. Dollar Basis
Own
Competitors'
Index
Index

Ratio

1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

100.0
111.4
116.5
124.2
121.6
121.0
123.4
128.9
122.8
122.5
128.0
132.4
138.0
141.3
142.2
139.2
134.0
132.1
130.1
130.6
129.2

100.0
111.4
120.6
128.8
131.0
131.8
133.3
138.8
141.0
142.4
146.0
152.0
159.3
163.7
166.3
164.1
164.2
164.2
161.8
164.3
162.9

100.0
100.0
96.6
96.4
92.8
91.8
92.5
92.9
87.1
86.0
87.6
87.1
86.7
86.3
85.5
84.8
81.6
80.4
80.4
79.5
79.3

100.0
111.4
116.5
124.2
121.6
121.0
123.4
128.9
122.8
122.5
128.0
132.4
138.0
141.3
142.2
139.2
134.0
132.1
130.1
130.6
129.2

100.0
109.7
109.7
106.1
104.9
99.7
97.8
122.2
140.2
153.0
152.6
163.8
174.5
182.6
181.0
181.5
191.4
181.8
165.8
156.4
161.3

100.0
101.5
106.2
117.1
115.9
121.3
126.1
105.5
87.6
80.1
83.8
80.8
79.1
77.4
78.6
76.7
70.0
72.7
78.5
83.5
80.1

BOX: Note on European exchange rates for 1999

On Jan. 1, 1999, 11 European countries joined the European Monetary Union (EMU).
Currencies of EMU members are established at fixed conversion rates to the euro,
the official currency of the EMU. Exchange rates between the national
currencies of EMU countries and the U.S. dollar are no longer reported; only the
exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar is available.
In this news release, 1999 exchange rates in national currencies for Belgium,
France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are calculated by taking the number
of euros per U.S. dollar and then converting euros into national currencies at
fixed conversion rates.
1 euro equals:
40.3399
Belgian Francs
6.55957
French Francs
1.95583
German Marks

1936.27
2.20371

Italian Lire
Netherlands Guilders

In 1999, 1 euro was equal to 1.0653 U.S. dollars.

END OF BOX (Note on European exchange rates for 1999)

-14TECHNICAL 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 employees (wage and
salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy. For all other
countries, the measures refer to all employed persons, including employees,
self-employed persons, and unpaid family workers. For all of the countries, the
term "hours" refers to hours worked.
In general, although some variations are present, the measures relate to
total manufacturing as defined by the International Standard Industrial
Classification (ISIC). However, the measures for France refer to mining and
manufacturing less energy-related products, and the measures for Denmark include
mining and exclude manufacturing handicrafts from 1960 to 1966.
The comparisons in this news release make use of data made available to BLS
as of June 2000 by the statistical agencies of the individual countries. For
some countries, for the most recent years, these data are based on the European
System of Integrated National Accounts (ESA 95) or on the United Nations revised
System of National Accounts (SNA 93). For other countries, data were compiled
according to previously used systems.
To obtain historical time series, BLS may link together data series compiled
according to different accounting systems.
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.
In this release, manufacturing output data for the United States from 1977
forward are the gross product originating (value added) measures prepared by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. U. S.
gross product originating is a chain-type annual-weighted series. 1/ Comparable
manufacturing output data are not available prior to 1977.
The gross product originating series differs from the manufacturing output
series that BLS publishes 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 sales and transfers.
2/
A value added concept has been used for the international comparisons series

because the data are more readily available in the countries' national accounts,
whereas sectoral output would require a complex estimation procedure. Also,
although BLS has determined that sectoral output is the correct concept for U.S.
measures of single factor productivity (output per hour), there are other
considerations that may make value added a better concept for international
comparisons, such as differences among countries in the extent of vertical
integration.
The historical real output series for many of the other countries are
estimated using fixed price weights, with the weights updated periodically (for
example, every 5 or 10 years). The Japanese value added series is based upon
one set of fixed price weights since 1970.
Measures of real output also may differ among countries because of different
approaches to estimating the prices of high-technology products like computers
and, in general, of products that undergo rapid quality change.
Labor Input. The total hours measures are developed from statistics of
manufacturing employment and average hours. The total hours series used for
France (from 1970 forward),
-15Norway, Sweden, and Canada are series published with the national accounts.
Where such 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 average annual hours worked. For the former
West Germany after 1959 and unified Germany from 1991, BLS uses aggregate hours
worked, which were developed by a research institute of the German Ministry of
Labor for use with the national accounts employment figures; earlier figures are
BLS estimates. For the other countries, and the former West Germany before
1959, BLS constructs its own estimates of average hours. BLS is in the process
of assessing the comparability of the employment and hours time series data
available from statistical sources in Denmark, Korea, and Taiwan.
Compensation (Labor Cost). The compensation measures are from national
accounts data. 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 Canada, France, and
Sweden, compensation is increased to account for other important taxes on
payroll or employment. For the United Kingdom, compensation is reduced between
1967 and 1991 to account for subsidies. When data for the self-employed are not
available, total compensation is estimated by assuming the same hourly
compensation for self-employed and employees. Real compensation for the U.S. is
derived using the Consumer Price Index research series (CPI-U-RS).
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 re-scaling 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 weight used for Germany
is based on the trade weight of the former West Germany.
The following weights were used for the entire period for which tradeweighted unit labor cost measures are produced:
Country

Weight

Country

Canada
Japan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany

24.46
29.54
2.06
0.46
5.70
11.22

Italy
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
Korea
Taiwan

Weight
4.44
0.46
1.83
8.68
5.55
5.60

-16Level 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 is 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 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
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.
1/ For more information on the U. S. measure, see Sherlene K.S. Lum, Brian C.

Moyer, and Robert E. Yuskavage, "Improved Estimates of Gross Product by Industry
for 1947-98," Survey of Current Business, June 2000, pp. 24-38.
2/ For information on sectoral output, see William Gullickson, "Measurement of
productivity growth in U.S. manufacturing," Monthly Labor Review, July 1995, pp.
13-28.
- 17 Table 1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada Japan

1950

NA

26.6

1955

NA

32.7

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984

NA

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

NA

NA

NA

22.6

13.2

NA

13.2

11.5

11.3

24.5

19.5

25.5

8.7

NA

NA

NA

24.6

16.6

NA

19.7

16.1

14.4

28.5

21.3

27.5

38.7
40.8
44.3
46.2
48.2
50.3
51.0
51.5
54.5
57.4

14.0
15.8
16.6
18.0
20.4
21.2
23.3
26.3
29.5
33.8

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

18.0
18.2
19.2
19.9
21.2
22.3
23.8
25.1
27.3
29.9

29.9
31.6
33.2
34.3
37.1
38.9
40.8
43.8
47.8
49.8

21.8
23.1
24.7
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.5
34.5
38.1
40.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

29.2
30.6
32.8
34.1
37.1
39.3
40.9
43.4
47.0
50.4

20.2
21.8
24.1
24.8
25.0
27.9
30.3
31.8
34.3
35.6

18.6
19.6
20.4
21.2
23.1
24.7
26.3
28.3
31.8
34.9

36.7
38.0
38.0
40.0
42.2
44.7
46.6
48.3
51.3
56.1

27.3
28.7
30.9
32.7
35.5
38.2
39.8
43.2
47.2
50.9

31.2
31.2
31.9
33.6
35.8
36.9
38.1
39.9
42.7
43.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
68.3
69.2
70.1

56.6
60.0
62.7
66.2
67.2
64.7
70.3
74.9
76.7
75.9

38.0
40.2
44.1
48.1
49.3
50.7
53.8
55.9
58.1
62.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

32.9
35.1
39.2
43.5
45.8
47.6
52.4
55.0
58.3
61.4

52.7
56.3
60.8
66.9
69.1
76.1
78.8
80.4
81.6
85.6

43.0
45.5
47.5
50.9
52.0
53.8
57.1
60.5
63.2
66.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

52.0
54.0
57.4
61.1
63.2
65.9
70.6
72.7
75.2
78.4

37.9
38.5
41.7
45.2
48.1
46.5
52.9
54.0
57.5
63.0

38.1
40.4
43.6
48.3
51.9
51.2
56.8
61.4
65.4
68.6

57.8
60.1
63.6
67.6
70.6
69.7
71.9
71.5
72.8
78.1

52.2
54.5
57.2
61.4
64.0
65.0
66.0
65.0
66.8
72.0

44.7
46.8
49.5
53.0
53.9
52.8
55.0
55.5
56.3
56.7

70.5
74.1
76.2
80.0
83.2

75.1
77.8
77.3
82.4
90.2

63.9
66.0
68.7
69.6
71.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

65.4
70.1
73.5
81.0
85.0

90.3
91.8
92.1
96.6
96.1

66.5
68.5
73.3
75.0
76.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

77.2
78.7
78.8
82.6
85.4

65.9
67.4
68.6
71.8
78.4

69.2
70.8
72.1
77.8
85.4

76.7
76.5
79.7
82.4
87.4

73.1
72.7
75.4
80.9
85.2

56.1
59.0
62.3
67.1
70.7

1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

86.0
86.0
92.9
96.9
95.7

92.4
90.0
90.6
90.9
93.7

77.3
76.9
81.2
84.8
89.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

87.0
87.8
88.9
92.0
96.9

96.7
91.1
90.6
94.1
99.6

79.1
80.4
81.8
87.5
91.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

89.1
89.6
88.1
91.5
94.6

82.6
83.8
85.7
86.7
89.4

89.0
90.8
91.6
93.7
97.1

90.2
89.0
93.3
92.1
94.6

86.2
87.5
89.2
90.5
93.2

72.3
74.8
79.4
82.3
86.2

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

96.9
97.8
100.0
102.1
107.3
113.8
117.0
121.1
127.0
134.8

95.7
95.3
100.0
104.5
109.9
111.0
109.5
112.8
112.5
115.2

95.4
99.4
100.0
100.5
101.8
109.3
115.8
121.4
120.4
124.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

96.8
99.1
100.0
102.5
108.4
113.2
115.5
122.4
123.6
124.5

99.1
99.6
100.0
104.5
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

93.5
96.9
100.0
100.6
108.5
114.5
115.0
122.6
124.0
128.9

NA
99.0
100.0
101.6
110.1
113.2
116.8
122.4
126.7
128.5

99.0
101.9
100.0
100.6
107.9
111.2
115.1
121.8
127.1
NA

92.5
95.2
100.0
102.9
105.6
109.3
109.5
111.5
111.1
112.9

98.6
99.6
100.0
101.4
112.7
117.7
119.7
125.7
127.8
NA

96.6
97.5
100.0
100.6
101.4
102.0
102.0
103.0
103.9
103.9

94.6
95.5
100.0
107.3
119.4
121.9
124.5
133.0
135.6
139.5

88.3
92.2
100.0
104.0
106.8
104.8
103.2
104.0
104.6
109.2

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 18 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 2. Output per employed person in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

NA

29.0

NA

NA

NA

NA

31.8

16.2

NA

19.2

12.7

14.7

32.0

25.7

29.6

1955

NA

34.3

10.4

NA

NA

NA

34.0

20.2

NA

28.8

18.2

18.9

37.3

28.0

32.3

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

40.3
42.3
46.2
48.4
50.7
52.9
53.2
53.8
56.8
59.6

17.3
19.3
19.8
21.2
24.0
24.5
27.0
30.6
34.2
38.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

22.6
22.9
24.1
25.0
26.5
27.4
29.1
30.3
33.0
35.7

39.2
40.2
42.6
43.3
47.2
49.5
51.0
54.1
57.7
59.3

26.5
28.3
30.0
31.7
33.9
35.9
39.1
41.1
44.1
48.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

38.4
39.6
41.3
42.4
46.1
48.7
50.0
51.7
56.6
60.7

23.0
24.6
26.4
27.3
27.6
29.7
32.6
34.7
37.4
38.5

24.5
24.8
25.6
26.5
28.7
30.5
32.4
34.7
38.2
41.4

46.2
47.2
47.0
49.2
52.3
54.1
56.6
58.1
60.1
64.3

33.8
35.1
37.4
39.2
42.0
44.7
46.5
49.6
53.0
56.0

35.9
35.5
35.9
37.8
40.6
41.2
41.8
43.4
46.9
48.1

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
67.0
67.9
68.4

58.3
61.7
64.5
67.6
68.1
64.8
70.5
75.1
77.5
76.3

43.0
44.8
48.9
52.8
52.0
52.2
57.0
59.4
62.0
67.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

38.3
40.2
43.9
47.6
48.7
48.0
53.8
56.1
59.4
62.6

60.8
64.6
68.4
71.2
75.0
79.9
83.2
84.1
84.3
88.4

50.3
52.8
54.7
57.6
58.1
58.4
62.1
65.2
67.6
70.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

62.4
63.4
66.6
70.4
71.4
72.5
79.9
81.1
82.8
86.0

40.3
39.8
42.9
47.0
48.2
45.8
52.1
52.9
56.2
61.1

44.4
46.5
49.5
53.8
56.0
54.2
60.0
64.6
68.2
70.7

65.7
67.6
70.6
74.6
76.9
75.6
76.0
74.4
73.9
78.0

57.1
59.4
60.7
64.0
65.9
65.5
65.7
64.1
64.2
68.1

48.4
49.5
51.8
56.2
55.3
54.0
56.8
57.7
58.2
58.4

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

67.9
71.4
72.1
77.8
82.0
84.9
84.8
92.1
96.9
95.7

74.7
76.8
75.6
81.7
89.3
92.0
90.0
91.4
93.6
94.3

68.6
70.3
73.0
74.0
77.3
82.8
81.9
86.7
91.7
95.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

65.6
68.7
73.7
79.2
82.5
85.7
86.5
88.4
93.0
97.5

93.9
94.3
96.0
102.1
101.2
98.4
94.9
92.2
95.8
100.2

71.0
72.1
74.0
75.4
76.7
79.2
80.6
82.6
88.6
92.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

83.5
84.1
83.7
87.9
90.9
93.1
93.0
91.3
94.4
96.2

64.1
65.6
66.6
69.7
76.1
79.5
82.6
86.1
90.1
92.7

71.8
73.8
75.9
82.1
88.8
90.2
91.5
91.9
94.7
97.6

77.1
76.9
79.4
82.5
87.4
89.8
88.7
90.7
90.3
93.3

68.4
68.5
71.5
77.8
83.5
83.6
84.5
87.3
88.1
90.6

55.9
57.9
61.7
66.7
70.8
73.1
75.8
80.1
85.0
88.1

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

96.3
96.6
100.0
103.4
109.7
115.5
118.7
123.7
128.4
136.2

95.9
95.1
100.0
105.6
112.2
112.7
111.8
116.4
115.3
119.1

100.5
102.5
100.0
98.1
99.5
107.6
114.9
119.7
116.2
119.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

98.5
99.2
100.0
100.9
109.7
113.3
116.0
123.1
124.5
126.8

98.4
99.3
100.0
103.6
114.0
116.9
111.6
114.9
115.1
113.7

94.1
96.4
100.0
100.5
108.5
113.9
114.5
122.7
124.5
127.2

NA
94.6
100.0
99.6
108.1
110.9
112.0
117.6
123.2
125.0

98.8
101.0
100.0
97.6
104.7
107.3
109.3
116.0
122.3
NA

93.6
95.3
100.0
100.9
106.4
110.2
109.5
112.0
111.3
112.7

99.1
99.8
100.0
101.4
112.7
118.1
119.9
125.4
127.3
NA

95.1
96.4
100.0
100.9
102.0
101.6
101.1
101.9
102.9
102.5

93.1
94.2
100.0
110.2
127.5
131.5
134.5
143.8
146.7
151.4

90.0
93.0
100.0
103.8
108.1
107.0
105.6
106.5
105.9
109.2

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 19 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 3. Output in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

NA

22.6

2.2

NA

NA

NA

26.8

18.4

NA

14.5

9.6

16.8

38.2

30.9

49.8

1955

NA

29.2

4.9

NA

NA

NA

29.4

22.9

NA

27.5

14.9

23.0

46.7

35.7

58.5

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

34.2
35.6
40.0
42.8
46.9
51.2
54.5
55.6
58.9
63.0

10.7
12.8
13.9
15.5
18.0
18.7
21.2
25.4
29.3
34.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

30.7
32.1
34.6
36.2
39.5
40.8
43.2
43.7
46.7
52.2

40.8
43.0
46.7
47.3
52.9
56.3
57.5
58.1
62.6
66.0

31.0
33.3
35.7
38.4
42.0
44.1
48.1
50.4
53.2
59.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

41.5
44.0
46.2
47.1
51.2
55.0
55.9
54.7
60.3
67.4

21.9
24.2
26.8
28.5
28.9
30.4
33.1
36.4
39.8
42.4

31.7
32.8
34.5
35.9
39.3
42.1
44.3
46.1
50.4
55.3

56.5
58.8
59.3
62.9
67.3
70.9
75.1
77.5
79.4
85.2

45.9
49.0
52.8
55.4
60.3
64.5
66.3
68.5
72.0
77.7

67.7
67.8
68.0
70.4
76.8
79.0
80.4
80.9
86.6
89.9

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
72.5
76.5
79.0

60.6
64.4
69.5
76.0
77.6
71.8
78.1
81.5
86.5
88.3

38.8
40.7
44.4
50.0
48.7
46.2
50.2
51.8
53.3
57.9

7.0
8.3
9.5
12.3
14.3
16.2
19.9
22.8
27.5
30.1

12.7
15.5
18.9
22.3
21.0
22.0
27.0
30.6
37.1
40.0

57.6
60.1
64.7
70.6
73.4
67.9
73.0
73.3
74.3
76.2

68.0
69.4
75.3
79.5
80.7
78.7
82.5
82.9
82.7
87.4

64.1
68.1
71.3
76.7
78.2
76.6
81.1
84.8
86.8
89.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

70.9
71.6
73.8
78.5
77.7
74.1
79.8
81.3
82.8
87.1

45.8
46.4
49.0
55.3
58.9
55.5
63.8
66.0
69.2
76.4

59.5
61.5
63.2
67.7
70.2
65.6
69.6
73.1
75.4
77.3

89.1
92.3
96.7
102.2
107.3
105.0
105.2
103.0
100.6
104.7

80.7
81.2
81.7
87.5
92.2
92.5
92.5
87.2
84.9
90.3

90.3
89.3
91.2
99.6
98.3
91.6
93.3
95.1
95.6
95.4

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

75.8
79.2
74.6
79.1
87.6
90.0
88.6
96.4
103.2
102.4

86.0
88.1
78.8
83.0
93.3
98.3
99.4
103.9
110.1
112.6

59.9
62.1
64.1
66.1
70.4
76.1
74.9
78.4
84.6
90.2

29.9
32.7
34.6
39.5
46.0
48.8
57.9
68.5
76.7
79.4

44.0
47.3
48.5
54.1
62.2
64.3
74.7
84.3
87.7
90.8

78.2
77.2
80.4
84.6
87.2
89.1
89.1
88.8
93.3
99.1

91.3
88.4
89.8
95.8
100.3
103.5
103.5
99.3
100.8
104.3

88.7
87.3
88.2
88.0
87.0
87.3
87.3
87.2
92.2
97.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

85.3
84.4
81.5
82.7
85.2
88.3
89.7
88.0
90.9
94.0

80.4
78.8
77.5
77.8
80.9
83.3
85.5
88.7
94.5
98.1

77.4
77.5
76.7
79.1
83.6
86.1
88.3
89.5
92.8
96.9

103.6
101.7
101.3
99.9
104.7
108.5
108.1
110.7
105.3
101.3

90.7
88.0
88.3
93.9
101.3
102.9
104.0
106.6
109.8
110.9

87.2
81.8
81.7
83.4
86.5
89.0
90.1
94.4
101.4
105.4

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997

101.6
98.3
100.0
103.5
111.1
118.4
121.3
127.7

108.6
99.0
100.0
104.6
113.2
118.1
119.8
128.1

96.3
101.4
100.0
96.0
95.4
100.6
106.7
111.1

86.7
95.0
100.0
105.4
116.8
129.9
138.7
147.8

90.0
96.1
100.0
102.4
108.5
114.9
120.3
128.3

101.0
100.7
100.0
97.0
101.4
104.2
105.1
109.9

102.7
101.7
100.0
99.0
109.3
114.7
109.7
112.6

99.1
99.8
100.0
95.7
100.3
104.9
104.6
109.7

NA
102.3
100.0
92.5
95.2
95.3
93.5
96.3

99.1
102.8
100.0
91.8
93.5
93.7
92.5
95.8

99.6
99.2
100.0
96.4
102.2
107.2
105.6
108.3

100.1
100.6
100.0
98.2
104.2
107.8
108.4
114.1

100.2
98.3
100.0
102.7
106.7
109.0
110.1
115.7

110.1
104.1
100.0
101.9
117.1
128.4
131.1
138.6

105.3
100.0
100.0
101.4
106.1
107.8
108.2
109.6

1998
1999
NA:

133.5
139.3

133.1
141.3

103.6
103.9

136.8
166.7

132.6
141.1

111.8
113.8

115.3
111.5

111.5
114.2

100.9
102.2

100.7
NA

110.3
111.4

116.6
NA

117.6
114.0

144.6
150.7

109.9
109.7

Not Available

Source:
- 20 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 4. Total hours in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

85.5

84.7

NA

NA

NA

NA

118.7

140.0

NA

109.8

83.6

148.6

156.0

158.5

195.7

1955

94.6

89.4

55.9

NA

NA

NA

119.8

138.0

NA

139.6

92.5

159.1

164.1

167.3

213.1

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

92.1
89.7
93.4
94.4
96.4
102.0
108.6
108.0
109.6
110.9

88.3
87.1
90.3
92.6
97.2
101.9
106.8
107.9
108.2
109.7

76.3
80.8
83.4
86.1
88.2
88.0
91.0
96.3
99.4
100.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

170.7
175.9
180.3
181.8
186.5
183.2
181.5
173.6
170.9
174.9

136.5
136.2
140.7
138.0
142.6
144.9
140.8
132.7
130.9
132.7

142.3
143.8
144.8
148.0
149.7
146.9
148.3
146.2
139.7
147.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

142.3
143.9
140.8
138.1
138.0
140.0
136.7
125.9
128.3
133.8

108.7
110.9
110.8
114.9
115.2
108.8
109.4
114.5
116.0
119.2

170.6
167.1
169.2
169.5
170.0
170.4
168.3
162.7
158.8
158.5

154.0
154.8
156.2
157.3
159.5
158.4
161.1
160.4
154.9
152.0

168.3
171.0
170.8
169.1
169.6
168.8
166.5
158.4
152.6
152.5

217.3
217.4
213.2
209.6
214.6
214.3
211.2
203.0
202.8
205.6

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

104.4
100.5
105.1
110.4
107.9
97.2
101.9
106.1
110.6
112.7

107.1
107.4
110.8
114.9
115.5
111.1
111.0
108.8
112.8
116.2

102.3
101.1
100.6
104.0
98.7
91.1
93.3
92.5
91.6
92.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

174.7
171.4
165.2
162.1
160.4
142.6
139.4
133.3
127.4
124.2

129.0
123.3
123.8
118.8
116.7
103.5
104.7
103.1
101.4
102.1

149.0
149.7
149.9
150.7
150.3
142.3
141.9
140.1
137.3
134.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

136.3
132.5
128.7
128.4
122.9
112.5
113.1
111.8
110.1
111.0

120.9
120.6
117.5
122.4
122.4
119.3
120.5
122.2
120.4
121.4

156.2
152.4
144.9
140.2
135.4
128.2
122.7
119.1
115.2
112.7

154.3
153.6
152.1
151.2
152.0
150.5
146.2
144.1
138.3
134.1

154.7
149.1
142.9
142.5
144.0
142.3
140.2
134.2
127.1
125.5

202.1
190.6
184.3
187.8
182.4
173.6
169.5
171.2
169.7
168.1

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985

107.5
107.0
97.9
98.9
105.3
104.6

114.6
113.2
102.0
100.7
103.3
106.4

93.8
94.1
93.3
95.0
97.9
98.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

119.7
110.2
109.4
104.3
102.6
102.4

101.1
96.3
97.5
99.2
104.4
107.0

133.3
127.4
120.3
117.4
114.2
110.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

110.5
107.1
103.4
100.1
99.7
99.1

122.0
116.8
113.0
108.4
103.2
100.8

111.8
109.4
106.3
101.6
97.9
96.7

135.0
133.0
127.1
121.2
119.7
120.2

124.0
121.0
117.2
116.1
118.9
119.4

155.3
138.6
131.2
124.2
122.4
123.1

1986
1987
1988
1989

103.0
103.8
106.6
107.1

110.5
114.7
121.2
120.2

97.3
96.6
99.8
100.8

NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA

101.5
100.0
101.5
102.3

113.7
109.6
107.2
104.7

108.6
106.6
105.4
105.8

NA
NA
NA
NA

100.1
99.9
99.3
99.3

102.1
103.5
108.9
109.7

97.3
97.7
99.0
99.8

121.6
118.6
114.3
107.1

118.9
119.5
121.4
119.0

120.4
118.9
123.2
122.3

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

104.8
100.4
100.0
101.4
103.6
104.0
103.7
105.5
105.2
103.3

113.5
103.9
100.0
100.1
103.0
106.4
109.4
113.5
118.3
122.7

100.9
102.0
100.0
95.6
93.7
92.0
92.2
91.5
86.1
83.8

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

104.3
101.5
100.0
94.7
93.6
92.0
91.0
89.8
90.5
91.5

103.7
102.1
100.0
94.8
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

105.9
103.0
100.0
95.1
92.4
91.6
91.0
89.5
89.9
88.6

NA
103.3
100.0
91.0
86.5
84.2
80.1
78.7
79.6
79.5

100.1
100.9
100.0
91.3
86.7
84.3
80.4
78.6
79.3
NA

107.7
104.2
100.0
93.6
96.7
98.0
96.5
97.1
99.3
98.6

101.5
101.0
100.0
96.9
92.4
91.6
90.5
90.8
91.2
NA

103.7
100.8
100.0
102.1
105.2
106.9
107.9
112.3
113.2
109.8

116.4
109.0
100.0
94.9
98.1
105.3
105.3
104.2
106.6
108.0

119.2
108.5
100.0
97.5
99.4
102.9
104.8
105.4
105.0
100.5

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 21 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 5. Employment in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

84.3

77.9

NA

NA

NA

NA

84.4

113.7

NA

75.2

75.8

114.1

119.3

120.1

168.4

1955

93.1

85.3

47.1

NA

NA

NA

86.7

113.3

NA

95.5

81.9

121.8

125.2

127.7

181.1

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

92.6
90.0
92.8
93.5
94.9
99.3
105.4
106.7
108.5
110.6

84.8
84.1
86.5
88.5
92.5
96.9
102.4
103.3
103.8
105.7

61.7
66.4
70.0
72.8
75.0
76.1
78.3
82.8
85.7
88.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

135.7
140.1
143.3
144.7
148.8
148.7
148.5
143.9
141.5
146.3

104.1
107.0
109.7
109.3
112.0
113.9
112.8
107.5
108.5
111.4

116.9
117.7
118.9
121.5
123.7
122.5
123.2
122.7
120.6
124.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

108.1
111.3
111.8
111.0
111.0
113.0
111.8
105.8
106.6
111.0

95.1
98.1
101.2
104.4
104.7
102.3
101.7
105.0
106.4
110.0

129.4
132.2
134.7
135.4
137.1
137.9
137.0
132.9
132.1
133.7

122.2
124.8
126.3
127.8
128.8
130.9
132.8
133.5
132.0
132.6

135.7
139.6
140.9
141.4
143.4
144.4
142.7
138.2
136.0
138.7

188.5
191.1
189.4
186.4
189.2
191.7
192.2
186.3
184.5
187.1

1970

106.3

103.9

90.3

NA

NA

150.2

111.9

127.3

NA

113.6

113.6

134.3

135.6

141.2

186.7

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

102.2
105.0
110.5
110.1
100.6
104.2
108.2
112.7
115.6

104.4
107.7
112.5
113.9
110.9
110.7
108.5
111.7
115.7

90.7
90.8
94.6
93.7
88.5
88.0
87.1
85.9
85.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

149.6
147.4
148.4
150.7
141.5
135.8
130.5
125.0
121.8

107.3
110.1
111.6
107.6
98.5
99.2
98.5
98.0
98.8

128.9
130.4
133.2
134.6
131.2
130.5
130.0
128.4
126.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

112.9
110.8
111.5
108.9
102.2
99.9
100.3
100.0
101.2

116.7
114.4
117.8
122.1
121.1
122.3
124.7
123.1
125.0

132.2
127.5
125.8
125.4
121.0
116.0
113.1
110.5
109.3

136.4
136.9
136.9
139.5
138.7
138.4
138.5
136.1
134.2

136.7
134.6
136.8
140.0
141.3
141.0
136.0
132.3
132.7

180.4
176.1
177.2
177.8
169.7
164.3
164.8
164.2
163.2

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

111.6
111.0
103.5
101.8
106.8
106.0
104.5
104.7
106.6
107.0

115.1
114.8
104.3
101.6
104.4
106.8
110.4
113.7
117.6
119.4

87.4
88.3
87.9
89.3
91.1
91.9
91.4
90.4
92.4
94.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

119.3
112.4
109.2
106.8
105.7
104.0
103.0
100.5
100.4
101.7

97.2
93.8
93.6
93.9
99.1
105.2
109.1
107.7
105.3
104.1

125.0
121.0
119.1
116.7
113.4
110.3
108.3
105.6
104.1
104.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

102.2
100.3
97.4
94.1
93.7
94.9
96.4
96.4
96.3
97.6

125.4
120.1
116.4
111.7
106.3
104.8
103.5
103.0
104.8
105.8

107.8
105.0
101.0
96.4
94.2
95.4
96.5
97.4
98.0
99.3

134.5
132.3
127.5
121.0
119.8
120.7
122.0
122.0
116.6
108.7

132.6
128.4
123.4
120.7
121.3
123.1
123.1
122.1
124.6
122.5

155.9
141.2
132.5
125.1
122.2
121.7
118.9
117.9
119.3
119.7

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

105.4
101.8
100.0
100.1
101.3
102.5
102.2
103.2
104.0
102.3

113.2
104.1
100.0
99.1
100.9
104.8
107.2
110.1
115.4
118.7

95.8
98.9
100.0
97.9
95.9
93.5
92.9
92.8
89.2
87.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

102.5
101.5
100.0
96.1
92.5
91.9
90.6
89.3
89.8
89.8

104.3
102.4
100.0
95.5
95.8
98.1
98.3
97.9
100.2
98.1

105.4
103.6
100.0
95.2
92.4
92.1
91.3
89.4
89.6
89.8

NA
108.1
100.0
92.9
88.1
86.0
83.5
81.9
81.9
81.7

100.3
101.8
100.0
94.0
89.3
87.3
84.6
82.6
82.4
NA

106.4
104.1
100.0
95.5
96.0
97.2
96.4
96.7
99.1
98.8

101.1
100.7
100.0
96.9
92.4
91.3
90.3
91.0
91.5
NA

105.4
101.9
100.0
101.8
104.7
107.2
108.9
113.6
114.3
111.3

118.3
110.5
100.0
92.4
91.8
97.7
97.4
96.4
98.6
99.6

116.9
107.5
100.0
97.7
98.2
100.7
102.5
102.9
103.8
100.5

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 22 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 6. Average annual hours in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

101.4

108.8

NA

NA

NA

NA

140.7

123.1

NA

146.0

110.2

130.3

130.8

131.9

116.2

1955

101.5

104.8

118.7

NA

NA

NA

138.2

121.8

NA

146.1

113.0

130.6

131.1

131.0

117.7

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

99.5
99.6
100.6
100.9
101.6
102.7
103.0
101.2
101.0
100.2

104.1
103.6
104.4
104.7
105.1
105.1
104.4
104.4
104.2
103.8

123.5
121.6
119.2
118.2
117.6
115.6
116.2
116.3
116.0
114.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

125.8
125.5
125.8
125.7
125.3
123.2
122.2
120.7
120.7
119.5

131.2
127.3
128.3
126.3
127.4
127.2
124.8
123.4
120.6
119.1

121.8
122.2
121.8
121.8
121.0
119.9
120.4
119.2
115.9
118.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

131.7
129.4
126.0
124.4
124.3
123.9
122.3
119.0
120.4
120.6

114.3
113.1
109.5
110.0
110.0
106.4
107.6
109.1
109.1
108.3

131.9
126.5
125.6
125.2
124.0
123.6
122.9
122.4
120.2
118.5

126.0
124.1
123.7
123.1
123.9
121.0
121.3
120.2
117.3
114.6

124.0
122.5
121.2
119.6
118.2
116.9
116.7
114.7
112.2
110.0

115.3
113.7
112.6
112.5
113.4
111.8
109.8
109.0
109.9
109.9

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

98.2
98.4
100.0
99.9
98.0
96.6
97.7
98.1
98.1
97.5

103.2
102.8
102.9
102.1
101.4
100.2
100.3
100.2
101.0
100.5

113.3
111.4
110.8
109.9
105.3
103.0
106.0
106.2
106.7
107.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

116.3
114.6
112.0
109.3
106.4
100.7
102.6
102.1
101.9
102.0

115.3
114.9
112.4
106.4
108.5
105.1
105.6
104.6
103.4
103.3

117.1
116.1
115.0
113.2
111.7
108.4
108.7
107.8
106.9
106.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

119.9
117.3
116.2
115.2
112.9
110.1
113.2
111.5
110.1
109.7

106.4
103.4
102.7
103.9
100.3
98.5
98.5
98.0
97.8
97.1

116.4
115.3
113.6
111.4
108.0
106.0
105.8
105.3
104.3
103.1

113.8
112.6
111.0
110.4
108.9
108.5
105.7
104.0
101.6
99.9

109.5
109.0
106.2
104.2
102.9
100.7
99.5
98.7
96.1
94.6

108.2
105.6
104.7
106.0
102.6
102.3
103.2
103.8
103.4
103.0

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

96.3
96.4
94.6
97.2
98.6
98.7
98.6
99.1
100.0
100.0

99.5
98.6
97.8
99.1
99.0
99.6
100.0
100.9
103.0
100.7

107.3
106.5
106.2
106.4
107.4
107.1
106.5
106.8
108.0
106.8

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

100.4
98.1
100.2
97.7
97.1
98.5
98.6
99.4
101.1
100.6

104.0
102.7
104.2
105.6
105.3
101.8
104.2
101.8
101.8
100.6

106.7
105.3
101.0
100.6
100.8
100.1
100.3
100.9
101.3
101.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

108.1
106.8
106.2
106.4
106.4
104.5
103.9
103.6
103.2
101.7

97.3
97.3
97.1
97.1
97.1
96.2
98.6
100.4
104.0
103.7

103.7
104.2
105.3
105.4
104.0
101.3
100.8
100.3
101.1
100.5

100.4
100.6
99.7
100.1
99.9
99.6
99.7
97.2
98.0
98.6

93.6
94.2
94.9
96.2
98.0
96.9
96.5
97.9
97.5
97.2

99.6
98.1
99.1
99.4
100.2
101.1
101.3
100.8
103.2
102.2

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

99.4
98.7
100.0
101.3
102.2
101.5
101.5
102.2
101.2

100.2
99.8
100.0
101.1
102.0
101.5
102.1
103.2
102.5

105.3
103.2
100.0
97.7
97.7
98.4
99.2
98.6
96.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

101.8
100.0
100.0
98.5
101.2
100.1
100.5
100.6
100.8

99.4
99.7
100.0
99.2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

100.6
99.4
100.0
99.9
100.0
99.5
99.6
100.1
100.4

NA
95.5
100.0
98.0
98.2
98.0
95.9
96.0
97.2

99.8
99.1
100.0
97.0
97.1
96.5
95.0
95.2
96.2

101.2
100.1
100.0
98.0
100.7
100.8
100.0
100.4
100.2

100.5
100.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.3
100.2
99.8
99.6

98.4
98.9
100.0
100.3
100.5
99.7
99.1
98.9
99.1

98.5
98.7
100.0
102.8
106.8
107.8
108.1
108.2
108.2

101.9
100.9
100.0
99.8
101.3
102.2
102.3
102.4
101.2

1999
NA:

101.0

103.4

96.3

NA

NA

101.9

NA

98.7

97.3

NA

99.8

NA

98.7

108.5

100.0

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 23 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 7. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada*Japan

1950

8.7

5.4

1955

11.7

7.7

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

14.9
15.3
15.9
16.4
17.0
17.4
18.2
19.2
20.7
22.2

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

NA

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France*(unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden*Kingdom*

NA

NA

NA

2.5

1.6

NA

3.4

.8

3.1

2.2

1.9

1.6

3.1

NA

NA

NA

3.4

2.8

NA

5.0

1.2

4.5

3.4

2.9

2.3

9.9
10.2
10.6
11.0
11.5
12.2
13.1
13.7
14.7
15.9

4.3
5.0
5.7
6.4
7.2
8.1
9.0
10.0
11.7
13.8

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

5.4
5.7
6.2
6.8
7.7
8.5
9.4
10.3
11.0
12.1

4.6
5.2
5.6
6.1
6.6
7.4
8.4
9.4
10.3
11.6

4.3
4.7
5.2
5.7
6.2
6.7
7.1
7.6
8.6
9.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

8.1
9.1
10.3
11.0
11.9
13.1
14.2
15.0
16.1
17.6

1.6
1.8
2.1
2.5
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.3
3.5
3.9

6.4
7.3
7.8
8.6
9.9
11.1
12.5
13.8
15.4
17.4

4.7
5.2
5.7
6.1
6.5
7.2
7.8
8.7
9.6
10.6

4.1
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.6
7.3
8.1
8.8
9.6

3.1
3.3
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.2
4.5
4.7
5.0
5.5

23.7
25.2
26.5
28.5
31.6
35.5
38.4
41.8
45.2
49.6

17.0
18.1
19.4
21.1
24.6
28.2
32.4
36.0
38.7
42.6

16.5
19.0
21.9
26.8
35.1
40.9
44.0
48.6
51.8
55.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

13.7
15.9
18.8
22.3
27.4
33.1
38.3
41.4
44.4
47.2

13.3
15.2
16.9
20.5
24.8
29.6
33.0
36.5
40.2
45.0

10.3
11.6
12.8
14.7
17.4
21.3
24.4
27.7
31.2
35.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

20.7
23.2
25.6
29.0
33.0
36.4
39.1
42.8
45.9
49.3

4.7
5.4
6.1
7.2
9.3
11.8
14.6
17.3
20.0
24.2

20.2
23.1
26.5
31.6
37.7
43.1
48.1
52.5
56.8
61.1

11.8
13.5
15.1
17.0
19.9
23.8
27.5
30.9
34.1
35.8

10.7
12.1
13.5
15.2
17.9
21.9
25.7
28.1
31.1
33.5

6.3
7.2
8.3
9.5
11.4
15.1
17.6
19.8
23.1
27.5

55.6
61.1
67.0
68.8

47.4
53.7
60.9
65.2

58.6
62.7
65.8
67.6

NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA

52.5
57.3
59.9
65.7

49.6
54.6
59.5
63.6

40.8
47.2
56.1
61.9

NA
NA
NA
NA

53.6
57.0
60.4
63.1

28.4
34.3
40.4
47.2

64.4
67.4
71.5
74.9

39.0
43.3
48.2
52.9

37.3
41.2
44.2
49.0

33.2
38.5
42.4
45.5

1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

71.2
75.1
78.5
80.7
84.0
86.6

68.9
71.8
72.8
74.6
77.4
82.5

69.7
72.5
76.1
77.9
79.2
84.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

71.4
75.3
77.3
79.7
81.1
85.9

67.2
71.7
73.2
80.1
82.9
87.7

67.2
72.8
75.8
78.6
81.6
86.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

66.0
70.0
72.8
76.0
79.1
83.2

54.1
60.8
63.3
66.8
69.3
75.9

77.7
81.8
85.0
87.8
87.7
88.5

57.9
63.4
69.1
78.5
83.3
87.2

53.2
58.6
63.4
67.6
71.8
79.4

49.1
53.1
57.6
64.8
67.7
72.9

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

90.8
95.6
100.0
102.7
105.6
107.9
109.3
111.4
117.3
123.2

88.3
95.0
100.0
102.0
103.7
106.0
105.1
108.2
111.2
113.0

90.7
95.9
100.0
104.6
106.7
109.5
110.9
113.9
115.8
117.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

90.1
97.3
100.0
104.8
106.1
109.2
110.4
114.2
115.8
116.3

92.7
95.9
100.0
104.6
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

90.6
96.2
100.0
103.0
105.6
108.4
110.2
113.0
114.9
119.3

NA
92.1
100.0
106.1
112.3
118.5
125.2
128.0
128.9
130.8

89.4
95.1
100.0
105.9
111.7
117.7
123.7
126.6
127.6
NA

84.4
93.6
100.0
107.5
107.8
112.8
120.3
125.4
123.0
126.5

90.8
95.2
100.0
103.7
108.2
110.6
113.2
115.8
118.3
NA

92.3
97.5
100.0
101.5
104.4
109.2
113.6
118.7
126.2
133.4

87.8
95.5
100.0
97.2
99.8
106.3
114.2
119.7
123.3
127.4

80.9
90.5
100.0
104.3
106.5
107.4
108.2
111.4
117.0
122.6

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
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:
- 24 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 8. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada*Japan

1950

8.7

6.0

1955

11.7

9.4

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966

14.9
15.3
15.9
16.4
17.0
17.4
18.2

12.4
12.2
12.0
12.3
12.9
13.6
14.6

NA

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France*(unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden*Kingdom*

NA

NA

NA

2.2

2.4

NA

1.3

1.7

1.4

1.9

2.1

2.5

1.1

NA

NA

NA

3.0

4.3

NA

1.9

2.4

2.1

2.9

3.3

3.6

1.5
1.8
2.0
2.3
2.5
2.8
3.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

4.0
4.5
4.9
5.4
5.8
6.4
7.3

4.6
5.1
5.6
6.1
6.6
7.2
7.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

3.0
3.5
4.0
4.3
4.7
5.1
5.5

3.2
3.5
4.1
4.9
5.2
5.5
5.9

3.0
3.5
3.8
4.2
4.8
5.4
6.1

4.1
4.5
4.9
5.3
5.6
6.2
6.8

4.6
5.0
5.6
6.2
6.8
7.5
8.2

4.9
5.2
5.5
5.7
6.1
6.6
7.2

3.5
3.7
4.0
4.4
5.0
5.5
6.1

1967
1968
1969

19.2
20.7
22.2

15.4
16.5
17.8

3.5
4.1
4.9

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

6.7
7.1
7.7

8.1
8.3
9.3

8.2
9.2
9.4

NA
NA
NA

5.9
6.3
7.0

6.5
7.0
7.6

6.7
7.5
8.5

7.6
8.4
9.2

9.1
9.9
10.8

7.3
6.8
7.4

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

23.7
25.2
26.5
28.5
31.6
35.5
38.4
41.8
45.2
49.6

19.7
21.7
23.7
25.5
30.3
33.5
39.8
41.0
41.0
43.9

5.8
6.9
9.2
12.5
15.3
17.5
18.8
23.0
31.5
32.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

8.9
10.5
13.7
18.5
22.6
29.0
31.9
37.1
45.4
51.7

10.7
12.4
14.7
20.5
24.6
31.1
32.9
36.7
44.1
51.6

9.9
11.1
13.4
17.5
19.2
26.3
27.0
29.8
36.7
44.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

8.9
10.4
12.6
17.1
19.9
23.1
24.3
28.8
35.8
42.0

9.2
10.8
12.8
15.1
17.7
22.3
21.7
24.2
29.0
35.9

9.8
11.6
14.5
20.0
24.7
30.1
32.0
37.6
46.2
53.5

10.3
11.9
14.2
18.4
22.4
28.4
31.3
36.0
40.4
43.9

12.1
13.8
16.5
20.3
23.5
30.8
34.3
36.7
40.2
45.6

8.6
10.0
11.8
13.2
15.1
19.0
17.9
19.6
25.1
33.0

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

55.6
61.1
67.0
68.8
71.2
75.1
78.5
80.7
84.0
86.6

49.0
54.1
59.6
63.9
64.3
63.5
63.3
68.0
76.0
84.1

32.8
36.1
33.5
36.1
37.2
38.5
57.3
68.3
78.4
77.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

57.7
49.5
42.1
41.3
39.7
40.8
55.6
68.6
70.9
70.1

53.2
46.2
43.0
42.0
39.2
40.9
54.6
70.6
74.3
72.3

51.1
46.0
45.1
43.0
40.7
42.9
57.9
69.2
72.5
71.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

46.1
39.3
38.8
38.6
36.3
37.2
52.4
66.0
70.4
69.1

40.8
37.1
36.8
38.2
37.9
39.2
52.3
63.5
65.5
68.1

57.0
47.4
47.1
46.1
42.6
43.3
61.1
76.2
78.0
73.4

49.0
46.9
46.4
45.0
44.1
45.8
58.1
72.3
79.3
78.4

51.4
47.4
41.0
37.2
37.5
39.7
51.8
62.1
68.2
71.6

43.7
44.1
42.0
39.0
37.2
39.0
47.8
60.2
68.3
67.7

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

90.8
95.6
100.0
102.7
105.6
107.9
109.3
111.4
117.3
123.2

91.5
100.1
100.0
95.5
91.7
93.3
93.1
94.4
90.6
91.9

79.3
90.3
100.0
119.3
132.4
147.7
129.3
119.3
112.1
131.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

86.6
91.5
100.0
97.4
102.1
119.1
114.6
102.5
102.5
98.7

90.4
90.5
100.0
97.4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

88.0
90.2
100.0
96.2
100.8
115.1
114.1
102.5
103.1
102.6

NA
86.6
100.0
100.2
108.1
129.2
129.9
115.3
114.4
111.3

86.4
89.4
100.0
100.0
107.6
128.3
128.4
114.0
113.3
NA

86.8
92.9
100.0
84.2
82.4
85.3
96.1
90.7
87.3
85.8

87.7
89.4
100.0
98.1
104.6
121.2
118.0
104.3
104.9
NA

91.7
93.3
100.0
88.8
92.0
107.1
109.3
104.1
103.8
106.2

86.4
91.9
100.0
72.6
75.4
86.8
99.1
91.2
90.3
89.7

81.7
90.5
100.0
88.7
92.3
95.9
95.6
103.3
109.8
112.2

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
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, October 2000.

- 25 Table 9. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)

Year

United
States Canada*Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France*(unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden*Kingdom*

1950

NA

20.3

NA

NA

NA

NA

11.0

12.2

NA

25.5

7.3

27.5

9.0

9.5

6.3

1955

NA

23.5

36.1

NA

NA

NA

13.8

17.0

NA

25.4

7.5

31.3

11.8

13.8

8.3

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

25.6
25.0
23.9
23.8
23.8
24.2
25.6
26.7
26.9
27.6

30.9
31.8
34.6
35.7
35.4
38.3
38.5
38.1
39.6
41.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

30.1
31.5
32.1
34.2
36.3
38.3
39.6
40.9
40.3
40.4

15.4
16.3
17.0
17.9
17.9
18.9
20.5
21.4
21.6
23.4

19.5
20.3
21.1
21.8
22.0
22.3
21.8
22.1
22.6
22.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

27.8
29.7
31.5
32.2
32.1
33.3
34.7
34.5
34.3
35.0

7.9
8.1
8.6
9.9
10.5
10.1
9.9
10.4
10.2
10.9

34.4
37.1
38.2
40.4
42.9
45.1
47.3
48.8
48.4
50.0

12.9
13.6
15.0
15.2
15.4
16.0
16.8
18.1
18.8
19.0

15.0
15.6
16.2
16.9
16.9
17.4
18.3
18.7
18.6
18.8

9.8
10.5
10.8
10.7
10.7
11.4
11.9
11.7
11.7
12.5

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
61.2
65.3
70.8

30.1
30.2
31.0
32.0
36.6
43.6
46.2
48.1
50.5
56.0

43.3
47.3
49.6
55.7
71.1
80.6
81.9
86.8
89.1
87.5

8.3
8.8
9.7
11.6
14.2
16.3
20.7
24.4
29.3
35.9

23.3
24.4
24.4
28.2
42.7
43.4
44.6
46.4
46.5
52.8

41.7
45.2
47.9
51.2
59.9
69.5
73.1
75.3
76.1
76.8

25.2
27.1
27.8
30.6
35.9
38.9
41.8
45.4
49.3
52.5

24.0
25.5
26.9
28.8
33.5
39.5
42.7
45.8
49.4
53.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

39.8
42.9
44.7
47.5
52.1
55.2
55.4
58.8
61.1
62.9

12.4
14.1
14.6
15.8
19.4
25.4
27.7
32.1
34.7
38.4

52.9
57.1
60.8
65.3
72.7
84.3
84.8
85.5
86.8
89.0

20.4
22.5
23.7
25.1
28.2
34.2
38.3
43.2
46.8
45.8

20.6
22.2
23.6
24.8
27.9
33.7
38.9
43.3
46.6
46.6

14.1
15.4
16.8
17.9
21.1
28.7
31.9
35.7
41.1
48.5

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

78.8
82.4
87.9
86.0
85.6
87.3
91.2
86.9
86.7
90.5

63.2
69.0
78.8
79.0
76.3
77.7
81.0
82.4
85.2
88.0

91.7
95.1
95.8
97.2
96.8
93.8
99.0
96.0
93.4
94.0

45.1
52.1
55.6
59.6
61.9
62.1
62.1
66.9
76.1
81.5

61.1
70.9
75.5
73.9
76.8
80.0
82.1
82.1
84.4
88.3

80.3
81.7
81.5
81.1
84.0
86.5
88.0
89.7
88.1
88.7

55.0
59.5
64.6
65.8
69.9
74.2
80.4
88.4
88.2
88.1

61.3
69.0
76.5
82.6
88.2
92.0
94.3
96.1
93.3
93.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

69.4
72.4
76.7
76.4
77.3
78.6
81.2
86.3
86.5
87.9

43.1
50.9
58.9
65.7
68.9
73.5
75.6
78.0
79.9
84.9

93.0
95.1
99.2
96.2
90.9
91.8
93.7
95.9
93.6
91.1

50.8
56.6
60.5
64.2
66.3
70.2
77.7
84.1
90.4
92.2

51.0
56.6
58.7
60.6
62.4
68.0
72.4
75.8
79.4
85.1

59.1
65.3
68.1
67.8
69.4
73.5
76.9
81.6
82.2
84.6

1990

93.7

92.3

95.0

85.9

95.1

93.0

93.6

96.8

NA

90.3

91.3

92.1

95.6

92.8

91.6

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
NA:

97.7
100.0
100.6
98.5
94.8
93.5
92.0
92.4
91.4

99.7
100.0
97.6
94.3
95.5
95.9
95.9
98.8
98.1

96.5
100.0
104.1
104.9
100.1
95.8
93.8
96.2
94.9

95.0
100.0
103.8
108.2
120.4
126.5
116.1
113.6
108.7

96.4
100.0
100.9
101.9
102.1
101.6
100.0
101.4
99.1

98.1
100.0
102.3
97.9
96.4
95.6
93.3
93.7
93.4

96.3
100.0
100.1
93.0
93.8
100.9
102.0
102.8
108.9

99.3
100.0
102.4
97.3
94.7
95.9
92.2
92.7
92.6

93.1
100.0
104.5
102.0
104.7
107.2
104.6
101.8
101.8

93.3
100.0
105.3
103.6
105.9
107.5
103.9
100.4
NA

98.4
100.0
104.4
102.1
103.2
109.9
112.4
110.8
112.0

95.5
100.0
102.3
96.0
94.0
94.6
92.2
92.5
NA

100.0
100.0
100.9
102.9
107.1
111.4
115.2
121.5
128.5

100.0
100.0
90.6
83.6
87.2
91.7
90.0
90.9
91.3

98.2
100.0
100.3
99.7
102.5
104.8
107.1
111.9
112.3

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
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:
- 26 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 10.
(Indexes:

Year

Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
1992=100)

United
States Canada*Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France*(unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden*Kingdom*

1950

NA

22.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

9.6

18.5

NA

9.5

14.4

12.7

7.8

10.7

10.0

1955

NA

28.8

12.7

NA

NA

NA

12.0

25.7

NA

9.4

14.8

14.5

10.2

15.5

13.2

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

32.0
29.8
27.0
26.7
26.7
27.1
28.7
29.9
30.2
31.0

10.9
11.2
12.1
12.5
12.4
13.4
13.5
13.3
13.9
14.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

19.4
20.3
20.7
22.0
23.5
24.8
25.6
26.5
25.9
25.9

13.5
14.3
14.9
15.7
15.6
16.5
17.9
18.5
17.4
18.8

21.1
21.9
22.8
23.5
23.7
24.0
23.5
23.7
24.2
23.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

10.4
11.6
12.3
12.6
12.6
13.0
13.6
13.5
13.4
13.9

15.6
16.0
17.1
19.7
20.7
19.9
19.5
20.5
20.3
21.3

16.0
18.0
18.7
19.8
20.9
22.0
23.0
23.8
23.5
24.3

11.3
11.9
13.0
13.2
13.3
13.9
14.6
15.7
16.4
16.5

16.9
17.6
18.3
18.9
19.2
19.6
20.6
21.1
20.9
21.1

15.6
16.7
17.1
17.0
16.9
18.0
18.9
18.3
15.9
16.9

1970
1971
1972
1973

NA
NA
NA
NA

34.8
36.1
37.8
38.6

15.3
17.3
20.8
26.1

21.0
19.9
19.5
22.8

14.7
15.3
15.4
18.6

27.0
29.9
35.0
42.4

20.3
22.1
24.1
30.7

23.0
24.5
28.2
34.4

NA
NA
NA
NA

17.1
19.3
21.9
28.0

24.4
28.1
30.8
33.5

25.7
28.8
33.3
41.3

17.8
19.9
22.3
27.2

23.1
25.3
28.9
33.1

19.2
21.3
23.8
24.8

1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

NA
NA
NA
61.2
65.3
70.8

45.2
51.8
56.6
54.7
53.5
57.8

30.9
34.5
35.0
41.1
54.2
50.9

27.6
26.4
33.6
39.5
47.5
58.2

28.3
28.7
29.6
30.8
31.6
36.9

49.5
60.9
60.9
67.6
77.8
84.2

35.6
40.9
41.8
45.7
54.1
60.3

36.9
48.8
47.3
49.3
58.1
66.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

31.5
35.1
34.4
39.6
47.6
53.6

36.8
47.9
41.1
44.8
50.4
57.0

47.6
58.7
56.5
61.3
70.7
78.0

31.7
40.7
43.6
50.4
55.5
56.2

36.7
47.4
52.0
56.4
60.1
63.3

28.0
36.1
32.6
35.3
44.6
58.2

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

78.8
82.4
87.9
86.0
85.6
87.3
91.2
86.9
86.7
90.5

65.3
69.5
77.2
77.5
71.2
68.7
70.4
75.1
83.6
89.8

51.3
54.6
48.8
51.8
51.7
49.9
74.5
84.2
92.4
86.3

58.3
60.0
59.6
60.3
60.1
56.5
55.1
63.5
81.3
94.8

42.7
48.4
48.5
46.4
48.8
50.4
54.6
65.1
74.2
84.1

88.3
70.6
57.2
51.0
46.8
46.9
63.4
77.2
77.0
72.3

58.9
50.4
46.7
43.4
40.8
42.3
60.0
77.9
79.0
72.6

76.8
67.1
61.6
57.4
53.5
54.2
72.1
84.6
82.9
77.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

59.6
49.9
49.3
46.7
42.4
41.7
58.5
74.9
76.9
73.0

62.0
55.1
53.6
53.3
48.4
47.5
62.4
74.1
75.6
76.2

82.3
66.9
65.3
59.3
49.8
48.7
67.3
83.2
83.2
75.5

63.9
61.3
58.2
54.7
50.5
50.8
65.3
77.5
86.1
82.9

70.3
65.1
54.4
46.0
44.0
46.0
59.2
69.6
75.4
76.8

77.8
74.8
67.4
58.2
52.5
54.0
63.9
75.7
82.9
78.5

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

93.7
97.7
100.0
100.6
98.5
94.8
93.5
92.0
92.4
91.4

95.6
105.1
100.0
91.4
83.4
84.1
85.0
83.6
80.5
79.8

83.1
90.9
100.0
118.8
130.1
135.1
111.7
98.3
93.1
105.7

94.9
101.1
100.0
101.1
105.2
122.3
123.3
95.8
63.7
71.7

88.9
90.6
100.0
96.1
96.9
96.9
93.0
87.4
76.0
77.2

89.5
92.3
100.0
95.1
94.2
105.2
99.3
83.7
83.0
79.3

91.3
90.8
100.0
93.2
88.3
101.1
105.0
93.1
92.6
94.1

94.1
93.1
100.0
95.6
92.9
100.6
99.2
83.6
83.2
79.6

NA
87.5
100.0
98.6
98.2
114.1
111.3
94.1
90.3
86.6

87.3
87.8
100.0
99.4
99.8
115.5
111.6
93.5
89.1
NA

93.8
97.6
100.0
81.8
78.1
78.0
87.8
81.3
78.6
75.9

88.9
89.8
100.0
96.8
92.8
103.0
98.6
83.0
82.0
NA

95.0
95.7
100.0
88.3
90.7
105.0
107.1
101.1
100.0
102.2

91.3
96.3
100.0
67.7
63.1
71.2
79.7
68.6
66.6
64.3

92.5
98.2
100.0
85.3
86.5
91.6
92.6
99.3
105.0
102.8

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
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:
- 27 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 11.
(Indexes:

Year

Exchange rates, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
1992=100)

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

100.0

110.5

35.2

NA

NA

NA

87.5

151.3

NA

37.2

197.3

46.2

87.1

112.6

158.6

1955

100.0

122.5

35.2

NA

NA

NA

87.4

151.2

NA

37.1

197.1

46.1

87.0

112.6

158.0

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

124.6
119.4
113.1
112.0
112.0
112.1
112.2
112.0
112.2
112.2

35.2
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.0
35.1
35.0
35.0
35.2
35.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

64.5
64.5
64.6
64.5
64.6
64.8
64.5
64.7
64.4
64.1

87.6
87.4
87.5
87.4
87.3
87.3
87.4
86.5
80.7
80.3

107.9
107.9
108.0
108.0
108.0
108.0
107.7
107.6
106.9
102.2

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

37.4
38.9
39.1
39.2
39.3
39.1
39.1
39.2
39.1
39.8

198.4
198.4
198.5
198.2
197.3
197.2
197.3
197.4
197.7
196.4

46.6
48.5
48.8
48.8
48.8
48.8
48.6
48.8
48.6
48.5

87.1
87.0
87.1
86.9
86.8
86.9
86.9
86.9
87.0
87.0

112.7
112.7
113.0
112.3
113.1
112.9
112.8
112.9
112.7
112.7

159.0
158.6
159.0
158.5
158.1
158.3
158.1
155.7
135.5
135.3

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

115.8
119.7
122.0
120.8
123.6
118.8
122.6
113.7
106.0
103.2

35.4
36.5
41.8
46.8
43.5
42.7
42.8
47.3
60.8
58.1

252.7
226.0
199.7
197.0
194.0
162.1
162.1
162.1
162.1
162.1

62.9
62.9
62.9
65.8
66.2
66.2
66.2
66.2
67.9
69.8

64.7
66.2
73.0
82.8
82.7
87.6
83.3
89.7
102.3
109.6

80.5
81.6
86.8
100.2
99.3
105.3
99.9
100.6
109.6
114.8

95.7
96.1
104.9
119.3
110.1
123.6
110.9
107.7
117.6
124.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

42.8
44.9
49.0
59.0
60.5
63.6
62.1
67.3
77.9
85.2

196.5
199.3
211.1
211.8
189.4
188.9
148.4
139.6
145.2
148.3

48.6
50.4
54.8
63.3
65.5
69.7
66.6
71.7
81.4
87.7

86.9
88.3
94.3
108.2
112.6
119.2
113.9
116.8
118.6
122.7

112.3
114.1
122.5
133.8
131.4
140.6
133.7
130.4
129.0
135.9

135.6
138.4
141.6
138.8
132.5
125.8
102.2
98.8
108.6
120.2

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

103.4
100.8
97.9
98.1
93.3
88.5
87.0
91.1
98.2
102.1

55.9
57.5
50.9
53.4
53.4
53.2
75.3
87.7
98.9
91.8

129.2
115.2
107.2
101.1
97.1
91.0
88.7
95.0
106.8
116.4

69.8
68.3
64.3
62.8
63.5
63.1
66.5
79.2
87.9
95.3

110.0
86.4
70.2
62.9
55.7
54.2
72.0
86.1
87.4
81.6

107.1
84.6
72.4
66.0
58.3
57.0
74.6
88.2
89.6
82.5

125.3
97.3
80.5
69.5
60.6
58.9
76.4
88.0
88.8
83.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

85.9
69.0
64.3
61.2
54.9
53.1
72.0
86.9
88.9
83.0

143.9
108.2
91.0
81.1
70.2
64.5
82.6
95.0
94.6
89.8

88.5
70.4
65.8
61.6
54.8
53.0
71.8
86.8
88.9
82.9

125.8
108.2
96.2
85.1
76.2
72.3
84.0
92.2
95.2
89.9

137.7
115.0
92.7
75.9
70.4
67.7
81.7
91.8
94.9
90.2

131.7
114.6
99.0
85.8
75.7
73.5
83.1
92.8
100.8
92.7

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

103.6
105.5
100.0
93.7
88.4
88.1
88.6
87.3
81.5

87.4
94.2
100.0
114.1
124.1
134.9
116.5
104.7
96.8

110.4
106.5
100.0
97.4
97.2
101.5
97.5
82.5
56.0

93.5
94.0
100.0
95.2
95.1
95.0
91.6
87.4
75.0

96.2
94.0
100.0
93.0
96.2
109.1
103.8
89.8
88.5

97.5
94.3
100.0
93.1
95.0
107.8
104.1
91.3
90.1

97.2
93.7
100.0
93.4
95.4
106.2
103.5
90.7
89.7

NA
94.0
100.0
94.4
96.3
109.1
103.8
90.0
88.8

96.6
94.0
100.0
94.4
96.3
109.1
103.8
90.0
88.8

102.8
99.3
100.0
78.3
76.5
75.6
79.9
72.3
70.9

96.6
93.9
100.0
94.6
96.7
109.6
104.3
90.1
88.7

99.4
95.7
100.0
87.5
88.1
98.1
96.2
87.7
82.3

98.4
96.3
100.0
74.7
75.5
81.6
86.8
76.2
73.3

101.0
100.1
100.0
85.0
86.7
89.4
88.4
92.7
93.8

1999
NA:

100.0

81.3

111.5

65.9

77.8

84.9

86.4

86.0

85.1

85.1

67.8

85.0

79.6

70.4

91.6

Not Available

Source:
- 28 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 12.
(Indexes:

Year

Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
1992=100)

United
States Canada*Japan

1950

8.8

5.9

1955

11.8

8.1

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

14.8
15.2
16.0
16.5
17.3
17.9
18.8
19.4
20.9
22.2

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986

NA

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France*(unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden*Kingdom*

NA

NA

NA

3.5

2.0

NA

4.9

.9

4.0

2.9

2.4

1.9

3.7

NA

NA

NA

4.7

3.4

NA

7.3

1.4

5.9

4.4

3.9

2.7

10.3
10.6
11.0
11.5
12.1
12.8
13.6
14.4
15.3
16.5

5.3
6.1
6.8
7.6
8.5
9.4
10.4
11.7
13.5
15.8

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

6.8
7.2
7.8
8.6
9.6
10.5
11.5
12.4
13.3
14.4

6.0
6.6
7.2
7.8
8.5
9.4
10.4
11.6
12.5
13.8

5.2
5.7
6.3
6.9
7.4
8.0
8.5
9.1
10.0
10.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

10.7
11.8
13.0
13.7
14.8
16.2
17.4
17.8
19.4
21.3

1.8
2.0
2.3
2.7
2.9
3.0
3.2
3.6
3.8
4.2

8.4
9.2
9.8
10.7
12.3
13.8
15.3
16.9
18.5
20.7

6.0
6.4
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.7
9.5
10.5
11.3
12.2

5.1
5.5
6.1
6.6
7.1
7.8
8.5
9.2
9.8
10.5

3.5
3.7
3.9
4.0
4.4
4.7
5.0
5.1
5.5
6.0

23.3
24.8
26.5
28.5
31.0
34.3
37.6
41.0
44.3
48.4

17.6
18.6
20.0
21.6
24.9
28.3
32.5
36.1
39.1
42.8

18.6
21.2
24.3
29.4
37.0
42.1
46.7
51.6
55.2
59.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

16.0
18.2
21.0
24.3
29.2
33.3
39.3
42.3
45.2
48.1

15.3
17.5
19.0
21.8
26.9
31.1
34.8
38.2
41.6
46.5

12.1
13.5
14.7
16.6
19.5
23.1
26.5
29.9
33.4
37.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

24.8
27.2
29.8
33.4
37.2
40.0
44.3
47.7
50.6
54.1

5.0
5.6
6.2
7.4
9.4
11.6
14.4
17.0
19.5
23.5

23.5
26.6
30.1
35.2
40.7
45.7
50.9
55.3
59.2
62.9

13.4
15.2
16.7
18.7
21.7
25.8
29.1
32.1
34.6
35.8

11.8
13.2
14.3
15.8
18.4
22.1
25.5
27.7
29.9
31.7

6.8
7.6
8.7
10.0
11.7
15.5
18.1
20.6
23.9
28.3

53.5
58.8
63.3
66.9
70.2
74.1
77.4

47.2
52.9
59.6
64.6
68.2
71.5
72.9

62.9
66.8
69.9
71.9
74.8
77.6
81.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

52.7
56.1
60.0
64.2
69.3
74.1
76.2

51.6
56.1
62.0
67.2
70.8
73.0
76.3

43.5
49.8
56.7
62.3
67.7
72.9
76.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

57.9
60.9
64.1
67.2
70.3
73.1
75.6

27.6
33.4
39.3
45.8
52.5
58.5
62.4

66.7
70.2
75.3
78.9
80.7
82.9
85.7

39.1
43.6
48.1
53.0
57.9
63.1
68.9

34.9
38.8
42.0
47.2
52.1
56.8
61.2

33.0
37.8
42.0
45.2
49.2
53.7
58.3

1987
1988
1989

80.0
84.0
86.7

75.3
79.7
83.0

83.3
85.6
89.9

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

79.2
81.9
86.4

81.5
84.4
88.2

79.4
82.7
86.9

NA
NA
NA

78.8
81.7
84.6

67.1
72.0
78.7

88.1
88.6
89.0

76.3
81.7
86.0

66.2
70.0
77.1

65.3
69.9
74.5

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

90.2
94.3
100.0
104.1
108.0
109.5
110.9
113.9
118.7
124.4

88.5
94.8
100.0
103.0
105.8
107.7
107.2
111.6
114.0
116.9

95.5
98.9
100.0
102.1
104.3
107.7
110.1
112.3
111.8
113.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

91.7
97.3
100.0
103.2
107.4
109.2
111.0
114.8
116.7
118.4

92.1
95.6
100.0
103.8
106.0
109.7
112.6
117.2
118.3
123.9

91.1
95.7
100.0
102.9
105.6
107.9
109.8
113.1
115.4
117.8

NA
88.0
100.0
104.0
110.2
116.0
120.0
122.9
125.3
127.2

89.2
94.3
100.0
102.8
108.5
113.6
117.6
120.5
122.8
NA

85.4
93.7
100.0
105.4
108.6
113.7
120.4
125.9
123.3
126.3

91.2
95.4
100.0
103.7
108.2
110.9
113.4
115.6
117.8
NA

90.9
96.4
100.0
101.8
105.0
108.8
112.6
117.4
125.0
131.6

86.4
94.2
100.0
99.9
106.6
114.7
123.4
129.5
133.4
138.2

82.5
91.3
100.0
104.1
107.8
109.7
110.7
114.1
118.4
122.6

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
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:
- 29 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 13.
(Indexes:

Year

Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
1992=100)

United
States Canada Japan

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

46.8

37.0

NA

NA

NA

NA

28.6

19.8

NA

11.7

18.5

17.1

26.3

25.2

26.6

1955

56.5

46.5

18.2

NA

NA

NA

31.9

26.7

NA

15.9

21.5

21.2

29.4

30.5

29.0

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

65.2
66.5
68.3
69.5
71.4
71.8
73.0
74.7
77.2
78.5

54.6
55.5
57.0
58.3
59.7
61.7
63.8
64.9
66.6
68.9

23.2
25.6
27.4
28.4
30.8
32.2
33.8
36.4
40.2
45.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

24.5
25.7
27.2
29.4
31.9
34.0
36.1
38.3
39.9
42.1

38.7
41.7
42.5
43.9
45.7
47.7
50.8
53.0
54.0
58.7

30.1
32.2
34.0
35.4
37.2
39.4
40.6
42.5
46.3
47.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

23.6
25.8
28.4
29.4
31.1
33.1
34.7
36.1
38.3
41.0

24.7
26.6
29.8
32.8
33.1
34.0
35.4
38.2
40.3
43.0

26.4
29.8
31.0
33.1
36.2
39.0
41.4
44.3
47.5
50.2

36.3
38.7
40.3
42.0
42.5
45.0
47.6
50.9
54.2
58.0

35.3
37.9
40.3
43.3
45.7
48.0
49.4
52.5
56.0
58.8

34.1
35.2
35.5
36.4
37.6
39.2
40.8
41.8
42.9
44.2

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

79.5
80.8
82.3
83.4
83.4
85.6
87.8
89.6
90.6
90.9

71.5
73.9
75.7
76.7
80.2
83.3
88.8
91.2
89.9
90.6

50.0
54.4
59.7
65.4
69.5
72.5
71.4
72.8
74.5
76.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

46.1
51.1
57.3
63.6
69.4
74.4
78.9
79.5
81.6
83.1

62.9
68.3
71.0
78.8
82.8
90.0
92.1
91.8
91.9
93.7

50.9
54.1
56.2
60.0
62.7
68.4
71.5
74.2
76.5
78.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

46.7
49.8
52.3
55.4
58.9
61.3
63.1
66.7
69.9
72.2

49.8
54.7
58.0
61.9
67.7
72.9
77.7
77.1
78.9
82.6

55.6
59.1
62.9
69.4
75.6
78.5
80.5
82.3
85.6
88.2

58.3
62.8
65.3
68.5
73.4
78.6
83.2
85.6
87.4
87.6

61.7
64.0
67.4
69.7
74.7
83.5
88.3
86.0
88.8
89.8

47.8
49.7
53.5
55.8
57.8
62.0
61.8
60.1
64.4
67.4

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

91.7
92.1
95.4
94.1
93.6
95.5
98.1
97.6
97.9
96.8

91.7
92.0
94.1
95.2
96.4
96.6
94.1
92.3
92.1
93.4

75.4
77.0
78.6
79.2
79.8
81.4
85.0
86.9
87.8
91.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

86.7
87.8
84.5
86.1
88.0
88.5
89.7
91.0
91.5
94.1

92.1
90.7
89.7
89.7
89.2
90.9
89.6
94.1
93.2
94.1

79.5
81.2
86.2
86.9
87.7
89.6
90.9
91.5
92.6
94.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

74.6
74.6
75.0
76.0
77.7
80.7
84.1
87.7
90.3
92.3

80.0
81.5
82.6
83.7
86.8
89.8
88.2
89.0
87.9
90.3

87.4
85.7
85.8
87.4
87.8
90.4
93.9
97.4
96.6
96.3

86.0
84.1
84.1
85.1
87.7
90.8
92.4
96.4
96.0
96.1

87.5
86.2
85.0
84.3
85.1
87.2
90.3
92.3
94.0
98.1

69.0
72.0
72.4
74.4
76.3
77.8
81.5
88.1
87.7
87.7

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

96.6
98.1
100.0
100.2
100.8
100.4
99.0
98.8
102.6
105.5

94.7
96.3
100.0
100.2
101.6
101.7
99.2
100.6
102.5
102.4

95.3
97.6
100.0
103.2
104.7
107.4
108.8
109.7
110.9
113.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

95.4
99.7
100.0
102.0
100.9
102.3
101.4
103.2
103.6
102.9

96.9
98.0
100.0
103.3
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

96.0
98.8
100.0
100.9
101.7
102.7
102.4
103.7
104.8
108.2

NA
96.8
100.0
101.6
104.6
108.5
113.1
113.5
113.3
114.2

96.6
99.1
100.0
102.1
104.8
108.7
112.8
113.3
113.3
NA

94.6
98.7
100.0
103.2
99.6
98.9
101.5
103.9
100.2
101.5

96.5
98.1
100.0
101.1
102.7
103.1
103.6
103.7
104.0
NA

97.7
99.8
100.0
99.2
100.7
102.7
105.6
107.5
111.8
115.5

97.4
97.2
100.0
95.1
95.6
97.3
103.4
106.5
107.9
106.8

88.9
93.9
100.0
102.7
102.3
99.7
98.1
98.0
99.5
102.6

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 30 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 14.
(Indexes:

Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
1992=100)

United

Germany Former West

Nether-

United

Year

States Canada Japan

Korea

Taiwan Belgium Denmark France (unified)

Germany

Italy

lands

Norway Sweden Kingdom

1950

47.4

40.3

NA

NA

NA

NA

40.2

24.4

NA

17.2

20.4

22.3

34.4

33.3

30.9

1955

57.4

48.7

21.6

NA

NA

NA

44.0

32.5

NA

23.3

24.3

27.7

38.6

39.9

34.2

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

64.9
66.2
68.8
70.1
72.6
73.7
75.2
75.6
77.9
78.7

56.8
57.5
59.4
61.0
62.7
64.9
66.6
67.8
69.4
71.5

28.6
31.1
32.6
33.6
36.2
37.2
39.2
42.3
46.6
51.8

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

30.8
32.2
34.2
37.0
40.0
41.9
44.1
46.2
48.2
50.3

50.8
53.1
54.5
55.4
58.3
60.7
63.4
65.4
65.1
69.9

36.6
39.3
41.4
43.1
45.0
47.2
48.8
50.7
53.7
56.3

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

31.0
33.4
35.8
36.5
38.7
41.0
42.4
42.9
46.1
49.5

28.2
30.0
32.6
36.1
36.4
36.1
38.1
41.7
43.9
46.6

34.8
37.6
39.0
41.4
44.9
48.2
50.8
54.2
57.1
59.5

45.8
48.0
49.9
51.7
52.6
54.5
57.8
61.2
63.6
66.5

43.8
46.4
48.9
51.8
54.0
56.1
57.6
60.2
62.8
64.6

39.3
40.1
39.9
40.9
42.6
43.9
44.9
45.6
47.2
48.6

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

78.0
79.5
82.3
83.3
81.7
82.7
85.8
87.9
88.9
88.6

73.7
76.0
77.9
78.3
81.4
83.4
89.1
91.4
90.8
91.1

56.6
60.7
66.1
71.9
73.2
74.6
75.7
77.3
79.4
82.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

53.7
58.5
64.2
69.5
73.9
74.9
80.9
81.2
83.2
84.7

72.5
78.5
79.8
83.9
89.8
94.6
97.2
96.0
95.0
96.8

59.6
62.9
64.7
67.9
70.0
74.1
77.7
79.9
81.8
83.6

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

56.0
58.4
60.7
63.8
66.5
67.4
71.5
74.3
76.9
79.2

53.0
56.6
59.6
64.3
67.9
71.8
76.5
75.6
77.2
80.2

64.7
68.1
71.5
77.3
81.7
83.2
85.2
86.7
89.2
90.9

66.3
70.8
72.5
75.6
80.0
85.3
87.9
89.0
88.8
87.5

67.6
69.8
71.6
72.6
76.8
84.1
87.8
84.9
85.3
84.9

51.7
52.5
56.0
59.1
59.3
63.4
63.7
62.4
66.6
69.4

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

88.3
88.8
90.2
91.5
92.3
94.2
96.7
96.7
98.0
96.9

91.2
90.8
92.0
94.3
95.4
96.2
94.2
93.2
94.9
94.1

80.9
82.0
83.5
84.3
85.7
87.2
90.5
92.8
94.8
97.4

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

87.0
86.1
84.7
84.1
85.4
87.1
88.4
90.5
92.5
94.7

95.7
93.2
93.5
94.7
93.9
92.5
93.3
95.8
94.9
94.6

84.8
85.6
87.1
87.4
88.4
89.7
91.2
92.3
93.7
95.1

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

80.7
79.7
79.7
80.9
82.7
84.3
87.3
90.9
93.2
93.9

77.9
79.3
80.2
81.3
84.2
86.4
87.0
89.4
91.3
93.7

90.6
89.3
90.4
92.2
91.3
91.6
94.6
97.7
97.6
96.8

86.3
84.6
83.8
85.3
87.7
90.4
92.1
93.7
94.1
94.7

81.9
81.2
80.6
81.1
83.4
84.5
87.1
90.3
91.6
95.3

68.7
70.6
71.8
73.9
76.4
78.7
82.6
88.8
90.6
89.6

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

96.0
96.8
100.0
101.5
103.0
101.9
100.5

94.9
96.1
100.0
101.2
103.6
103.3
101.3

100.3
100.6
100.0
100.8
102.3
105.7
107.9

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

97.0
99.7
100.0
100.5
102.1
102.3
101.9

96.3
97.6
100.0
102.5
102.6
104.0
104.6

96.5
98.3
100.0
100.8
101.8
102.2
102.0

NA
92.5
100.0
99.6
102.7
106.3
108.4

96.4
98.2
100.0
99.1
101.7
104.9
107.2

95.8
98.8
100.0
101.1
100.3
99.7
101.5

96.9
98.3
100.0
101.1
102.7
103.5
103.8

96.2
98.7
100.0
99.5
101.2
102.4
104.6

95.8
95.9
100.0
97.7
102.1
104.9
111.8

90.6
94.7
100.0
102.5
103.6
101.9
100.4

1997
1998
1999
NA:

100.9
103.8
106.6

103.8
105.0
105.9

108.2
107.0
108.8

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

103.7
104.4
104.8

106.5
105.6
107.9

103.8
105.1
106.8

109.0
110.1
111.1

107.9
109.0
NA

104.4
100.4
101.3

103.5
103.6
NA

106.4
110.8
114.0

115.2
116.8
115.9

100.3
100.7
102.6

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 31 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2000.

Table 15.
(Indexes:

Year

Labor compensation in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
1992=100)

United
States Canada*Japan

1950

7.4

4.6

1955

11.0

6.9

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969

13.7
13.7
14.8
15.4
16.4
17.8
19.8
20.7
22.6
24.6

1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

NA

Korea

Germany Former West
Taiwan Belgium Denmark France*(unified) Germany
Italy

NetherUnited
lands Norway Sweden*Kingdom*

NA

NA

NA

2.9

2.2

NA

3.7

.7

4.6

3.4

2.9

3.1

1.8

NA

NA

NA

4.1

3.9

NA

7.0

1.1

7.2

5.5

4.9

4.9

8.8
8.9
9.6
10.2
11.2
12.4
13.9
14.8
15.9
17.4

3.3
4.1
4.8
5.5
6.4
7.1
8.1
9.7
11.6
14.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

9.2
10.1
11.1
12.4
14.3
15.6
17.1
17.9
18.8
21.1

6.3
7.0
7.9
8.5
9.5
10.7
11.8
12.5
13.5
15.4

6.1
6.8
7.5
8.4
9.2
9.8
10.5
11.1
12.0
13.5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

11.6
13.1
14.5
15.2
16.4
18.3
19.4
18.9
20.7
23.6

1.7
2.0
2.3
2.8
3.0
3.1
3.3
3.8
4.1
4.6

10.9
12.2
13.2
14.5
16.9
19.0
21.0
22.5
24.4
27.7

7.3
8.0
8.9
9.5
10.3
11.4
12.6
14.0
14.9
16.2

6.9
7.7
8.5
9.3
10.2
11.2
12.1
12.8
13.4
14.6

6.7
7.1
7.3
7.5
8.2
9.0
9.6
9.5
10.2
11.3

24.8
25.3
27.8
31.5
34.2
34.5
39.2
44.4
50.0
55.9

18.2
19.4
21.5
24.3
28.4
31.3
36.0
39.2
43.7
49.5

16.8
19.2
22.0
27.8
34.6
37.2
41.1
44.9
47.4
50.7

.6
.7
.9
1.4
2.0
2.6
4.1
5.6
8.1
10.8

3.0
3.8
4.6
6.3
9.0
9.5
12.1
14.2
17.3
21.2

24.0
27.2
31.0
36.1
43.9
47.2
53.4
55.2
56.5
58.6

17.1
18.8
20.9
24.3
28.9
30.6
34.5
37.7
40.8
45.9

15.4
17.4
19.2
22.1
26.2
30.3
34.6
38.8
42.9
47.7

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

28.2
30.7
33.0
37.3
40.5
40.9
44.2
47.8
50.6
54.8

5.7
6.5
7.1
8.8
11.4
14.1
17.7
21.2
24.0
29.4

31.5
35.2
38.4
44.2
51.0
55.3
59.1
62.5
65.5
68.8

18.2
20.8
22.9
25.7
30.3
35.9
40.2
44.5
47.1
48.0

16.6
18.0
19.3
21.7
25.7
31.2
36.0
37.7
39.6
42.1

12.8
13.7
15.3
17.8
20.8
26.3
29.7
34.0
39.3
46.2

59.7
65.3

54.3
60.8

54.9
59.0

13.5
17.0

26.9
33.6

62.8
63.1

50.2
52.6

54.4
60.2

NA
NA

59.2
61.0

34.6
40.1

72.0
73.8

52.6
57.6

46.3
49.8

51.5
53.4

1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

65.6
68.1
75.0
78.5
80.8
83.8
89.5
92.8

62.1
65.6
71.2
76.3
80.5
85.6
93.8
99.1

61.4
64.2
68.2
71.3
74.1
75.3
79.1
84.8

19.2
23.6
28.5
30.3
35.9
45.8
58.4
64.7

36.6
40.0
47.8
51.4
61.4
69.2
74.0
80.2

65.5
68.6
73.2
77.1
78.5
79.7
82.3
87.9

58.0
63.1
70.2
76.8
83.2
87.7
88.9
91.8

67.5
72.7
76.8
80.4
82.4
83.8
86.1
91.0

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

62.5
63.2
65.9
69.4
72.9
76.0
78.6
82.6

45.7
51.1
55.8
61.2
64.6
69.2
75.4
83.3

76.1
76.1
76.1
79.0
82.7
85.8
86.8
88.3

61.3
64.1
69.4
76.2
84.0
93.0
95.2
93.4

51.8
56.9
63.2
70.0
75.3
80.8
87.2
94.5

55.7
56.5
60.1
65.4
69.3
77.0
83.4
89.2

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

95.1
96.0
100.0
104.2
109.4
112.2
113.4
117.5
123.4
127.3

100.2
98.7
100.0
102.1
106.8
112.8
114.9
122.8
131.5
138.7

91.5
97.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.7
102.3
104.2
99.7
98.6

74.5
90.2
100.0
109.4
126.4
156.5
175.5
171.6
155.5
181.2

85.6
92.6
100.0
103.4
110.6
117.2
122.2
128.3
134.5
139.9

94.0
98.8
100.0
99.2
99.3
100.4
100.5
102.5
104.8
106.3

96.1
98.0
100.0
99.1
101.6
107.6
110.7
114.8
118.6
121.5

96.0
99.1
100.0
98.0
97.6
99.4
100.3
101.1
103.4
105.8

NA
95.2
100.0
96.6
97.1
99.8
100.3
100.7
102.7
104.0

89.5
96.0
100.0
96.6
96.8
99.2
99.4
99.5
101.2
NA

90.9
97.5
100.0
100.6
104.3
110.6
116.1
121.7
122.2
124.7

92.2
96.1
100.0
100.5
100.0
101.3
102.5
105.1
107.9
NA

95.7
98.3
100.0
103.6
109.9
116.6
122.6
133.3
142.9
146.5

102.2
104.1
100.0
92.3
97.9
112.0
120.2
124.8
131.5
137.6

96.5
98.2
100.0
101.7
105.9
110.4
113.4
117.4
122.9
123.2

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
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, October 2000.