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

USDL 02-543
For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Thursday, September 26, 2002

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 2001
United States manufacturing output per hour increased by 1.9 percent in
2001, the fourth largest increase among the 12 countries for which comparable
data are available--the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and seven
European countries. (See table A and chart 1.) While manufacturing labor
productivity continued to grow in 10 of the 12 countries, Canada and Japan
experienced their first declines in output per hour since 1998 and 1986,
respectively. The U.S. productivity measure posted its lowest annual growth
rate since 1991. (Average annual growth rates for selected measures, years, and
periods are found in tables A and B. The complete historical index series are
shown in tables 1 through 15.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 1. Percent change in manufacturing output per hour, 2001
-2Unit labor costs in manufacturing, expressed in national currency units,
increased in 11 of the 13 countries for which comparable data on unit labor
costs were available for 2001. The largest increases occurred in Canada (5.5
percent), Japan (5.2 percent), and Korea (5.2 percent). The United States and
Denmark were the only two countries where unit labor costs expressed in national
currency units decreased. (See table A and chart 2.)
Changes in exchange rates must be taken into account in order to assess
international competitiveness in manufacturing. Unlike unit labor costs in
national currency units, unit labor costs in U.S. dollars declined in 10 of the
13 countries. The largest declines occurred in Sweden (9.1 percent), Korea (7.9
percent), and Japan (6.8 percent). The sharp declines were due to the relative
strength of the U.S. dollar in 2001 against all the currencies compared. (See
table A and chart 2.)

PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs, 2000-2001
Table A summarizes changes in manufacturing productivity, unit labor costs,
and related variables between 2000 and 2001. Output and unit labor cost data
are presented for 13 economies. Comparable productivity data are not shown for
Denmark, and no 2001 data are available for the Netherlands. (See technical
notes.)
-3Table A. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 2000-2001
Percent changes

Country
or area

Output
per
hour Output

Total
Hourly
Unit labor costs
Employ- Average compen- compen- Nation
U.S.
Exchange
Hours ment
hours
sation sation currency dollars rate (1)

United States

1.9

- 3.8

- 5.6

- 4.1

- 1.6

- 4.2

1.5

- 0.3

- 0.3

---

- 2.0
- 4.5
3.2
5.9
0.5
NA
2.7

- 3.3
- 7.9
1.7
- 6.0
- 0.5
3.1
1.7

- 1.4
- 3.5
- 1.5
-11.3
- 1.0
NA
- 0.9

- 0.4
- 2.8
0.8
- 4.5
0.4
- 1.0
1.2

-

1.0
0.8
2.3
7.1
1.4
NA
- 2.1

2.1
- 3.1
7.0
- 1.3
2.9
3.0
3.8

3.5
0.4
8.7
11.3
4.0
NA
4.8

5.5
5.2
5.2
5.0
3.4
- 0.1
2.1

1.2
- 6.8
- 7.9
- 2.9
0.3
- 2.9
- 1.0

- 4.1
-11.3
-12.5
- 7.6
- 3.0
- 2.8
- 3.0

1.0
1.7
NA
0.8
1.5
1.5

0.1
0.7
NA
- 1.2
- 0.8
- 2.3

- 0.8
- 1.0
NA
- 2.0
- 2.3
- 3.7

0.3
0.3
NA
- 1.6
- 1.1
- 4.2

- 1.1
- 1.3
NA
- 0.4
- 1.2
0.5

2.3
2.7
NA
3.3
1.7
0.0

3.2
3.8
NA
5.4
4.1
3.9

2.2
2.0
NA
4.6
2.5
2.3

- 0.9
- 1.0
NA
2.4
- 9.1
- 2.8

- 3.0
- 3.0
- 3.0
- 2.0
-11.3
- 5.0

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
(1)

Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.

NA=Not Available
This release examines comparative trends in manufacturing output per hour,
unit labor costs, and related measures in 2001, the most recent year for which
comparative data are available and for certain selected time periods. Annual
indexes of these variables also are estimated for the time period 1950-2001.
However, because the comparable value-added output data for U.S. manufacturing

industries are not available prior to 1977, U.S. measures of output, output per
hour, and unit labor costs begin with 1977. Also, productivity measures for
Denmark are not available after 1993 due to a lack of comparable hours data.
Data for Germany are linked to data for the former West Germany in 1991.
Table B (pages 8-12) shows average annual percent changes for selected
periods, beginning in 1979. Annual indexes of the data are in tables 1-15
(pages 19-33).
The historical series of the variables also are available at the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Division of Foreign Labor Statistics, web-site at address
http://stats.bls.gov/fls/home.htm.
-4BOX: Notes about the measures
The measures in this release are based on data available to BLS as of August
2002. Revisions for 2000 and earlier years were made to the measures for
several countries to incorporate data not available at the time of the April
2002 report.
U.S. manufacturing output measure
The output measure for manufacturing in the United States is the chain-weighted
index of real gross domestic product by industry (deflated value added),
published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
This series is based on annually changing price weights.
The United States real output data through 2000 used in this report were
released by the BEA in November 2001. The estimates are described in the Survey
of Current Business, November 2001. The BLS estimate of real U.S. output for
2001 was derived by extrapolating the 2000 number forward, using the annual
growth rate of the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production Index for Total
Manufacturing.
The U.S. output series used for international comparisons differs from the
manufacturing series that BLS publishes as part of its major sector productivity
and costs measures for the U.S. While both series are based on annuallychanging price weights, the international comparisons program uses a value added
output concept, while the 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.
Germany
From 1991 forward, the estimated growth rates pertain to unified Germany and
prior to 1991 to the former West Germany. The two data series have been linked
in 1991. See technical notes for additional information.

Italy
For this release, Italian average hours worked have been revised from 1985,
based on estimates released by the Bank of Italy. This series replaces average
hours worked based on Large Firm Labor Indicators from the Italian National
Institute of Statistics. The scope of the new series is more inclusive of
smaller firms than previous estimates.
New measures of National Accounts
Member states of the European Union are in the process of implementing the
European System of Integrated National Accounts (ESA 95). Some other countries
are adopting the System of National Accounts recommended by the United Nations
(SNA 93), on which ESA 95 is based. Revisions due to these conversions to new
systems are being incorporated into the BLS estimates.
END OF BOX (Notes about the measures)

-5Manufacturing productivity, output, and labor input
Labor productivity (output per hour worked) in United States manufacturing
grew 1.9 percent in 2001. This occurred even though output fell, because labor
input (as measured by total hours) declined at a faster rate (5.6 percent) than
output (3.8 percent). (See table A.)
Productivity gains in five other countries--Taiwan, Belgium, Norway, Sweden,
and the United Kingdom--were achieved by a similar combination of a drop in
output accompanied by an even larger decline in total hours worked. Korea,
France, Germany, and Italy realized productivity gains due to an increase in
output combined with a decrease in total hours worked. Productivity fell in
Canada and Japan because their declines in output were greater than their
declines in total hours worked. (See table A.)
For the 1995-2000 period, productivity grew in all 13 countries for which
these data are available. The rate of increase ranged from 11.1 percent per
year for Korea to 0.7 percent per year for Norway. Besides Korea, productivity
in the United States, Taiwan, France, and Sweden also increased more than 4.5
percent per year. (See table B.)
A comparison of the 2000-2001 growth rates with the average annual growth
rates for the 1995-2000 period indicates that productivity growth slowed or fell
in the majority of countries compared. Only Taiwan, Italy, and Norway
experienced higher productivity growth rates in 2001 than their annual average
growth for the 1995-2000 period. (See table B.)
Among the eight countries that experienced a decline in manufacturing output
in 2001, the United States had the third largest decline (3.8 percent). Only
Japan (7.9 percent) and Taiwan (6.0 percent) experienced larger declines in
output for the year. Korea and four European countries (Denmark, France,

Germany, and Italy) achieved output growth in 2001, with Denmark having the
highest growth rate at 3.1 percent. (See table A.)
During 1995-2000, manufacturing output increased in all the countries
compared; the lowest gain was 0.5 percent per year in Norway, and the highest
was 8.1 percent per year in Korea. In 2001, only Denmark's output growth rate
was higher than its 1995-2000 average. (See table B.)
Total hours worked in manufacturing declined in all 12 countries for which
data are available for 2001--ranging from 11.3 percent in Taiwan to 0.8 percent
in Germany. The 5.6 percent decline in total hours worked in U.S. manufacturing
was the result of declines both in employment (4.1 percent) and in average hours
worked (1.6 percent). The declines in total hours worked in Canada, Japan,
Taiwan, Norway, and Sweden also were caused by decreases in both employment and
in average hours worked.
In Korea, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy, the
declines in total hours worked were the result of decreases in average hours
that more than offset employment increases.
Only the United Kingdom
experienced an increase in average hours; however, total hours worked also fell
in the U.K. because employment decreased more than the average hours increase.
(See table A.)
-6During the 1995-2000 period, total hours worked in manufacturing declined in 8
and increased in 5 of the 13 countries for which data are available. The five
countries with increased total hours--Canada, Taiwan, Italy, the Netherlands,
and Sweden--all experienced employment growth as well. Average hours increased
in only 3 of the 13 countries--Canada, Belgium, and Sweden--during this time
period. (See table B.)
Manufacturing hourly compensation and unit labor costs
U.S. manufacturing hourly compensation increased 1.5 percent in 2001, the
second lowest rate of growth among the countries compared. Only Japan
experienced a lower rate of growth (0.4 percent) in hourly compensation on a
national currency basis than the United States. The two largest increases in
hourly compensation were in Taiwan (11.3 percent) and Korea (8.7 percent). (See
table A.)
A comparison of the 2000-2001 growth rates with the average annual growth
rates for the 1995-2000 period indicates that hourly compensation growth rates
in national currency units were higher in 2001 in eight countries. Only the
United States, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom experienced lower hourly
compensation growth rates in 2001 than their annual average for the 1995-2000
period. (See table B.)
Unit labor costs (labor compensation per unit of output), expressed in
national currency units, increased in all but two of the countries in 2001. In
the United States and Denmark, unit labor costs declined slightly. (See table A
and chart 2.)

The measure of unit labor costs is equivalent to compensation per hour divided
by output per hour. In the United States, the relatively small increase in
hourly compensation was offset by an increase in output per hour, resulting in a
modest decline in unit labor costs. Canada's increase in unit labor costs (5.5
percent) was the largest of all countries compared, due to a combination of
hourly compensation growth and falling productivity. Taiwan, in contrast, had
lower growth in unit labor costs (5.0 percent) than Canada, even though hourly
compensation in Taiwan increased by 11.3 percent. This occurred because
Taiwan's relatively strong productivity growth of 5.9 percent was able to
partially offset its high hourly compensation growth rate. (See table A.)
From 1995 to 2000, U.S. unit labor costs decreased 0.7 percent per year. In
addition to the United States, seven other countries experienced declines in
unit labor costs over this time period, measured in their own currencies. This
is in contrast to 2000-2001, where only two countries, the United States and
Denmark, realized unit labor cost declines expressed in national currency units.
(See table B.)
To compare changes in competitiveness across economies in terms of U.S.
dollars, unit labor costs in national currency units must be adjusted for
changes in the currency's exchange rate against the dollar. When a foreign
currency depreciates against the U.S. dollar, fewer dollars must be paid in
exchange for each national currency unit. This will lead to a smaller increase
or a larger decline in unit labor costs converted from the foreign currency into
U.S. dollars.
-7Movements in the currency markets in 2001 had a noticeable impact on
comparative unit labor costs expressed in U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar
appreciated against all the currencies compared in 2001. In the majority of
countries, unit labor costs fell dramatically when expressed in U.S. dollars.
In Japan, for example, unit labor costs fell from positive 5.2 percent in
national currency units to negative 6.8 percent in U.S. dollars. This was due
to an 11.3 percent drop in the yen to U.S. dollar exchange rate. (See table A
and chart 2.)
The U.S. dollar appreciated against all the currencies compared during the
1995-2000 period, causing unit labor costs to decline in all countries, except
the United Kingdom, when expressed in U.S. dollars. Competitor countries had
lower growth rates in unit labor costs in U.S. dollars in 1995-2000 than in
2000-2001. (See table B.)
-8Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related
measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-2001

Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-2001 1979-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2001

Output per hour
United States

3.4

3.5

2.4

3.3

4.7

1.9

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.1
3.3
NA
5.9
3.6
NA
3.7

3.6
3.5
NA
5.1
6.0
2.1
3.0

0.5
4.3
8.2
7.9
2.2
0.5
3.4

3.8
3.3
9.7
5.3
3.2
NA
4.0

1.1
3.9
11.1
5.5
3.3
NA
4.6

-2.0
-4.5
3.2
5.9
0.5
NA
2.7

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

2.5
2.2
NA
1.3
3.7
3.6

2.1
3.5
4.4
2.4
3.1
4.4

2.1
1.9
2.2
1.4
1.9
4.6

3.3
2.4
3.7
0.6
5.2
3.3

2.6
0.9
2.5
0.7
5.3
2.4

1.0
1.7
NA
0.8
1.5
1.5

United States

2.7

2.2

2.5

3.1

4.4

-3.8

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.4
2.4
8.9
5.9
2.1
1.7
1.6

2.0
4.7
8.3
8.2
2.6
2.9
-0.4

1.8
4.8
12.2
7.0
2.5
-0.2
2.6

2.4
0.4
8.4
5.0
0.6
1.7
1.1

4.5
1.7
8.1
5.7
3.3
1.9
3.4

-3.3
-7.9
1.7
-6.0
-0.5
3.1
1.7

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

0.7
1.6
NA
0.1
2.8
0.7

0.2
0.9
1.8
0.6
2.2
-1.2

2.3
3.2
3.2
-1.6
1.4
3.4

-0.7
1.5
1.6
1.2
3.1
0.4

1.3
1.2
2.7
0.5
5.6
1.0

0.1
0.7
NA
-1.2
-0.8
-2.3

Output

Continued on next page

-9Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related
measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-2001
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-2001 1979-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2001

Total hours
United States

-0.7

-1.2

0.0

-0.1

-0.2

-5.6

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.3
-0.9
NA
0.0
-1.4
NA
-2.0

-1.5
1.1
NA
2.9
-3.2
0.8
-3.3

1.3
0.5
3.7
-0.8
0.4
-0.6
-0.8

-1.3
-2.8
-1.2
-0.3
-2.5
NA
-2.7

3.4
-2.1
-2.7
0.2
-0.1
NA
-1.1

-1.4
-3.5
-1.5
-11.3
-1.0
NA
-0.9

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

-1.7
-0.6
NA
-1.2
-0.8
-2.8

-1.9
-2.5
-2.5
-1.8
-0.8
-5.3

0.2
1.3
1.0
-2.9
-0.5
-1.2

-3.9
-0.9
-2.0
0.6
-2.0
-2.8

-1.3
0.3
0.2
-0.2
0.3
-1.4

-0.8
-1.0
NA
-2.0
-2.3
-3.7

United States

-0.8

-1.4

-0.1

-0.6

-0.1

-4.1

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.2
-0.4
NA
0.8
-1.4
-0.1
-1.4

-1.3
1.2
NA
4.1
-2.6
1.0
-2.3

1.2
0.8
5.4
-0.5
-0.3
-0.2
-0.9

-1.5
-1.6
-0.9
-0.3
-2.2
-1.2
-2.5

3.0
-1.9
-2.5
0.5
-0.6
-0.3
-0.2

-0.4
-2.8
0.8
-4.5
0.4
-1.0
1.2

Germany 2/

-1.2

-1.1

1.1

-4.2

-0.8

0.3

Employment

Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

-1.0
NA
-1.1
-1.3
-2.6

-2.3
-2.2
-1.8
-1.2
-4.6

-0.2
1.2
-2.7
-0.8
-0.9

-1.8
-2.0
0.3
-3.5
-3.1

0.3
0.4
0.1
0.1
-1.0

0.3
NA
-1.6
-1.1
-4.2

Continued on next page
-10Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related
measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-2001
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-2001 1979-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2001

Average hours
United States

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.4

-0.1

-1.6

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.1
-0.5
NA
-0.8
0.0
NA
-0.6

-0.2
0.0
NA
-1.1
-0.6
-0.3
-1.0

0.1
-0.3
-1.6
-0.4
0.7
-0.5
0.1

0.3
-1.3
-0.2
0.0
-0.3
NA
-0.2

0.4
-0.1
-0.1
-0.3
0.6
NA
-0.9

-1.0
-0.8
-2.3
-7.1
-1.4
NA
-2.1

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

-0.5
0.5
NA
-0.1
0.5
-0.3

-0.8
-0.1
-0.3
0.0
0.4
-0.8

-0.9
1.6
-0.2
-0.2
0.3
-0.3

0.3
0.9
0.0
0.3
1.6
0.3

-0.5
0.0
-0.2
-0.3
0.1
-0.3

-1.1
-1.3
NA
-0.4
-1.2
0.5

Total labor compensation in manufacturing: 3/

National currency basis

United States

3.9

5.8

3.9

3.4

3.7

-4.2

Canada
Japan

5.0
2.5

7.5
5.9

5.6
5.1

2.4
0.7

4.9
-1.0

2.1
-3.1

Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

NA
9.1
3.1
4.8
3.8

NA
15.9
4.7
9.0
9.1

19.9
10.6
4.0
4.6
3.6

16.8
6.8
1.3
2.3
1.1

4.1
4.2
2.0
3.1
0.8

7.0
-1.3
2.9
3.0
3.8

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

3.2
7.1
NA
5.4
5.7
4.8

4.0
13.0
2.3
8.0
8.9
6.2

5.2
8.2
3.1
4.7
7.9
8.1

2.3
4.0
1.9
4.0
1.9
2.5

1.2
3.1
3.6
4.9
4.6
3.2

2.3
2.7
NA
3.3
1.7
0.0

Continued on next page
-11Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related
measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-2001
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-2001 1979-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2001

Hourly compensation: 3/

National currency basis

United States

4.6

7.2

3.9

3.5

4.0

1.5

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

4.7
3.4
NA
9.0
4.6
NA
5.9

9.1
4.7
NA
12.6
8.1
8.1
12.8

4.2
4.6
15.6
11.5
3.7
5.3
4.5

3.7
3.7
18.2
7.1
3.9
NA
3.9

1.4
1.1
6.9
4.0
2.1
NA
1.9

3.5
0.4
8.7
11.3
4.0
NA
4.8

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

5.0
7.7
NA
6.7
6.6
7.9

6.0
15.9
5.0
10.0
9.8
12.2

5.0
6.8
2.1
7.8
8.4
9.4

6.4
4.9
4.0
3.4
3.9
5.4

2.6
2.8
3.4
5.1
4.3
4.6

3.2
3.8
NA
5.4
4.1
3.9

Unit labor costs:

National currency basis

United States

1.2

3.6

1.4

0.2

-0.7

-0.3

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.6
0.1
NA
2.9
0.9
3.1
2.2

5.3
1.1
NA
7.1
2.0
5.9
9.5

3.7
0.3
6.9
3.4
1.5
4.8
1.0

-0.1
0.4
7.8
1.7
0.7
0.6
-0.1

0.4
-2.6
-3.7
-1.5
-1.2
1.1
-2.6

5.5
5.2
5.2
5.0
3.4
-0.1
2.1

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

2.4
5.4
NA
5.3
2.8
4.1

3.8
12.0
0.5
7.4
6.5
7.5

2.8
4.8
-0.1
6.4
6.4
4.5

3.1
2.4
0.3
2.8
-1.2
2.1

-0.1
1.9
0.9
4.3
-0.9
2.2

2.2
2.0
NA
4.6
2.5
2.3

Continued on next page
-12Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related
measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-2001
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

Unit labor costs:
United States
Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

1979-2001 1979-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2001

U.S. dollar basis
1.2

3.6

1.4

0.2

-0.7

-0.3

1.3
2.8
NA
3.2
-1.0
0.9
-0.3

2.7
-0.3
NA
5.3
-9.3
-5.8
-3.3

7.0
10.8
11.1
11.8
13.8
16.7
11.6

-3.3
9.5
6.0
2.0
3.3
2.7
1.7

-1.2
-5.3
-10.8
-4.7
-8.7
-6.1
-9.2

1.2
-6.8
-7.9
-2.9
0.3
-2.9
-1.0

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

1.6
0.9
NA
2.5
-1.2
2.3

-4.1
-2.5
-7.6
-1.7
-5.2
-1.0

15.9
15.1
12.7
13.3
14.7
11.4

5.6
-3.7
2.9
2.5
-4.8
-0.4

-7.6
-3.1
-6.8
-2.3
-5.8
1.3

-0.9
-1.0
NA
2.4
-9.1
-2.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

-1.3
2.7
-4.4
0.3
-1.9
-2.1
-2.4

-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

-3.2
9.1
-1.7
0.3
2.5
2.0
1.8

-1.6
-2.7
-7.3
-3.3
-7.6
-7.1
-6.8

-4.1
-11.3
-12.5
-7.6
-3.0
-2.8
-3.0

Germany 2/
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

-0.8
-4.3
-0.9
-2.6
-3.9
-1.7

-7.6
-12.9
-8.0
-8.4
-11.0
-7.9

12.7
9.8
12.7
6.6
7.8
6.6

2.5
-6.0
2.6
-0.3
-3.7
-2.4

-7.5
-4.9
-7.6
-6.4
-4.9
-0.8

-3.0
-3.0
-3.0
-2.0
-11.3
-5.0

Exchange rates 4/
United States

1/ Rates of change based on the compound rate method.
2/ Data for years before 1991 pertain to the former West Germany.
3/ Adjusted to include employment taxes that are not compensation to
employees but are labor costs to employers.
4/ Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
NA = Not available.
-13Trade-weighted unit labor costs
To take account of differences in the relative importance of
to U.S. trade in manufactured goods, BLS constructs indexes of
cost trends relative to a trade-weighted average of unit labor
the other economies. In chart 3, the period begins in 1979, a
U.S. manufacturing output reached a business cycle peak.

foreign economies
U.S. unit labor
cost trends in
year in which

PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 11 competitors, 1979-

2001
The construction of the trade-weighted indexes 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; the weights reflect each country's importance in terms of U.S. trade
in manufactured goods. 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 U.S. 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 this release, the relative U.S. trade-weighted indexes
are estimated against 11 economies for which comparable data are available over
this period; the indexes underlying this chart are shown in table C.
In chart 3, the solid line indicates that U.S. unit labor costs rose faster
than "competitors" costs from 1979 to 1986 on a U.S. dollar basis. In most
years from 1986 to 1995, U.S. costs either rose at a slower rate than the
"competitors" costs or fell at a faster rate. From 1996 to 1998, however, the
strength of the U.S. dollar caused relative U.S. unit labor costs to rise.
After a dip in 1999, the index of relative U.S. unit labor costs rose again in
2000 and 2001.
-14Table C. U.S. manufacturing unit labor
costs relative to 11 competitors, 1979-2001

Year

1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992

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

100.0
110.7
119.1
126.8
128.7
129.7
131.2
137.4
139.3
139.1
142.1
148.2
153.9
157.2

100.0
100.6
97.8
98.0
94.4
93.3
94.0
93.8
88.1
88.1
90.0
89.3
89.7
89.9

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

Ratio

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

100.0
100.9
106.0
117.5
116.3
121.6
126.2
103.7
85.9
79.7
84.3
80.7
79.5
77.9

100.0
110.4
109.9
105.8
104.6
99.5
97.8
124.3
142.9
153.8
151.9
164.1
173.7
181.5

1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
-15-

142.3
139.2
134.0
132.1
129.9
131.2
127.5
129.7
129.2

157.8
155.3
154.7
155.8
153.9
156.1
153.9
149.3
155.5

90.2
89.6
86.6
84.8
84.4
84.0
82.9
86.9
83.1

142.3
139.2
134.0
132.1
129.9
131.2
127.5
129.7
129.2

177.8
177.9
187.1
178.8
164.4
157.7
160.6
151.7
147.7

80.0
78.2
71.6
73.9
79.0
83.2
79.4
85.5
87.5

TECHNICAL NOTES
Labor productivity is defined as real output per hour worked.
Although the labor productivity measure presented in this release
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 technology, capital investment, capacity
utilization, energy use, and managerial skills, as well as the skills
and efforts of the workforce.
Unit labor costs are defined as the cost of labor input required to
produce one unit of output. They are computed as labor compensation in
nominal terms divided by real output.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs trend indexes of
manufacturing labor productivity, 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 Belgium, Denmark, Italy,
and Taiwan. 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, the measures relate to total manufacturing as defined by
the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). However,
the measures for Denmark include mining and exclude manufacturing
handicrafts from 1960 to 1966 and the measures for France include parts
of mining.
The comparisons in this release make use of data made available to
BLS as of August 2002 by the statistical agencies of the individual
countries. For some countries, the data for the most recent years are
based on the European System of Integrated National Accounts (ESA 95) or
on the United Nations System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA 93). For
other countries, data were compiled according to previously used
systems.
To obtain historical time series, BLS may link together data series

which were compiled according to different accounting systems by the
countries' statistical agencies.
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 manufacturing value added measures for the
United Kingdom are essentially identical to their indexes of industrial
production.
The output measure for manufacturing in the United States is the
chain-weighted index of real gross product originating (deflated value
added), introduced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S.
Department of Commerce in August 1996. U.S. gross product originating
is a chain-type annual-weighted series. Because these value added
output data for U.S. manufacturing industries are not available for
years prior to 1977, the comparative U.S. measures of output, output per
hour, and unit labor costs begin with 1977. 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 194798," Survey of Current Business, June 2000, pp. 24-38.
-16The gross product originating series differs from the manufacturing
output series that BLS publishes as part of its major sector
productivity and costs program. While both series are based on
annually-changing price weights, the gross product originating series is
on a value added basis rather than the sectoral output basis used in the
official U.S. manufacturing productivity series. Sectoral output is
gross output less intrasector sales and transfers. For information on
sectoral output, see William Gullickson, "Measurement of productivity
growth in U.S. manufacturing," Monthly Labor Review, July 1995, pp. 1328.
A value added concept has been used for the international comparisons
series because the data are more readily available from 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 productivity, there
are other considerations that may make value added a better concept for
international comparisons of labor productivity, such as differences
among countries in the extent of vertical integration of industries.
Estimation of manufacturing real output using moving price weights is
becoming prevalent. For example, the output measure for manufacturing
in the United States is the chain-weighted index of real gross product
originating, based on annually changing price weights. However, many
earlier time periods within the historical real output series have been
estimated using fixed price weights, with the weights updated

periodically (for example, every 5 or 10 years).
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 aggregate hours worked series used for France (from
1970 forward), Norway, Sweden, and Canada are series published with the
national accounts. For the former West Germany after 1959 and 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. For the United Kingdom from 1992,
an index of total manufacturing hours is used, derived from published
quarterly indices of manufacturing hours. For all other countries, the
U.K. before 1992, and the former West Germany before 1959, BLS
constructs its own estimates of aggregate hours, using employment
figures published with the national accounts, or other comprehensive
employment series, and estimates of average annual hours worked.
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 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. In this release, French compensation data
have been revised from 1992 forward. Real compensation for the U.S. is
derived using the Consumer Price Index research series (CPI-U-RS).
-17Data for Germany. The average annual growth rates for Germany pertain
to unified Germany from 1991 forward and to the former West Germany for
prior years. The data series are linked in 1991. In the historic data
tables, separate index series are shown for unified Germany and for
former West Germany. The West German estimates end with 1998, the last
year for which the German Statistical Office has published the necessary
underlying data. These estimates have not been updated or revised by
BLS since they were published in the news release USDL 99-235, on Aug.
27, 1999.
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 198991 weights do not include Taiwan. BLS developed weights for 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
trade-weighted unit labor cost measures are produced:
Country
Canada
Japan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany

Weight
25.90
31.27
2.19
0.49
6.04
11.88

Country
Italy
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
Taiwan

Weight
4.71
0.49
1.94
9.19
5.93

Level Comparisons. The BLS measures are limited to trend comparisons.
BLS does not prepare level comparisons of manufacturing productivity and
unit labor costs because of data limitations and technical problems in
comparing the levels of manufacturing output among countries. Each
country measures manufacturing output in its own currency units. To
compare outputs among countries, a common unit of measure is needed.
Market exchange rates are not suitable as a basis for comparing output
levels. What 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 Organization 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 developed
for total GDP are not suitable for each component industry, such as
manufacturing.
-18European exchange rates. On Jan. 1, 1999, 11 European countries joined
the European Monetary Union (EMU). Greece joined on Jan. 1, 2001.
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.
Beginning with 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
6.55957
1.95583

Belgian francs
French francs
German marks

1936.27
2.20371

Italian lire
Netherlands guilders

The currency exchange rates cited in this publication are annual
averages of daily buying rates in New York City.
- 19 Table 1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950
24.9

NA
19.5

26.0
24.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

22.6

13.5

NA

13.2

13.5

11.2

1955
29.0

NA
21.3

31.9
26.5

8.6

NA

NA

NA

24.6

16.9

NA

19.7

18.8

14.4

1960
37.4
1961
38.7
1962
38.7
1963
40.7
1964
43.0
1965
45.6
1966
47.5
1967

NA
27.3
NA
28.7
NA
30.9
NA
32.7
NA
35.5
NA
38.2
NA
39.8
NA

37.8
30.0
39.8
30.1
42.7
30.7
44.5
32.4
46.3
34.5
48.6
35.5
49.5
36.7
50.0

13.8

NA

NA

18.0

29.9

22.0

NA

29.2

23.6

18.5

15.6

NA

NA

18.2

31.6

23.4

NA

30.6

25.5

19.5

16.4

NA

NA

19.2

33.2

24.9

NA

32.8

28.2

20.2

17.7

NA

NA

19.9

34.3

26.2

NA

34.1

29.0

21.1

20.1

NA

NA

21.2

37.1

28.2

NA

37.1

29.3

23.0

21.0

NA

NA

22.3

38.9

30.2

NA

39.3

32.6

24.5

23.0

NA

NA

23.8

40.9

32.6

NA

40.9

35.4

26.2

26.0

NA

NA

25.1

43.8

34.7

NA

43.4

37.2

28.1

49.2
1968
52.2
1969
57.1

43.2
NA
47.2
NA
50.9

38.4
52.7
41.3
55.4
42.3

1970
58.8
1971
60.6
1972
63.7
1973
67.6
1974
70.2
1975
69.5
1976
71.1
1977
72.2
1978
73.5
1979
78.9

NA
52.2
NA
54.5
NA
57.2
NA
61.4
NA
64.0
NA
65.0
NA
66.0
68.3
65.0
69.2
66.8
70.1
72.0

1980
77.5
1981
77.2
1982
80.5
1983
83.2
1984
88.3
1985
91.1
1986
89.8
1987
94.2
1988
93.1
1989

70.5
73.1
74.1
72.7
76.2
75.4
80.0
80.9
83.2
85.2
86.0
86.2
86.0
87.5
92.9
89.2
96.9
90.5
95.7

29.1

NA

NA

27.3

47.9

38.3

NA

47.0

40.1

31.6

33.4

NA

NA

29.9

49.8

40.7

NA

50.4

41.6

34.7

54.9
43.2
58.2
45.4
61.3
47.9
65.2
51.4
66.2
52.2
63.4
51.1
68.8
53.3
72.4
53.8
73.8
54.6
73.9
55.0

37.5

NA

NA

32.9

52.7

43.1

NA

52.0

44.3

37.9

39.8

NA

NA

35.1

56.3

45.6

NA

54.0

45.0

40.1

43.6

NA

NA

39.2

60.9

47.7

NA

57.4

47.8

43.3

47.6

NA

33.1

43.5

67.0

51.1

NA

61.1

52.1

48.0

48.8

NA

32.0

45.8

69.2

52.2

NA

63.2

55.3

51.5

50.2

NA

33.7

47.6

76.1

54.0

NA

65.9

52.3

50.9

53.2

NA

36.7

52.4

78.9

57.3

NA

70.6

59.8

56.4

55.3

NA

38.5

55.0

80.5

60.7

NA

72.7

61.7

61.0

57.5

NA

43.4

58.3

81.6

63.4

NA

75.2

64.9

65.0

62.2

NA

45.1

61.4

85.6

66.4

NA

78.4

71.1

68.1

72.9
54.3
76.5
57.1
77.1
60.2
81.9
65.0
88.8
68.4
91.1
71.1
87.6
73.9
87.8
78.1
89.6
82.6
92.5

63.2

NA

47.7

65.4

90.4

66.8

NA

77.2

74.2

68.8

65.2

NA

52.8

70.1

91.9

68.7

NA

78.7

73.8

70.4

67.9

NA

54.1

73.5

92.2

73.5

NA

78.8

74.0

71.6

68.8

NA

57.5

81.0

96.7

75.2

NA

82.6

75.7

77.3

71.1

NA

59.1

85.0

96.2

76.4

NA

85.4

81.9

84.9

76.5

54.9

60.9

87.0

96.8

79.3

NA

89.1

87.4

88.5

76.1

58.9

66.6

87.8

91.2

80.6

NA

89.6

87.9

90.2

80.2

63.2

72.8

88.9

90.7

82.1

NA

88.1

89.3

91.0

83.9

68.7

76.4

92.0

94.1

87.7

NA

91.5

93.9

93.1

88.5

73.2

83.1

96.9

99.7

92.2

NA

94.6

95.5

96.9

95.5

93.2

1990
97.6
1991
98.2
1992
100.0
1993
99.6
1994
99.6
1995
100.7
1996
102.5
1997
102.0
1998
99.9
1999
103.6

86.2

96.9
94.6
97.9
95.5
100.0
100.0
102.1
107.3
107.3
119.4
113.8
121.9
117.0
124.5
121.3
132.3
126.5
139.5
135.3
149.7

93.4
89.2
95.3
93.8
100.0
100.0
105.8
103.9
110.8
107.1
112.4
104.9
109.7
103.8
113.5
105.2
113.1
107.0
116.0
111.6

2000 142.9
104.5
158.0
2001 145.6
105.3
160.4

118.4
118.0
116.1
119.8

NA:

94.4

81.3

88.9

96.8

99.1

93.8

NA

99.0

95.8

98.5

99.0

91.4

96.6

99.1

99.4

97.0

98.3

101.9

95.9

99.6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

101.7

108.1

102.9

102.5

100.8

100.6

101.8

100.6

101.4

101.6

103.3

118.0

106.7

108.4

NA

108.2

109.5

107.9

104.9

113.2

111.0

129.2

115.1

113.2

NA

113.9

112.2

111.2

108.0

118.2

116.1

142.5

123.1

117.0

NA

114.6

113.9

115.1

108.1

120.2

121.0

163.3

129.2

127.0

NA

121.9

119.4

121.8

109.9

122.3

121.2

182.9

135.8

129.2

NA

127.7

120.3

127.1

110.0

125.0

126.9

202.3

143.1

129.5

NA

132.7

120.4

NA

109.9

128.5

134.1

218.4

150.6

133.4

NA

142.5

127.9

NA

113.0

133.8

128.1

225.5

159.6

134.1

NA

146.3

129.2

NA

115.0

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 20 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 2. Output per employed person in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
32.6

NA
25.3

28.3
30.1

NA

NA

NA

NA

31.8

16.2

NA

19.2

14.2

14.6

1955
38.0

NA
27.5

33.4
32.9

10.3

NA

NA

NA

34.0

20.3

NA

28.8

20.3

18.7

1960
47.1
1961
48.0
1962
47.9
1963
50.1
1964
53.3
1965
55.2
1966
57.6
1967
59.2
1968
61.3
1969
65.5

NA
33.3
NA
34.7
NA
37.1
NA
38.9
NA
41.8
NA
44.5
NA
46.4
NA
49.5
NA
52.9
NA
56.1

39.3
36.5
41.3
36.2
44.6
36.6
46.6
38.5
48.7
41.4
51.1
42.0
51.6
42.6
52.2
44.3
55.0
48.0
57.5
49.1

17.1

NA

NA

22.6

39.2

26.6

NA

38.4

25.7

24.4

19.1

NA

NA

22.9

40.2

28.3

NA

39.6

27.5

24.7

19.6

NA

NA

24.1

42.6

30.1

NA

41.3

29.5

25.4

21.0

NA

NA

25.0

43.3

31.7

NA

42.4

30.4

26.3

23.7

NA

NA

26.5

47.2

34.0

NA

46.1

30.7

28.5

24.3

NA

NA

27.4

49.5

36.0

NA

48.7

33.1

30.3

26.8

NA

NA

29.1

51.0

39.2

NA

50.0

36.4

32.1

30.4

NA

NA

30.3

54.1

41.2

NA

51.7

38.7

34.4

33.9

NA

NA

33.0

57.7

44.2

NA

56.6

41.8

37.9

38.3

NA

NA

35.7

59.3

48.2

NA

60.7

43.0

41.1

1970
67.0
1971
68.3
1972
70.7
1973
74.6
1974
76.4
1975
75.2
1976
74.9
1977
74.8
1978
74.6
1979

NA
57.4
NA
59.8
NA
61.1
NA
64.4
NA
66.5
NA
66.2
NA
66.4
67.1
64.9
67.9
64.9
68.4

56.7
49.4
59.9
50.7
63.1
52.9
66.6
57.5
67.1
56.6
63.5
55.2
69.0
58.1
72.6
59.0
74.5
59.6
74.2

42.6

NA

NA

38.3

60.8

50.5

NA

62.4

44.9

44.0

44.5

NA

NA

40.2

64.7

52.9

NA

63.4

44.3

46.2

48.5

NA

NA

43.9

68.4

54.8

NA

66.6

46.8

49.2

52.4

NA

36.9

47.6

71.3

57.8

NA

70.4

51.7

53.4

51.5

NA

34.4

48.7

75.1

58.3

NA

71.4

52.9

55.6

51.8

NA

37.1

48.0

80.0

58.5

NA

72.5

49.1

53.8

56.5

NA

40.5

53.8

83.3

62.3

NA

79.9

56.2

59.6

58.9

NA

42.6

56.1

84.2

65.4

NA

81.1

57.7

64.2

61.5

NA

47.5

59.4

84.4

67.7

NA

82.8

60.6

67.7

67.0

NA

49.2

62.6

88.5

70.8

NA

86.0

65.8

70.2

78.7

69.0

59.8

1980
77.8
1981
77.6
1982
80.2
1983
83.3
1984
88.2
1985
90.7
1986
89.5
1987
91.6
1988
91.2
1989
94.1

67.9
69.3
71.4
69.3
72.1
72.1
77.8
78.3
82.0
84.0
84.9
84.4
84.8
85.3
92.1
88.0
96.9
89.1
95.7
91.5

72.6
57.4
75.4
59.2
75.4
62.9
81.2
67.8
87.9
71.4
90.7
73.8
87.7
76.4
88.6
80.9
92.3
85.7
93.2
89.0

68.0

NA

52.1

65.6

94.0

71.2

NA

83.5

68.9

71.3

69.7

NA

54.9

68.7

94.3

72.3

NA

84.1

68.4

73.3

72.3

NA

56.2

73.7

96.1

74.2

NA

83.7

68.5

75.4

73.4

NA

59.8

79.2

102.2

75.6

NA

87.9

70.0

81.5

76.6

NA

61.9

82.5

101.3

76.9

NA

90.9

75.9

88.1

82.1

60.7

62.0

85.7

98.5

79.4

NA

93.1

80.2

89.5

81.2

66.3

69.0

86.5

94.9

80.9

NA

93.0

83.1

90.9

86.0

70.0

75.4

88.4

92.3

82.8

NA

91.3

86.9

91.2

90.9

74.2

78.2

93.0

95.8

88.8

NA

94.4

92.0

94.0

94.8

76.0

83.8

97.5

100.2

93.1

NA

96.2

94.7

97.3

1990
96.0
1991
97.2
1992
100.0
1993
99.9
1994
100.1
1995
100.3
1996
101.5
1997
100.8
1998
99.1
1999
103.1

96.3
93.9
96.6
94.7
100.0
100.0
103.4
110.0
109.7
127.3
115.6
131.2
118.7
134.2
123.9
142.9
128.1
150.9
137.9
162.2

93.6
91.3
95.1
93.9
100.0
100.0
106.9
104.9
113.0
109.6
114.1
109.1
112.2
108.4
116.0
109.3
116.2
110.3
120.4
114.5

99.7

83.2

88.8

98.5

98.5

94.3

NA

98.8

95.0

98.8

102.2

92.7

96.6

99.2

99.1

96.5

94.7

101.0

96.0

99.7

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

99.6

108.3

102.9

100.9

100.0

100.5

99.4

97.6

99.8

101.5

101.4

119.0

107.0

109.7

110.2

108.2

107.8

104.7

106.9

113.2

109.7

130.5

114.9

113.3

113.7

113.1

110.5

107.3

112.2

118.4

115.4

141.7

122.7

117.6

108.5

113.9

110.3

109.3

110.9

120.3

119.6

160.1

129.2

127.7

118.1

120.8

115.9

116.0

114.2

122.0

117.3

172.2

133.2

130.2

117.5

126.3

117.2

122.3

113.5

124.4

122.5

205.7

141.2

132.8

118.0

130.5

116.8

NA

113.8

127.8

2000 144.4
102.5
171.2

122.7
120.8

131.6

219.2

148.4

137.2

126.9

135.4

123.0

NA

117.6

133.0

2001 144.8
102.9
171.7
NA:

119.1
123.2

124.7

221.1

146.0

136.0

132.1

136.1

122.8

NA

118.1

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 21 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 3. Output in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950
38.8

NA
30.9

22.0
49.6

2.2

NA

NA

NA

26.8

18.4

NA

14.5

10.1

16.7

1955
47.5

NA
35.7

28.5
58.3

4.9

NA

NA

NA

29.5

22.9

NA

27.5

15.6

22.8

1960
57.4
1961
59.8
1962
60.3
1963
63.9
1964
68.4
1965
72.0
1966
76.3
1967
78.8
1968
80.7
1969

NA
45.9
NA
49.0
NA
52.8
NA
55.4
NA
60.3
NA
64.5
NA
66.3
NA
68.5
NA
72.0
NA

33.4
67.3
34.7
67.6
38.6
67.7
41.2
70.2
45.1
76.5
49.5
78.7
52.9
80.1
53.9
80.6
57.0
86.6
60.7

10.7

NA

NA

30.7

40.8

31.0

NA

41.5

23.0

31.5

12.9

NA

NA

32.1

43.0

33.3

NA

44.0

25.4

32.6

14.0

NA

NA

34.6

46.7

35.7

NA

46.2

28.1

34.2

15.6

NA

NA

36.2

47.3

38.4

NA

47.1

29.9

35.7

18.1

NA

NA

39.5

52.9

42.0

NA

51.2

30.3

39.0

18.8

NA

NA

40.8

56.4

44.1

NA

55.0

31.9

41.7

21.3

NA

NA

43.2

57.6

48.1

NA

55.9

34.8

44.0

25.6

NA

NA

43.7

58.2

50.4

NA

54.7

38.3

45.7

29.5

NA

NA

46.7

62.7

53.2

NA

60.3

41.8

50.1

34.4

NA

NA

52.2

66.1

59.6

NA

67.4

44.5

54.9

86.6

77.7

89.9

NA
80.7
NA
81.2
NA
81.7
NA
87.5
NA
92.2
NA
92.5
NA
92.5
72.5
87.2
76.5
84.9
79.0
90.3

58.9
90.2
62.5
89.3
67.9
91.2
74.9
99.7
76.5
98.4
70.4
91.6
76.4
93.3
78.8
95.2
83.2
95.7
85.9
95.5

39.2

7.0

12.7

57.6

68.0

64.1

NA

70.9

48.1

59.1

41.0

8.3

15.5

60.1

69.4

68.1

NA

71.6

48.8

61.1

44.7

9.5

18.9

64.7

75.4

71.3

NA

73.8

51.5

62.7

50.4

12.3

22.3

70.6

79.5

76.7

NA

78.5

58.1

67.2

49.1

14.3

21.0

73.4

80.8

78.2

NA

77.7

61.8

69.7

46.6

16.2

22.0

67.9

78.8

76.6

NA

74.1

58.3

65.1

50.6

19.9

27.0

73.0

82.6

81.1

NA

79.8

66.9

69.1

52.2

22.8

30.6

73.3

83.0

84.8

NA

81.3

69.3

72.5

53.7

27.5

37.1

74.3

82.7

86.8

NA

82.8

72.7

74.8

58.4

30.1

40.0

76.2

87.4

89.3

NA

87.1

80.3

76.7

1980 75.8
104.4
90.7
1981 79.2
102.5
88.0
1982 74.6
102.0
88.3
1983 79.2
100.6
93.9
1984 87.6
105.5
101.3
1985 90.0
109.2
102.9
1986 88.6
108.9
104.0
1987 96.4
111.5
106.6
1988 103.2
106.1
109.8
1989 102.4
102.1
110.9

83.6
87.2
86.6
81.8
78.7
81.7
82.5
83.5
91.8
86.5
96.9
89.0
96.8
90.2
100.7
94.5
108.5
101.4
111.3
105.5

60.4

29.9

44.0

78.2

91.4

88.7

NA

85.3

84.4

76.8

62.6

32.7

47.3

77.2

88.5

87.3

NA

84.4

81.8

77.0

64.6

34.6

48.5

80.4

89.9

88.2

NA

81.5

80.2

76.1

66.6

39.5

54.1

84.6

95.9

88.0

NA

82.7

79.6

78.5

71.0

46.0

62.2

87.2

100.4

87.0

NA

85.2

82.2

83.0

76.7

48.8

64.3

89.1

103.6

87.3

NA

88.3

84.9

85.4

75.5

57.9

74.7

89.1

103.6

87.3

NA

89.7

86.4

87.6

79.0

68.5

84.3

88.8

99.4

87.2

NA

88.0

89.0

88.8

85.3

76.7

87.7

93.3

100.9

92.2

NA

90.9

95.0

92.1

90.9

79.4

90.8

99.1

104.4

97.2

NA

94.0

98.3

96.6

1990 101.6
100.9
110.1

106.0
105.4

97.1

86.7

90.0

101.0

102.8

99.1

NA

99.1

99.4

99.9

1970
90.6
1971
92.9
1972
97.2
1973
102.8
1974
106.3
1975
104.0
1976
103.5
1977
103.5
1978
101.4
1979
105.5

1991
99.0
1992
100.0
1993
101.7
1994
104.6
1995
107.3
1996
110.3
1997
114.2
1998
113.7
1999
113.6

98.3
104.1
100.0
100.0
103.5
101.9
111.1
117.1
118.4
128.4
121.3
131.1
127.9
138.0
133.1
147.6
141.2
157.8

99.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.9
101.4
114.1
106.1
119.6
107.8
119.6
108.5
127.7
109.9
132.8
110.8
141.0
111.1

102.0

95.0

96.1

100.7

101.5

99.8

102.3

102.8

99.3

100.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

96.3

105.4

102.4

97.0

95.6

95.7

92.4

91.8

96.5

98.4

94.9

116.8

108.5

101.4

105.6

100.3

95.1

93.5

102.4

104.6

98.9

129.9

114.9

104.2

111.6

104.9

95.2

93.7

107.2

108.1

103.0

138.7

120.3

106.6

106.7

104.6

92.5

92.5

105.4

108.7

106.5

147.8

128.3

113.8

115.2

109.7

95.7

95.8

108.8

111.5

100.2

136.8

132.6

116.4

115.7

115.0

97.2

100.7

110.7

114.8

101.9

165.6

141.5

118.0

115.1

118.7

95.8

NA

110.5

118.1

2000 147.0
110.2
168.7
2001 141.3
108.9
167.4

148.8
113.3
143.9
110.7

107.6

191.9

151.8

122.2

122.9

124.1

101.7

NA

113.9

123.7

99.1

195.2

142.6

121.7

126.7

126.3

101.8

NA

114.6

NA

NA:

Not Available

** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 22 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 4. Total hours in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950
155.6

85.5
158.5

84.8
202.2

NA

NA

NA

NA

118.7

136.8

NA

109.8

75.0

148.5

1955
163.7

94.6
167.3

89.4
220.2

57.0

NA

NA

NA

119.8

135.7

NA

139.6

83.1

158.9

92.1

88.3

77.8

NA

NA

170.7

136.5

140.8

NA

142.3

97.6

170.5

1960

153.6
1961
154.5
1962
155.8
1963
156.9
1964
159.2
1965
158.1
1966
160.8
1967
160.1
1968
154.6
1969
151.7

168.3
89.7
171.0
93.4
170.8
94.4
169.1
96.4
169.6
102.0
168.8
108.6
166.5
108.0
158.4
109.6
152.6
110.9
152.5

224.6
87.2
224.7
90.3
220.3
92.6
216.6
97.2
221.7
101.9
221.5
106.8
218.2
107.9
209.8
108.2
209.6
109.7
212.4

1970
153.9
1971
153.4
1972
152.6
1973
152.1
1974
151.5
1975
149.6
1976
145.5
1977
143.2
1978
137.9
1979
133.7

104.4
154.7
100.5
149.1
105.1
142.9
110.4
142.5
107.9
144.0
97.2
142.3
101.9
140.2
106.1
134.2
110.6
127.1
112.7
125.5

1980 107.5
134.7
124.0
1981 107.0
132.7
121.0
1982 97.9

82.4

NA

NA

175.9

136.2

142.5

NA

143.9

99.6

167.0

85.2

NA

NA

180.3

140.7

143.6

NA

140.8

99.5

169.0

87.9

NA

NA

181.8

138.0

146.9

NA

138.1

103.2

169.3

90.0

NA

NA

186.5

142.6

148.7

NA

138.0

103.5

169.8

89.8

NA

NA

183.2

144.9

146.0

NA

140.0

97.7

170.2

92.8

NA

NA

181.5

140.8

147.5

NA

136.7

98.2

168.2

98.3

NA

NA

173.6

132.7

145.4

NA

125.9

102.8

162.5

101.4

NA

NA

170.9

130.9

138.9

NA

128.3

104.2

158.6

103.0

NA

NA

174.9

132.7

146.5

NA

133.8

107.0

158.3

107.1
208.8
107.4
196.9
110.8
190.5
114.9
194.1
115.5
188.5
111.1
179.3
111.1
175.1
108.8
176.9
112.8
175.4
116.2
173.7

104.4

NA

NA

174.7

129.0

148.5

NA

136.3

108.5

156.1

103.1

NA

NA

171.4

123.3

149.2

NA

132.5

108.4

152.3

102.6

NA

NA

165.2

123.8

149.5

NA

128.7

107.7

144.8

106.0

NA

67.4

162.1

118.8

150.2

NA

128.4

111.4

140.0

100.6

NA

65.6

160.4

116.7

149.8

NA

122.9

111.8

135.2

92.8

NA

65.1

142.6

103.5

141.8

NA

112.5

111.4

128.1

95.1

NA

73.7

139.4

104.7

141.5

NA

113.1

111.9

122.5

94.4

NA

79.3

133.3

103.1

139.7

NA

111.8

112.3

119.0

93.4

NA

85.5

127.4

101.4

136.8

NA

110.1

112.0

115.1

93.8

NA

88.7

124.2

102.1

134.4

NA

111.0

112.9

112.5

114.6
160.5
113.2
143.3
102.0

95.6

NA

92.3

119.7

101.1

132.9

NA

110.5

113.8

111.7

95.9

NA

89.7

110.2

96.3

127.0

NA

107.1

111.0

109.3

95.1

NA

89.6

109.4

97.5

119.9

NA

103.4

108.4

106.2

126.8
1983
120.9
1984
119.4
1985
119.9
1986
121.2
1987
118.3
1988
114.0
1989
106.8

117.2
98.9
116.1
105.3
118.9
104.6
119.4
103.0
118.9
103.8
119.5
106.6
121.4
107.1
119.0

135.6
100.7
128.4
103.4
126.4
106.4
125.2
110.5
122.0
114.7
121.0
121.2
122.8
120.2
122.4

1990
103.4
1991
100.8
1992
100.0
1993
102.1
1994
105.0
1995
106.6
1996
107.6
1997
112.0
1998
113.7
1999
109.6

104.8
116.4
100.4
109.0
100.0
100.0
101.4
94.9
103.6
98.1
104.0
105.3
103.6
105.3
105.4
104.3
105.2
105.8
104.4
105.4

2000 102.8
105.4
106.8
2001 97.1
103.4
104.3
NA:

96.8

NA

94.0

104.3

99.2

117.1

NA

100.1

105.3

101.5

99.8

NA

105.2

102.6

104.4

113.9

NA

99.7

100.3

97.8

100.3

88.8

105.5

102.4

107.0

110.1

NA

99.1

97.1

96.6

99.2

98.3

112.2

101.5

113.7

108.3

NA

100.1

98.3

97.2

98.5

108.3

115.8

100.0

109.6

106.3

NA

99.9

99.7

97.6

101.7

111.6

114.8

101.5

107.2

105.1

NA

99.3

101.2

98.9

102.7

108.5

109.2

102.3

104.7

105.5

NA

99.3

103.0

99.7

113.5
118.1
103.9
106.6
100.0
100.0
100.1
97.6
103.0
99.1
106.4
102.7
109.0
104.6
112.4
104.5
117.5
103.6
121.5
99.6

102.9

106.6

101.3

104.3

103.7

105.6

NA

100.1

103.7

101.4

103.1

103.9

99.5

101.5

102.1

102.9

104.1

100.9

103.6

100.9

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

94.7

97.5

99.6

94.7

94.8

95.1

90.8

91.3

95.2

96.8

91.9

98.9

101.6

93.6

NA

92.7

86.8

86.7

97.6

92.4

89.1

100.6

99.8

92.0

NA

92.1

84.9

84.3

99.3

91.5

88.7

97.3

97.7

91.1

NA

91.3

81.2

80.4

97.5

90.4

88.0

90.5

99.3

89.6

NA

90.0

80.1

78.6

99.0

91.1

82.7

74.8

97.7

90.1

NA

90.0

80.7

79.3

100.6

91.8

80.3

81.9

98.9

91.1

NA

89.4

79.6

NA

100.5

92.0

125.6
96.0
123.9
92.4

80.2

87.9

100.8

91.7

NA

87.1

79.5

NA

100.7

92.5

77.4

86.5

89.4

90.7

NA

86.3

78.8

NA

99.7

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.

** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 23 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 5. Employment in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950
119.0

84.3
122.0

77.9
164.6

NA

NA

NA

NA

84.4

113.4

NA

75.2

71.4

114.1

1955
124.9

93.1
129.7

85.3
177.1

47.8

NA

NA

NA

86.7

113.0

NA

95.5

77.1

121.8

1960
121.9
1961
124.5
1962
126.0
1963
127.4
1964
128.5
1965
130.6
1966
132.4
1967
133.2
1968
131.7
1969
132.3

92.6
137.8
90.0
141.3
92.8
142.2
93.5
142.4
94.9
144.3
99.3
144.8
105.4
143.0
106.7
138.3
108.5
136.0
110.6
138.4

84.8
184.3
84.1
186.9
86.5
185.1
88.5
182.2
92.5
185.0
96.9
187.4
102.4
187.9
103.3
182.1
103.8
180.4
105.7
182.9

62.8

NA

NA

135.7

104.1

116.6

NA

108.1

89.5

129.4

67.5

NA

NA

140.1

107.0

117.4

NA

111.3

92.4

132.2

71.3

NA

NA

143.3

109.7

118.6

NA

111.8

95.3

134.7

74.1

NA

NA

144.7

109.3

121.2

NA

111.0

98.3

135.4

76.4

NA

NA

148.8

112.0

123.4

NA

111.0

98.6

137.1

77.4

NA

NA

148.7

113.9

122.2

NA

113.0

96.3

137.9

79.7

NA

NA

148.5

112.8

122.8

NA

111.8

95.7

137.0

84.3

NA

NA

143.9

107.5

122.4

NA

105.8

98.8

132.9

87.2

NA

NA

141.5

108.5

120.3

NA

106.6

100.2

132.1

89.7

NA

NA

146.3

111.4

123.7

NA

111.0

103.6

133.7

1970 106.3
135.3
140.6
1971 102.2
136.1
135.9
1972 105.0

103.9
182.6
104.4
176.4
107.7

91.9

NA

NA

150.2

111.9

127.0

NA

113.6

107.0

134.3

92.3

NA

NA

149.6

107.3

128.6

NA

112.9

109.9

132.2

92.3

NA

NA

147.4

110.1

130.1

NA

110.8

110.0

127.5

137.5
1973
137.8
1974
139.3
1975
138.3
1976
138.1
1977
138.3
1978
135.8
1979
134.0

133.8
110.5
135.8
110.1
138.7
100.6
139.8
104.2
139.4
108.2
134.5
112.7
130.7
115.6
131.0

172.2
112.5
173.2
113.9
173.9
110.9
165.9
110.7
160.6
108.5
161.2
111.7
160.5
115.7
159.6

1980
134.2
1981
132.0
1982
127.3
1983
120.8
1984
119.6
1985
120.5
1986
121.7
1987
121.8
1988
116.3
1989
108.4

111.6
130.9
111.0
127.0
103.5
122.4
101.8
119.9
106.8
120.5
106.0
122.0
104.5
121.9
104.7
121.1
106.6
123.3
107.0
121.2

1990
105.2
1991
101.9
1992
100.0
1993
101.8
1994

105.4
117.2
101.8
109.9
100.0
100.0
100.1
92.6
101.3

96.2

NA

60.3

148.4

111.6

132.8

NA

111.5

112.4

125.8

95.3

NA

61.2

150.7

107.6

134.2

NA

108.9

116.9

125.4

90.0

NA

59.3

141.5

98.5

130.9

NA

102.2

118.5

121.0

89.5

NA

66.7

135.8

99.2

130.2

NA

99.9

119.1

116.0

88.6

NA

71.9

130.5

98.5

129.7

NA

100.3

120.1

113.1

87.4

NA

78.1

125.0

98.0

128.1

NA

100.0

120.0

110.5

87.2

NA

81.4

121.8

98.8

126.1

NA

101.2

121.9

109.3

115.1
151.8
114.8
138.0
104.3
129.9
101.6
123.2
104.4
121.1
106.8
120.6
110.4
118.0
113.7
116.8
117.6
118.3
119.4
118.6

88.9

NA

84.4

119.3

97.2

124.7

NA

102.2

122.6

107.8

89.8

NA

86.2

112.4

93.8

120.7

NA

100.3

119.6

105.0

89.3

NA

86.3

109.2

93.6

118.8

NA

97.4

117.1

101.0

90.8

NA

90.5

106.8

93.9

116.4

NA

94.1

113.7

96.4

92.7

NA

100.4

105.7

99.1

113.1

NA

93.7

108.4

94.2

93.5

80.3

103.7

104.0

105.2

110.0

NA

94.9

105.8

95.4

93.0

87.3

108.4

103.0

109.1

108.0

NA

96.4

103.9

96.5

91.9

97.9

111.8

100.5

107.7

105.3

NA

96.4

102.5

97.4

93.9

103.4

112.2

100.4

105.3

103.8

NA

96.3

103.3

98.0

95.9

104.4

108.3

101.7

104.1

104.4

NA

97.6

103.8

99.3

113.2
115.4
104.1
106.5
100.0
100.0
99.1
96.6
100.9

97.5

104.3

101.4

102.5

104.3

105.1

NA

100.3

104.6

101.1

99.8

102.5

99.5

101.5

102.4

103.5

108.0

101.8

103.5

100.7

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

96.8

97.3

99.6

96.1

95.5

95.2

93.0

94.0

96.8

96.9

93.6

98.1

101.4

92.5

95.8

92.7

88.2

89.3

95.8

92.4

104.5
1995
107.0
1996
108.7
1997
113.3
1998
114.7
1999
110.2

92.0
102.5
97.9
102.2
97.6
103.2
96.6
104.0
97.8
102.4
97.3

96.8
104.8
98.8
106.6
100.1
110.0
100.6
114.3
100.4
117.1
97.0

2000 101.8
107.5
98.5
2001 97.6
105.8
97.5

121.2
93.8
120.7
89.8

NA:

90.1

99.6

99.9

91.9

98.1

92.7

86.2

87.3

95.6

91.3

89.3

97.9

98.1

90.7

98.3

91.8

83.8

84.6

95.1

90.3

89.1

92.3

99.3

89.1

97.5

90.9

82.6

82.6

95.3

91.4

85.5

79.5

99.6

89.4

98.4

91.0

82.9

82.4

97.5

92.2

83.2

80.5

100.2

88.8

97.6

90.9

82.1

NA

97.1

92.4

81.7

87.6

102.3

89.1

96.8

91.7

82.7

NA

96.9

93.0

79.4

88.3

97.7

89.5

95.9

92.8

82.9

NA

97.1

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 24 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 6. Average annual hours in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950 101.4
130.8
129.9

108.8
122.8

NA

NA

NA

NA

140.7

120.6

NA

146.0

105.1

130.2

1955 101.5
131.1
129.0

104.8
124.4

119.3

NA

NA

NA

138.2

120.1

NA

146.1

107.8

130.5

1960 99.5
126.0
122.1
1961 99.6
124.1
121.1
1962 100.6

104.1
121.8
103.6
120.2
104.4

123.9

NA

NA

125.8

131.2

120.8

NA

131.7

109.0

131.8

122.0

NA

NA

125.5

127.3

121.3

NA

129.4

107.8

126.3

119.5

NA

NA

125.8

128.3

121.1

NA

126.0

104.4

125.4

123.7
1963
123.1
1964
123.9
1965
121.1
1966
121.4
1967
120.2
1968
117.4
1969
114.7

120.1
100.9
118.8
101.6
117.5
102.7
116.6
103.0
116.4
101.2
114.5
101.0
112.2
100.2
110.2

119.0
104.7
118.9
105.1
119.8
105.2
118.1
104.4
116.1
104.5
115.2
104.2
116.2
103.9
116.2

1970 98.2
113.8
110.0
1971 98.4
112.7
109.7
1972 100.0
111.0
106.8
1973 99.9
110.3
104.9
1974 98.0
108.8
103.8
1975 96.6
108.1
101.8
1976 97.7
105.3
100.6
1977 98.1
103.5
99.8
1978 98.1
101.6
97.2
1979 97.5
99.8
95.8
1980
100.4
1981
100.5
1982
99.6
1983
100.1
1984

96.3
94.8
96.4
95.3
94.6
95.7
97.2
96.9
98.6

118.6

NA

NA

125.7

126.3

121.2

NA

124.4

104.9

125.0

117.9

NA

NA

125.3

127.4

120.5

NA

124.3

104.9

123.9

115.9

NA

NA

123.2

127.2

119.4

NA

123.9

101.4

123.5

116.5

NA

NA

122.2

124.8

120.0

NA

122.3

102.6

122.8

116.7

NA

NA

120.7

123.4

118.8

NA

119.0

104.0

122.3

116.4

NA

NA

120.7

120.6

115.5

NA

120.4

104.0

120.1

114.8

NA

NA

119.5

119.1

118.4

NA

120.6

103.3

118.4

103.2
114.4
102.8
111.7
102.9
110.6
102.1
112.1
101.5
108.4
100.2
108.1
100.3
109.0
100.3
109.8
101.0
109.3
100.5
108.9

113.6

NA

NA

116.3

115.3

117.0

NA

119.9

101.4

116.2

111.8

NA

NA

114.6

114.9

116.1

NA

117.3

98.6

115.1

111.1

NA

NA

112.0

112.4

114.9

NA

116.2

97.9

113.5

110.2

NA

111.7

109.3

106.4

113.1

NA

115.2

99.1

111.3

105.6

NA

107.3

106.4

108.5

111.6

NA

112.9

95.6

107.9

103.2

NA

109.9

100.7

105.1

108.3

NA

110.1

94.0

105.9

106.2

NA

110.5

102.6

105.6

108.7

NA

113.2

94.0

105.7

106.5

NA

110.4

102.1

104.6

107.7

NA

111.5

93.5

105.2

106.9

NA

109.6

101.9

103.4

106.8

NA

110.1

93.3

104.2

107.6

NA

109.0

102.0

103.3

106.6

NA

109.7

92.6

103.0

99.6
105.7
98.7
103.8
97.8
104.4
99.1
104.2
99.0

107.6

NA

109.3

100.4

104.0

106.6

NA

108.1

92.8

103.6

106.8

NA

104.1

98.1

102.7

105.3

NA

106.8

92.8

104.1

106.5

NA

103.9

100.2

104.2

100.9

NA

106.2

92.6

105.2

106.6

NA

103.9

97.7

105.6

100.6

NA

106.4

92.6

105.3

107.7

NA

104.8

97.1

105.3

100.7

NA

106.4

92.6

103.8

99.9
98.6
1985 98.7
99.5
97.9
1986 98.6
99.6
97.5
1987 99.1
97.2
98.7
1988 100.0
98.0
98.5
1989 100.0
98.5
98.2

104.4
99.6
103.8
100.1
103.4
100.9
103.6
103.0
103.8
100.7
103.2

1990
98.3
1991
98.9
1992
100.0
1993
100.3
1994
100.5
1995
99.6
1996
99.0
1997
98.9
1998
99.2
1999
99.5

99.4
99.3
98.7
99.2
100.0
100.0
101.3
102.6
102.2
106.6
101.5
107.6
101.5
107.9
102.2
108.0
101.2
108.2
102.0
108.3

2000 101.0
98.1
108.4
2001 99.4
97.7
107.0
NA:

107.3

110.6

101.7

98.5

101.8

100.1

NA

104.5

91.8

101.2

106.7

112.6

103.5

98.6

104.2

100.3

NA

103.9

94.5

100.7

107.2

110.7

103.6

99.4

101.8

100.9

NA

103.6

97.3

100.2

108.3

108.0

102.3

101.1

101.8

101.2

NA

103.2

98.0

101.0

107.1

103.9

100.8

100.6

100.6

101.0

NA

101.7

99.2

100.4

100.2
102.3
99.8
100.1
100.0
100.0
101.0
101.0
102.0
102.4
101.6
104.0
102.3
104.5
102.2
103.9
102.7
103.2
103.8
102.6

105.6

102.3

99.9

101.8

99.4

100.5

NA

99.8

99.2

100.4

103.2

101.4

100.0

100.0

99.7

99.5

96.3

99.1

100.1

100.1

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

97.9

100.2

100.0

98.5

99.2

99.9

97.6

97.0

98.4

99.9

98.1

100.8

100.2

101.2

NA

99.9

98.4

97.1

101.9

100.0

98.8

101.0

99.9

100.1

NA

99.3

98.5

96.5

103.8

100.2

99.4

99.4

99.7

100.5

NA

99.4

96.9

95.0

102.5

100.1

98.8

98.0

100.0

100.6

NA

99.1

97.0

95.2

103.9

99.7

96.7

94.1

98.1

100.8

NA

98.9

97.4

96.2

103.2

99.5

96.6

101.7

98.7

102.6

NA

98.4

97.0

NA

103.6

99.5

103.6
102.3
102.6
102.8

98.1

100.3

98.5

102.9

NA

95.0

96.1

NA

104.0

99.4

97.4

98.0

91.5

101.4

NA

93.0

95.1

NA

102.7

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

- 25 Table 7. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada*
Japan
Norway
Sweden*
Kingdom*

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
2.2

8.7
1.9

5.4
1.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

2.5

1.6

NA

3.4

0.9

3.1

1955
3.4

11.7
2.9

7.7
2.2

3.1

NA

NA

NA

3.4

2.8

NA

5.0

1.4

4.5

1960
4.7
1961
5.2
1962
5.7
1963
6.1
1964
6.5
1965
7.2
1966
7.8
1967
8.7
1968
9.6
1969
10.6

14.9
4.1
15.3
4.5
15.9
5.0
16.4
5.5
17.0
6.0
17.4
6.6
18.2
7.3
19.2
8.1
20.7
8.8
22.2
9.6

10.0
3.0
10.2
3.2
10.6
3.3
11.1
3.5
11.5
3.7
12.2
4.0
13.1
4.4
13.8
4.5
14.7
4.8
15.9
5.3

4.3

NA

NA

5.4

4.6

4.3

NA

8.1

1.8

6.4

5.0

NA

NA

5.7

5.2

4.7

NA

9.1

2.0

7.3

5.7

NA

NA

6.2

5.6

5.2

NA

10.3

2.3

7.8

6.4

NA

NA

6.8

6.1

5.7

NA

11.0

2.8

8.6

7.2

NA

NA

7.7

6.6

6.2

NA

11.9

2.9

9.9

8.1

NA

NA

8.5

7.4

6.7

NA

13.1

3.1

11.1

8.9

NA

NA

9.4

8.4

7.1

NA

14.2

3.3

12.5

10.0

NA

NA

10.3

9.4

7.6

NA

15.0

3.7

13.8

11.6

NA

NA

11.0

10.3

8.7

NA

16.1

3.9

15.4

13.8

NA

NA

12.1

11.6

9.2

NA

17.6

4.3

17.5

1970
11.8
1971
13.5
1972
15.2
1973
17.1
1974

23.7
10.7
25.2
12.1
26.5
13.5
28.5
15.2
31.6

17.1
6.1
18.2
6.9
19.5
8.0
21.2
9.1
24.6

16.4

NA

NA

13.7

13.3

10.4

NA

20.7

5.3

20.2

19.0

NA

NA

15.9

15.2

11.6

NA

23.2

6.1

23.1

21.9

NA

NA

18.8

16.9

12.8

NA

25.6

6.7

26.5

26.7

NA

9.5

22.3

20.5

14.7

NA

29.0

7.9

31.6

35.0

NA

13.9

27.4

24.8

17.5

NA

33.0

10.3

37.7

20.1
1975
24.0
1976
27.7
1977
31.1
1978
34.1
1979
35.8

17.9
35.5
21.9
38.4
25.7
41.8
28.1
45.2
31.1
49.6
33.5

11.0
28.3
14.6
32.5
16.9
36.1
19.1
38.8
22.3
42.7
26.5

1980
39.0
1981
43.3
1982
48.2
1983
52.9
1984
57.9
1985
63.4
1986
69.1
1987
78.4
1988
83.3
1989
87.2

55.6
37.3
61.1
41.2
67.0
44.2
68.8
49.0
71.2
53.2
75.1
58.6
78.5
63.4
80.7
67.6
84.0
71.8
86.6
79.4

1990
92.3
1991
97.5
1992
100.0
1993
101.5
1994
104.4
1995
109.2
1996

90.8
87.8
95.6
95.5
100.0
100.0
102.7
97.4
105.6
100.0
107.9
106.5
109.4

40.8

NA

14.9

33.1

29.6

21.3

NA

36.4

12.7

43.2

43.9

NA

16.7

38.3

33.0

24.5

NA

39.1

15.8

48.2

48.5

NA

18.2

41.4

36.5

27.8

NA

42.8

18.9

52.5

51.7

NA

20.5

44.4

40.2

31.3

NA

45.9

21.5

56.9

55.0

NA

24.3

47.2

45.0

35.5

NA

49.3

26.0

61.1

47.6
32.1
53.8
37.4
61.0
41.2
65.3
44.4
69.0
48.1
71.9
52.9
73.0
57.6
74.7
64.3
77.5
68.7
82.6
73.8

58.5

NA

29.6

52.5

49.6

40.9

NA

53.6

30.4

64.4

62.6

NA

38.0

57.3

54.6

47.4

NA

57.0

36.2

67.5

65.7

NA

41.5

59.9

59.5

56.3

NA

60.4

42.2

71.6

67.5

NA

43.3

65.7

63.6

62.1

NA

63.1

48.6

74.9

69.5

NA

46.2

71.4

67.2

67.4

NA

66.0

55.7

77.7

72.4

33.1

49.5

75.3

71.7

73.0

NA

70.0

63.1

81.9

76.0

35.2

55.7

77.3

73.2

76.1

NA

72.8

65.9

85.1

77.8

40.3

60.9

79.7

80.1

78.9

NA

76.0

69.4

87.9

79.1

50.0

65.6

81.1

82.9

81.9

NA

79.1

74.6

87.8

84.0

57.6

74.3

85.9

87.7

86.3

NA

83.2

80.9

88.6

88.3
82.9
95.0
93.8
100.0
100.0
102.0
104.6
103.7
106.7
106.0
107.9
107.0

90.5

68.5

85.3

90.1

92.7

90.9

NA

89.4

87.6

90.9

96.4

86.1

93.5

97.3

95.9

96.4

91.5

95.1

94.2

95.3

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

102.8

114.0

106.0

104.8

104.6

102.6

106.4

105.9

105.7

103.8

104.9

129.5

111.1

106.1

NA

106.0

111.7

111.7

106.8

108.2

108.3

158.1

120.3

109.2

NA

110.0

117.5

117.7

111.3

110.7

109.2

184.1

128.2

110.9

NA

112.1

122.3

123.7

119.0

113.0

113.6
114.4
1997 111.5
118.7
119.4
1998 117.4
125.7
124.4
1999 122.1
133.0
129.3

109.5
109.3
113.9
110.5
120.5
112.3
129.6

2000 131.1
140.0
131.8
2001 133.1
147.6
137.2

113.9
135.2
117.8
140.4

NA:

112.9

197.7

132.3

114.9

NA

112.0

124.7

126.6

123.0

115.8

115.8

214.8

140.2

116.6

NA

112.6

126.5

127.6

122.2

120.6

115.2

211.1

144.0

118.3

NA

116.3

129.3

NA

124.6

124.0

114.5

221.1

146.2

121.1

NA

120.8

133.5

NA

127.8

131.0

115.0

240.2

162.7

125.9

NA

126.6

137.7

NA

132.6

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 26 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 8. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada*
Japan
Norway
Sweden*
Kingdom*

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
1.9

8.7
2.1

6.0
2.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

2.2

2.4

NA

1.3

1.9

1.4

1955
2.9

11.7
3.3

9.5
3.5

1.1

NA

NA

NA

3.0

4.3

NA

1.9

2.7

2.1

1960
4.1
1961
4.5
1962
5.0

14.9
4.6
15.3
5.0
15.9
5.6

12.4
4.7
12.2
5.0
12.0
5.3

1.5

NA

NA

3.5

4.0

4.6

NA

3.0

3.5

3.0

1.8

NA

NA

3.7

4.5

5.1

NA

3.5

3.9

3.5

2.0

NA

NA

4.0

4.9

5.6

NA

4.0

4.6

3.8

1963
5.3
1964
5.6
1965
6.2
1966
6.8
1967
7.6
1968
8.4
1969
9.3

16.4
6.2
17.0
6.8
17.4
7.5
18.2
8.2
19.2
9.1
20.7
9.9
22.2
10.8

12.4
5.5
12.9
5.8
13.7
6.4
14.7
6.9
15.4
7.0
16.5
6.6
17.9
7.1

2.2

NA

NA

4.4

5.4

6.1

NA

4.3

5.5

4.2

2.5

NA

NA

5.0

5.8

6.7

NA

4.7

5.8

4.8

2.8

NA

NA

5.5

6.4

7.2

NA

5.1

6.2

5.4

3.1

NA

NA

6.1

7.3

7.6

NA

5.5

6.6

6.1

3.5

NA

NA

6.7

8.1

8.2

NA

5.9

7.3

6.8

4.1

NA

NA

7.1

8.3

9.3

NA

6.3

7.8

7.5

4.9

NA

NA

7.7

9.3

9.4

NA

7.0

8.5

8.5

1970
10.3
1971
11.9
1972
14.3
1973
18.5
1974
22.6
1975
28.6
1976
31.6
1977
36.3
1978
40.4
1979
43.9

23.7
12.0
25.2
13.8
26.5
16.5
28.5
20.3
31.6
23.5
35.5
30.8
38.4
34.3
41.8
36.7
45.2
40.2
49.6
45.6

19.8
8.3
21.7
9.6
23.8
11.4
25.6
12.7
30.5
14.6
33.7
18.4
39.9
17.3
41.1
18.9
41.2
24.2
44.0
31.9

5.8

NA

NA

8.9

10.7

9.9

NA

8.9

10.3

9.8

6.9

NA

NA

10.5

12.4

11.2

NA

10.4

12.1

11.6

9.1

NA

NA

13.7

14.7

13.5

NA

12.6

14.1

14.5

12.5

NA

6.3

18.5

20.5

17.5

NA

17.1

16.7

20.0

15.2

NA

9.2

22.6

24.6

19.3

NA

19.9

19.4

24.7

17.4

NA

9.9

29.0

31.1

26.4

NA

23.1

23.9

30.1

18.8

NA

11.0

31.9

32.9

27.1

NA

24.3

23.5

32.1

22.9

NA

12.1

37.1

36.7

29.9

NA

28.8

26.4

37.7

31.4

NA

13.9

45.4

44.1

36.9

NA

35.8

31.2

46.3

32.0

NA

16.9

51.7

51.6

44.2

NA

42.0

38.6

53.6

1980
49.0
1981
46.9
1982
46.4
1983
45.0
1984
44.1

55.6
51.4
61.1
47.4
67.0
41.0
68.8
37.2
71.2
37.5

49.1
42.2
54.2
42.8
59.7
40.8
64.0
38.1
64.4
36.4

32.7

NA

20.7

57.7

53.2

51.3

NA

46.1

43.8

57.0

36.0

NA

26.0

49.5

46.2

46.1

NA

39.3

39.1

47.5

33.4

NA

26.7

42.1

43.0

45.3

NA

38.8

38.4

47.1

36.0

NA

27.2

41.3

42.0

43.2

NA

38.6

39.4

46.2

37.1

NA

29.3

39.7

39.2

40.9

NA

36.3

39.1

42.6

1985
45.8
1986
58.0
1987
72.3
1988
79.3
1989
78.4

75.1
39.7
78.5
51.8
80.7
62.1
84.0
68.2
86.6
71.6

63.6
38.9
63.5
47.9
68.1
59.7
76.2
69.3
84.3
68.4

38.5

30.2

31.2

40.8

40.9

43.0

NA

37.2

40.7

43.4

57.2

31.2

37.0

55.6

54.6

58.1

NA

52.4

54.4

61.1

68.2

38.3

48.3

68.6

70.6

69.5

NA

66.0

66.0

76.3

78.2

53.5

57.7

70.9

74.3

72.8

NA

70.4

70.6

78.0

77.1

67.0

70.8

70.1

72.3

71.6

NA

69.1

72.7

73.4

1990
91.7
1991
93.3
1992
100.0
1993
88.8
1994
91.9
1995
107.1
1996
109.3
1997
104.1
1998
103.4
1999
105.9

90.8
86.4
95.6
91.9
100.0
100.0
102.7
72.8
105.6
75.5
107.9
86.9
109.4
99.3
111.5
91.0
117.4
91.1
122.1
91.0

91.5
83.7
100.1
93.9
100.0
100.0
95.5
89.0
91.7
92.5
93.3
96.4
94.8
96.7
95.3
105.6
90.0
113.1
91.4
118.7

79.1

75.6

79.7

86.6

90.4

88.3

NA

86.4

90.1

87.7

90.8

91.7

87.9

91.5

90.5

90.4

86.0

89.4

93.5

89.5

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

117.3

111.0

100.9

97.4

97.4

95.8

100.4

100.0

82.8

98.2

130.1

126.0

105.6

102.1

NA

101.1

107.6

107.6

81.7

104.6

146.2

160.5

114.2

119.1

NA

116.8

128.2

128.3

84.2

121.4

127.2

179.4

117.4

115.1

NA

116.0

127.0

128.4

95.0

117.9

118.3

163.7

115.6

103.1

NA

101.5

112.2

114.0

88.9

104.3

112.0

120.4

105.1

103.2

NA

101.0

112.3

113.3

86.7

106.9

128.4

139.2

112.1

100.5

NA

100.0

110.0

NA

84.5

105.4

2000 131.1
98.7
83.7
2001 133.1
102.0
77.3

92.6
116.0
91.9
114.5

134.7

153.4

117.7

89.1

NA

90.0

98.4

NA

75.1

96.5

119.9

145.9

121.0

89.8

NA

91.5

98.4

NA

75.6

NA

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.

Source:
- 27 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 9. Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year States
Canada*
Japan
Norway
Sweden*
Kingdom*

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
8.9

NA
9.5

20.9
6.3

NA

NA

NA

NA

11.0

12.0

NA

25.5

7.0

27.7

1955
11.6

NA
13.8

24.2
8.3

36.4

NA

NA

NA

13.8

16.8

NA

25.4

7.2

31.6

1960
12.7
1961
13.4
1962
14.7
1963
14.9
1964
15.1
1965
15.7
1966
16.5
1967
17.8
1968
18.5
1969
18.6

NA
15.0
NA
15.6
NA
16.2
NA
16.9
NA
16.9
NA
17.4
NA
18.2
NA
18.7
NA
18.5
NA
18.8

26.4
9.8
25.7
10.5
24.8
10.8
24.9
10.7
24.9
10.7
25.1
11.4
26.5
11.9
27.6
11.8
27.9
11.7
28.8
12.5

31.3

NA

NA

30.1

15.4

19.4

NA

27.8

7.5

34.6

32.1

NA

NA

31.5

16.3

20.2

NA

29.7

7.7

37.4

34.9

NA

NA

32.1

17.0

21.0

NA

31.5

8.2

38.5

36.1

NA

NA

34.2

17.9

21.7

NA

32.2

9.5

40.7

35.8

NA

NA

36.3

17.9

21.9

NA

32.1

10.0

43.2

38.7

NA

NA

38.3

18.9

22.2

NA

33.3

9.6

45.4

38.9

NA

NA

39.6

20.5

21.7

NA

34.7

9.4

47.7

38.5

NA

NA

40.9

21.4

22.0

NA

34.5

9.9

49.2

40.0

NA

NA

40.3

21.6

22.6

NA

34.3

9.8

48.8

41.4

NA

NA

40.4

23.3

22.6

NA

35.0

10.4

50.4

1970
20.1
1971
22.3
1972
23.8
1973

NA
20.6
NA
22.2
NA
23.6
NA

31.1
14.1
31.2
15.3
31.8
16.8
32.6

43.8

NA

23.8

41.7

25.2

24.0

NA

39.8

11.9

53.3

47.8

NA

24.8

45.2

27.1

25.5

NA

42.9

13.5

57.6

50.1

NA

24.9

47.9

27.7

26.9

NA

44.7

13.9

61.2

56.2

NA

28.8

51.2

30.6

28.8

NA

47.5

15.1

65.8

25.3
1974
28.6
1975
34.5
1976
39.0
1977
43.1
1978
46.4
1979
45.4

24.8
NA
27.9
NA
33.7
NA
38.9
61.2
43.3
65.3
46.6
70.7
46.6

17.8
37.2
21.0
44.7
28.6
47.3
31.8
49.9
35.6
52.6
40.9
57.8
48.3

1980
50.3
1981
56.1
1982
59.9
1983
63.6
1984
65.6
1985
69.6
1986
76.9
1987
83.2
1988
89.5
1989
91.3

78.8
51.0
82.4
56.6
87.9
58.7
86.0
60.7
85.6
62.5
87.3
68.0
91.2
72.4
86.9
75.8
86.7
79.4
90.5
85.1

1990 93.7
94.6
92.9
1991 97.6
99.2
100.0
1992 100.0
100.0
100.0
1993 100.6
101.9
90.8
1994 98.5
104.8
83.8
1995 94.8

71.8

NA

43.5

59.9

35.8

33.5

NA

52.1

18.6

73.2

81.3

NA

44.2

69.5

38.8

39.5

NA

55.2

24.2

84.9

82.6

NA

45.5

73.1

41.8

42.7

NA

55.4

26.4

85.5

87.6

NA

47.3

75.3

45.4

45.8

NA

58.8

30.7

86.2

89.8

NA

47.4

76.1

49.3

49.4

NA

61.1

33.1

87.5

88.4

NA

53.8

76.8

52.5

53.5

NA

62.9

36.6

89.7

65.2
59.0
70.4
65.5
79.1
68.5
79.7
68.2
77.8
70.3
78.9
74.4
83.3
77.9
85.1
82.4
86.6
83.2
89.3
85.6

92.5

NA

62.2

80.3

54.9

61.3

NA

69.4

41.0

93.7

96.0

NA

72.1

81.7

59.5

69.0

NA

72.4

49.0

95.8

96.7

NA

76.8

81.5

64.5

76.6

NA

76.7

57.0

100.0

98.0

NA

75.2

81.1

65.7

82.6

NA

76.4

64.2

96.9

97.7

NA

78.1

84.0

69.9

88.3

NA

77.3

67.9

91.6

94.6

60.4

81.3

86.5

74.1

92.0

NA

78.6

72.2

92.5

99.9

59.8

83.5

88.0

80.3

94.3

NA

81.2

74.9

94.4

97.0

63.8

83.7

89.7

88.3

96.2

NA

86.3

77.8

96.6

94.3

72.8

85.9

88.1

88.1

93.4

NA

86.5

79.4

94.2

94.9

78.7

89.5

88.7

88.0

93.6

NA

87.9

84.8

91.4

94.6
92.9
99.6
100.1
100.0
100.0
96.4
100.7
93.6
99.7
94.3

95.9

84.2

95.9

93.0

93.5

96.9

NA

90.3

91.5

92.3

97.4

94.1

96.8

98.1

96.5

99.3

93.1

93.3

98.2

95.6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

101.1

105.4

103.0

102.3

103.7

101.9

104.5

105.3

104.3

102.1

101.5

109.8

104.1

97.9

96.2

97.9

102.0

103.6

101.9

95.6

97.6

122.4

104.5

96.4

96.4

96.6

104.7

105.9

103.0

93.7

108.4
1996
110.8
1997
116.4
1998
125.7
1999
128.4

87.4
93.5
91.9
91.9
90.2
92.8
89.2
90.2
86.3

102.9
97.5
105.5
96.2
108.2
97.7
112.7
96.8
116.2

2000
134.0
2001
140.1

91.7
83.4
91.4
85.5

96.1
114.5
101.5
117.2

NA:

94.0

129.1

104.1

94.7

103.7

97.8

107.4

107.5

110.0

94.0

93.3

121.0

102.3

90.5

99.7

91.9

104.4

103.9

111.9

94.7

95.5

117.4

103.2

90.2

102.9

88.2

105.2

100.4

111.1

96.5

90.8

104.4

100.7

91.4

105.4

87.7

107.4

NA

113.4

96.6

85.4

101.2

97.1

90.8

101.8

84.8

104.4

NA

113.1

97.9

89.8

106.5

102.0

93.9

101.7

86.5

106.6

NA

115.4

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 28 Table 10.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
1992=100)

United
United
Year States
Canada*
Japan
Norway
Sweden*
Kingdom*

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
7.7

NA
10.7

23.1
10.0

NA

NA

NA

NA

9.6

18.1

NA

9.5

13.8

12.8

1955
10.1

NA
15.5

29.7
13.2

12.8

NA

NA

NA

12.0

25.4

NA

9.4

14.1

14.6

1960
11.1
1961
11.7

NA
16.9
NA
17.6

32.9
15.6
30.6
16.7

11.0

NA

NA

19.4

13.4

21.0

NA

10.4

15.0

16.1

11.3

NA

NA

20.3

14.3

21.8

NA

11.6

15.3

18.1

1962
12.8
1963
13.0
1964
13.1
1965
13.7
1966
14.3
1967
15.5
1968
16.1
1969
16.2

NA
18.3
NA
18.9
NA
19.1
NA
19.6
NA
20.6
NA
21.1
NA
20.9
NA
21.1

28.1
17.2
27.8
17.0
27.9
16.9
28.2
18.0
29.7
18.9
30.9
18.3
31.3
15.9
32.3
16.9

12.3

NA

NA

20.7

14.9

22.7

NA

12.3

16.3

18.8

12.7

NA

NA

22.0

15.7

23.5

NA

12.6

18.8

19.9

12.5

NA

NA

23.5

15.6

23.7

NA

12.6

19.8

21.1

13.6

NA

NA

24.8

16.5

24.0

NA

13.0

19.0

22.2

13.6

NA

NA

25.6

17.9

23.4

NA

13.6

18.6

23.2

13.5

NA

NA

26.5

18.5

23.7

NA

13.5

19.6

24.0

14.1

NA

NA

25.9

17.4

24.2

NA

13.4

19.4

23.7

14.6

NA

NA

25.9

18.7

23.1

NA

13.9

20.4

24.4

1970
17.5
1971
19.7
1972
22.5
1973
27.4
1974
32.2
1975
41.1
1976
44.4
1977
50.3
1978
55.0
1979
55.7

NA
23.1
NA
25.3
NA
28.9
NA
33.1
NA
36.7
NA
47.4
NA
52.0
61.2
56.4
65.3
60.1
70.7
63.3

36.0
19.1
37.3
21.2
38.8
23.7
39.3
24.7
46.0
27.9
53.1
36.0
58.0
32.5
56.7
35.1
55.8
44.4
59.6
58.0

15.5

NA

14.9

27.0

20.2

23.0

NA

17.1

23.3

25.9

17.4

NA

15.6

29.9

22.1

24.5

NA

19.3

26.9

29.0

21.0

NA

15.7

35.0

24.1

28.2

NA

21.9

29.4

33.5

26.3

NA

18.9

42.4

30.7

34.4

NA

28.0

32.0

41.6

31.2

NA

28.8

49.5

35.6

36.9

NA

31.5

35.2

48.0

34.8

NA

29.3

60.9

40.9

48.8

NA

35.1

45.7

59.2

35.3

NA

30.1

60.9

41.8

47.3

NA

34.4

39.2

56.9

41.5

NA

31.3

67.6

45.6

49.3

NA

39.6

42.8

61.8

54.6

NA

32.2

77.8

54.0

58.1

NA

47.6

48.1

71.2

51.3

NA

37.5

84.2

60.3

66.5

NA

53.6

54.3

78.6

1980
63.3
1981
60.7
1982
57.7
1983
54.1

78.8
70.2
82.4
65.1
87.9
54.4
86.0
46.1

67.4
77.7
70.9
75.0
77.5
67.8
78.1
58.6

51.8

NA

43.4

88.3

58.8

76.8

NA

59.6

59.0

82.9

55.2

NA

49.2

70.6

50.3

67.1

NA

49.9

53.1

67.4

49.2

NA

49.4

57.2

46.7

61.6

NA

49.3

51.9

65.8

52.3

NA

47.2

51.0

43.4

57.4

NA

46.7

52.1

59.7

1984
50.0
1985
50.3
1986
64.6
1987
76.7
1988
85.2
1989
82.1

85.6
44.0
87.3
46.1
91.2
59.2
86.9
69.6
86.7
75.4
90.5
76.8

1990 93.7
94.0
91.3
1991 97.6
95.0
96.3
1992 100.0
100.0
100.0
1993 100.6
89.2
67.8
1994 98.5
92.3
63.2
1995 94.8
106.4
71.3
1996 93.5
106.6
79.8
1997 91.9
102.1
68.8
1998 92.8
103.5
65.3
1999 90.2
102.2
60.8
2000
94.5
2001
96.8
NA:

72.5
53.2
69.8
54.7
72.4
64.8
77.6
76.5
85.0
83.9
91.1
79.4

52.2

NA

49.6

46.8

40.7

53.5

NA

42.4

47.7

50.2

50.3

55.0

51.3

46.9

42.2

54.3

NA

41.7

46.6

49.0

75.2

53.0

55.6

63.4

59.9

72.1

NA

58.5

61.9

67.8

85.0

60.6

66.3

77.2

77.8

84.7

NA

74.9

73.9

83.8

93.2

77.8

75.5

77.0

78.9

82.9

NA

76.9

75.2

83.8

87.1

91.6

85.2

72.3

72.5

77.7

NA

73.0

76.1

75.8

98.0
93.9
105.1
100.1
100.0
100.0
90.3
85.6
82.8
86.4
83.0
91.9
86.4
93.2
84.0
100.4
79.6
105.7
78.8
106.4

83.8

93.0

89.7

89.5

91.2

94.1

NA

87.3

94.1

89.1

91.7

100.3

91.1

92.3

91.0

93.1

87.5

87.8

97.5

89.9

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

115.4

102.7

98.1

95.1

96.5

95.2

98.7

99.4

81.6

96.6

125.9

106.8

99.0

94.2

91.4

93.4

98.2

99.8

77.9

92.4

131.7

124.3

99.2

105.2

104.0

102.5

114.2

115.5

77.9

102.7

109.6

125.9

95.4

98.4

108.0

101.2

111.5

111.6

87.9

98.1

97.7

100.2

89.5

81.2

91.0

83.3

94.0

93.5

80.9

85.3

92.4

65.8

77.4

79.9

92.7

79.1

93.3

89.1

78.8

85.5

101.2

68.8

78.3

77.6

91.0

75.4

91.4

NA

76.9

82.1

100.4

70.2

78.1

66.8

75.9

63.2

76.9

NA

66.4

72.1

93.6

64.7

75.8

67.0

73.7

62.5

76.2

NA

65.7

NA

91.7
53.0
91.4
48.2

78.2
98.3
79.2
95.5

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.

** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 29 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 11.
(Indexes:

Exchange rates, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
1992=100)

United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950 100.0
87.1
112.6

110.5
158.6

35.2

NA

NA

NA

87.5

151.3

NA

37.2

197.3

46.2

1955 100.0
87.0
112.6

122.5
158.0

35.2

NA

NA

NA

87.4

151.2

NA

37.1

197.1

46.1

1960
87.1
1961
87.0
1962
87.1
1963
86.9
1964
86.8
1965
86.9
1966
86.9
1967
86.9
1968
87.0
1969
87.0

100.0
112.7
100.0
112.7
100.0
113.0
100.0
112.3
100.0
113.1
100.0
112.9
100.0
112.8
100.0
112.9
100.0
112.7
100.0
112.7

124.6
159.0
119.4
158.6
113.1
159.0
112.0
158.5
112.0
158.1
112.1
158.3
112.2
158.1
112.0
155.7
112.2
135.5
112.2
135.3

35.2

NA

NA

64.5

87.6

107.9

NA

37.4

198.4

46.6

35.1

NA

NA

64.5

87.4

107.9

NA

38.9

198.4

48.5

35.1

NA

NA

64.6

87.5

108.0

NA

39.1

198.5

48.8

35.1

NA

NA

64.5

87.4

108.0

NA

39.2

198.2

48.8

35.0

NA

NA

64.6

87.3

108.0

NA

39.3

197.3

48.8

35.1

NA

NA

64.8

87.3

108.0

NA

39.1

197.2

48.8

35.0

NA

NA

64.5

87.4

107.7

NA

39.1

197.3

48.6

35.0

NA

NA

64.7

86.5

107.6

NA

39.2

197.4

48.8

35.2

NA

NA

64.4

80.7

106.9

NA

39.1

197.7

48.6

35.4

NA

NA

64.1

80.3

102.2

NA

39.8

196.4

48.5

1970 100.0
86.9
112.3
1971 100.0
88.3
114.1
1972 100.0

115.8
135.6
119.7
138.4
122.0

35.4

252.7

62.9

64.7

80.5

95.7

NA

42.8

196.5

48.6

36.5

226.0

62.9

66.2

81.6

96.1

NA

44.9

199.3

50.4

41.8

199.7

62.9

73.0

86.8

104.9

NA

49.0

211.1

54.8

94.3
1973
108.2
1974
112.6
1975
119.2
1976
113.9
1977
116.8
1978
118.6
1979
122.7

122.5
100.0
133.8
100.0
131.4
100.0
140.6
100.0
133.7
100.0
130.4
100.0
129.0
100.0
135.9

141.6
120.8
138.8
123.6
132.5
118.8
125.8
122.6
102.2
113.7
98.8
106.0
108.6
103.2
120.2

1980
125.8
1981
108.2
1982
96.2
1983
85.1
1984
76.2
1985
72.3
1986
84.0
1987
92.2
1988
95.2
1989
89.9

100.0
137.7
100.0
115.0
100.0
92.7
100.0
75.9
100.0
70.4
100.0
67.7
100.0
81.7
100.0
91.8
100.0
94.9
100.0
90.2

1990
99.4
1991
95.7
1992
100.0
1993
87.5
1994

100.0
98.4
100.0
96.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
74.7
100.0

46.8

197.0

65.8

82.8

100.2

119.3

NA

59.0

211.8

63.3

43.5

194.0

66.2

82.7

99.3

110.1

NA

60.5

189.4

65.5

42.7

162.1

66.2

87.6

105.3

123.6

NA

63.6

188.9

69.7

42.8

162.1

66.2

83.3

99.9

110.9

NA

62.1

148.4

66.6

47.3

162.1

66.2

89.7

100.6

107.7

NA

67.3

139.6

71.7

60.8

162.1

67.9

102.3

109.6

117.6

NA

77.9

145.2

81.4

58.1

162.1

69.8

109.6

114.8

124.4

NA

85.2

148.3

87.7

103.4
131.7
100.8
114.6
97.9
99.0
98.1
85.8
93.3
75.7
88.5
73.5
87.0
83.1
91.1
92.8
98.2
100.8
102.1
92.7

55.9

129.2

69.8

110.0

107.1

125.3

NA

85.9

143.9

88.5

57.5

115.2

68.3

86.4

84.6

97.3

NA

69.0

108.2

70.4

50.9

107.2

64.3

70.2

72.4

80.5

NA

64.3

91.0

65.8

53.4

101.1

62.8

62.9

66.0

69.5

NA

61.2

81.1

61.6

53.4

97.1

63.5

55.7

58.3

60.6

NA

54.9

70.2

54.8

53.2

91.0

63.1

54.2

57.0

58.9

NA

53.1

64.5

53.0

75.3

88.7

66.5

72.0

74.6

76.4

NA

72.0

82.6

71.8

87.7

95.0

79.2

86.1

88.2

88.0

NA

86.9

95.0

86.8

98.9

106.8

87.9

87.4

89.6

88.8

NA

88.9

94.6

88.9

91.8

116.4

95.3

81.6

82.5

83.0

NA

83.0

89.8

82.9

103.6
101.0
105.5
100.1
100.0
100.0
93.7
85.0
88.4

87.4

110.4

93.5

96.2

97.5

97.2

NA

96.6

102.8

96.6

94.2

106.5

94.0

94.0

94.3

93.7

94.0

94.0

99.3

93.9

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

114.1

97.4

95.2

93.0

93.1

93.4

94.4

94.4

78.3

94.6

124.1

97.2

95.1

96.2

95.0

95.4

96.3

96.3

76.5

96.7

88.1
1995
98.1
1996
96.2
1997
87.7
1998
82.3
1999
79.6

75.5
100.0
81.6
100.0
86.8
100.0
76.2
100.0
73.3
100.0
70.4

86.7
88.1
89.4
88.6
88.4
87.3
92.7
81.5
93.8
81.3
91.6

2000 100.0
70.5
63.5
2001 100.0
69.1
56.3

81.4
85.8
78.0
81.5

NA:

134.9

101.5

95.0

109.1

107.8

106.2

109.1

109.1

75.6

109.6

116.5

97.5

91.6

103.8

104.1

103.5

103.8

103.8

79.9

104.3

104.7

82.8

87.4

89.8

91.3

90.7

90.0

90.0

72.3

90.1

96.8

56.0

75.0

88.5

90.1

89.7

88.8

88.8

70.9

88.7

111.5

65.9

77.8

84.9

86.4

86.0

85.1

NA

67.8

85.0

117.6

69.4

80.5

73.6

74.6

74.5

73.7

NA

58.7

73.7

104.3

60.7

74.4

71.3

72.5

72.2

71.5

NA

57.0

71.4

Not Available

** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 30 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 12.
(Indexes:

Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
1992=100)

United
United
Year States
Canada*
Japan
Norway
Sweden*
Kingdom*

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
2.9

8.8
2.4

5.9
1.9

NA

NA

NA

NA

3.5

1.9

NA

4.9

1.0

4.0

1955
4.4

11.8
3.8

8.1
2.7

3.7

NA

NA

NA

4.7

3.4

NA

7.3

1.5

5.9

1960
6.0
1961
6.4
1962
7.0
1963
7.5

14.8
5.0
15.2
5.4
16.0
6.0
16.5
6.6

10.4
3.6
10.6
3.8
11.1
3.9
11.6
4.1

5.3

NA

NA

6.8

6.0

5.2

NA

10.7

1.9

8.4

6.1

NA

NA

7.2

6.6

5.7

NA

11.8

2.1

9.2

6.9

NA

NA

7.8

7.2

6.3

NA

13.0

2.4

9.8

7.6

NA

NA

8.6

7.8

6.9

NA

13.7

2.9

10.7

1964
8.0
1965
8.7
1966
9.5
1967
10.5
1968
11.3
1969
12.2

17.3
7.1
17.9
7.7
18.8
8.5
19.4
9.2
20.9
9.8
22.2
10.5

12.1
4.4
12.8
4.8
13.7
5.1
14.4
5.2
15.4
5.6
16.5
6.1

8.5

NA

NA

9.6

8.5

7.4

NA

14.8

3.1

12.3

9.4

NA

NA

10.5

9.4

8.0

NA

16.2

3.2

13.8

10.4

NA

NA

11.5

10.4

8.5

NA

17.4

3.4

15.3

11.7

NA

NA

12.4

11.6

9.1

NA

17.8

3.8

16.9

13.6

NA

NA

13.3

12.5

10.0

NA

19.4

4.1

18.5

15.8

NA

NA

14.4

13.8

10.9

NA

21.3

4.5

20.7

1970
13.4
1971
15.2
1972
16.8
1973
18.9
1974
21.8
1975
25.9
1976
29.2
1977
32.2
1978
34.6
1979
35.7

23.3
11.8
24.8
13.3
26.5
14.4
28.5
16.0
31.0
18.6
34.3
22.3
37.6
25.8
41.0
28.1
44.3
30.3
48.4
32.1

17.6
7.0
18.7
7.8
20.1
8.9
21.7
10.2
25.0
11.9
28.4
15.8
32.7
18.5
36.2
21.0
39.2
24.4
42.9
28.9

18.7

NA

NA

16.0

15.3

12.1

NA

24.8

5.3

23.5

21.2

NA

NA

18.2

17.5

13.5

NA

27.2

6.0

26.6

24.3

NA

NA

21.0

19.0

14.7

NA

29.8

6.5

30.1

29.4

NA

10.6

24.3

21.8

16.6

NA

33.4

7.8

35.2

37.0

NA

15.0

29.2

26.9

19.5

NA

37.2

9.8

40.7

42.1

NA

16.4

33.3

31.1

23.1

NA

40.0

11.9

45.7

46.7

NA

18.4

39.3

34.8

26.6

NA

44.3

14.9

50.9

51.6

NA

20.1

42.3

38.2

29.9

NA

47.7

17.7

55.3

55.2

NA

22.5

45.2

41.6

33.5

NA

50.6

20.1

59.2

59.2

NA

26.5

48.1

46.5

37.8

NA

54.1

24.1

62.9

1980
39.1
1981
43.5
1982
48.0
1983
53.0
1984
57.9
1985
63.1

53.5
35.3
58.8
39.2
63.3
42.3
66.9
47.5
70.2
52.5
74.1
57.4

47.3
33.9
53.1
38.8
59.7
43.0
64.7
46.2
68.3
50.2
71.6
55.0

62.9

NA

32.4

52.7

51.6

43.6

NA

57.9

28.2

66.7

66.9

NA

39.6

56.1

56.1

49.9

NA

60.9

33.6

70.2

70.0

NA

43.1

60.0

62.0

56.8

NA

64.1

39.0

75.3

71.9

NA

44.9

64.2

67.2

62.5

NA

67.2

45.0

78.9

74.9

NA

48.4

69.3

70.8

67.9

NA

70.3

51.5

80.7

77.7

36.7

50.4

74.1

73.0

73.1

NA

73.1

57.9

82.9

1986
68.8
1987
76.2
1988
81.6
1989
85.9

77.4
61.8
80.0
66.8
84.0
70.7
86.7
77.9

73.0
59.6
75.4
66.6
79.9
71.4
83.2
76.2

81.1

39.6

57.6

76.2

76.3

76.3

NA

75.6

62.3

85.7

83.4

44.6

63.1

79.2

81.5

79.6

NA

78.8

67.6

88.1

85.7

54.0

67.1

81.9

84.4

82.9

NA

81.7

73.1

88.6

89.9

59.9

75.0

86.4

88.2

87.2

NA

84.6

80.3

89.0

1990
90.8
1991
96.4
1992
100.0
1993
101.8
1994
104.9
1995
108.7
1996
112.5
1997
117.3
1998
124.6
1999
132.4

90.2
87.2
94.3
94.7
100.0
100.0
104.1
99.9
108.0
106.6
109.5
114.6
111.0
123.4
113.9
128.9
118.8
134.6
124.5
140.0

88.5
84.8
94.8
93.9
100.0
100.0
103.0
105.7
105.8
109.2
107.6
112.2
109.5
114.4
111.7
118.3
113.5
124.4
116.6
133.0

95.5

70.0

85.2

91.7

92.1

91.3

NA

89.2

86.9

91.2

99.5

87.3

93.5

97.3

95.6

95.9

88.1

94.3

94.3

95.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.6

114.2

106.0

103.2

103.8

102.4

103.9

102.8

104.0

103.7

102.9

130.6

111.4

107.4

106.0

105.9

109.9

108.5

108.8

108.2

107.1

159.7

120.1

109.2

109.7

109.3

115.8

113.6

115.6

110.9

108.5

182.9

127.7

111.4

112.6

111.4

118.5

117.6

122.0

113.1

111.6

193.8

132.3

115.5

117.7

111.0

120.9

120.5

127.7

115.5

112.0

202.2

137.5

117.5

121.0

111.4

123.3

122.8

126.1

120.0

111.3

214.6

142.1

121.4

124.3

114.4

125.4

NA

129.0

123.4

2000 132.5
137.3
142.8
2001 132.4
144.2
146.9

118.0
138.3
120.9
144.4

112.4

221.9

144.1

124.6

129.1

114.8

128.3

NA

132.9

130.2

112.0

235.5

148.9

127.7

134.3

117.7

130.9

NA

136.2

NA

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

- 31 Table 13.
(Indexes:

Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
1992=100)

United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950
26.3

46.6
25.3

37.0
25.6

NA

NA

NA

NA

28.6

19.9

NA

11.7

19.1

17.1

1955
29.5

56.4
30.5

46.5
28.0

18.2

NA

NA

NA

31.9

26.8

NA

15.9

22.3

21.2

1960
36.4
1961
38.7
1962
40.4
1963
42.0
1964
42.5
1965
45.0
1966
47.6
1967
51.0
1968
54.3
1969
58.1

65.0
35.4
66.3
37.9
68.1
40.4
69.3
43.4
71.2
45.7
71.6
48.1
72.8
49.5
74.4
52.6
76.9
56.0
78.2
58.9

54.6
32.8
55.5
34.0
56.9
34.2
58.3
35.1
59.6
36.2
61.7
37.8
63.8
39.4
64.9
40.4
66.6
41.4
68.9
42.7

23.1

NA

NA

24.5

38.7

30.2

NA

23.6

26.8

26.4

25.5

NA

NA

25.7

41.7

32.4

NA

25.8

29.0

29.8

27.3

NA

NA

27.2

42.5

34.2

NA

28.4

32.7

31.1

28.4

NA

NA

29.4

43.9

35.5

NA

29.4

36.1

33.2

30.7

NA

NA

31.9

45.7

37.3

NA

31.1

36.3

36.3

32.1

NA

NA

34.0

47.7

39.5

NA

33.0

37.2

39.1

33.7

NA

NA

36.0

50.8

40.8

NA

34.7

38.7

41.4

36.3

NA

NA

38.3

53.0

42.7

NA

36.1

41.2

44.4

40.1

NA

NA

39.8

54.0

46.6

NA

38.3

43.3

47.6

45.2

NA

NA

42.0

58.7

47.7

NA

41.0

46.3

50.3

1970
58.3
1971
62.9
1972
65.8
1973
69.0
1974

79.2
61.8
80.5
64.1
82.0
67.5
83.1
69.8
83.1

71.5
46.1
73.9
47.9
75.7
51.6
76.6
53.8
80.2

49.9

NA

NA

46.1

62.9

51.1

NA

46.7

53.7

56.1

54.3

NA

NA

51.0

68.3

54.4

NA

49.8

59.1

59.6

59.6

NA

NA

57.2

71.0

56.5

NA

52.3

61.5

63.4

65.2

NA

32.7

63.5

78.8

60.2

NA

55.4

65.7

69.8

69.4

NA

32.5

69.3

82.8

63.0

NA

58.9

71.7

76.0

74.0
1975
79.1
1976
83.9
1977
86.3
1978
87.4
1979
87.6

74.8
85.4
83.6
87.5
88.4
89.3
86.1
90.3
88.9
90.6
89.9

55.7
83.2
59.8
88.8
59.6
91.2
57.9
89.9
62.1
90.6
65.0

1980
86.0
1981
84.1
1982
84.1
1983
85.1
1984
87.7
1985
90.8
1986
92.4
1987
96.4
1988
96.0
1989
96.1

91.4
87.7
91.9
86.3
95.1
85.1
93.9
84.5
93.4
85.2
95.3
87.4
97.8
90.4
97.3
92.4
97.7
94.1
96.6
98.3

1990
97.7
1991
99.8
1992
100.0
1993
99.2
1994
100.6
1995
102.7
1996

96.4
97.6
98.0
97.3
100.0
100.0
100.3
95.3
101.0
95.8
100.7
97.6
99.4

72.3

NA

33.0

74.3

90.0

68.7

NA

61.2

75.7

79.1

71.2

NA

36.0

78.8

92.1

71.8

NA

63.1

80.9

80.9

72.6

NA

36.8

79.4

91.8

74.5

NA

66.7

82.7

82.9

74.3

NA

39.2

81.5

91.9

76.9

NA

69.9

83.9

86.1

76.2

NA

42.2

82.9

93.7

78.7

NA

72.2

88.5

88.7

91.6
66.7
92.0
69.8
94.1
70.4
95.2
72.5
96.4
74.8
96.6
77.5
94.1
81.6
92.3
87.4
92.1
89.1
93.4
88.7

75.2

NA

43.3

86.5

92.1

79.9

NA

74.6

85.3

87.5

76.8

NA

47.8

87.7

90.7

81.6

NA

74.6

86.1

85.8

78.4

NA

50.7

84.4

89.7

86.6

NA

75.0

86.2

86.2

79.0

NA

52.1

86.0

89.7

87.3

NA

76.0

86.6

87.8

79.6

NA

55.6

87.8

89.2

88.1

NA

77.6

89.6

88.2

81.2

50.1

59.8

88.3

90.9

90.0

NA

80.7

93.0

90.8

84.8

51.8

66.7

89.6

89.6

91.4

NA

84.0

91.7

94.3

86.7

57.5

72.6

90.9

94.1

91.9

NA

87.7

92.2

97.7

87.5

66.7

77.2

91.4

93.2

93.0

NA

90.3

94.4

96.7

90.9

72.7

83.8

94.0

94.1

94.5

NA

92.3

96.3

96.7

94.7
91.1
96.3
97.4
100.0
100.0
100.2
103.0
101.6
102.6
101.7
100.2
101.1

95.0

79.6

92.3

95.2

96.9

96.3

NA

96.6

98.0

96.7

98.0

91.5

97.7

99.7

98.0

99.0

96.1

99.0

99.1

98.3

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

101.4

108.7

102.9

102.0

103.3

100.5

101.8

102.1

101.2

101.1

102.8

116.4

103.7

100.9

NA

102.1

104.1

104.8

98.3

102.6

106.3

136.0

108.3

102.3

NA

104.2

107.7

108.6

97.4

103.0

107.0

150.8

111.9

101.8

NA

104.1

110.5

112.7

100.1

103.1

105.6
103.6
1997 99.2
107.5
106.9
1998 103.0
111.3
110.6
1999 104.9
115.2
111.2

99.3
101.6
100.1
101.4
102.5
101.3
108.5

2000 109.0
117.6
116.6
2001 107.7
120.3
118.6

99.9
109.9
100.8
112.2

NA:

108.7

155.2

114.5

103.8

NA

102.7

110.6

113.3

101.4

103.4

110.8

156.8

119.3

104.3

NA

102.6

111.2

113.3

98.8

105.5

110.6

152.8

122.4

104.7

NA

105.5

112.9

NA

99.1

106.2

110.7

156.5

122.7

104.5

NA

107.7

114.4

NA

99.1

109.3

111.9

163.4

136.6

106.0

NA

111.0

115.1

NA

100.1

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 32 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Table 14.
(Indexes:

Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
1992=100)

United
United
Year States
Canada
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Kingdom

Former West

Nether-

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

Germany**

Germany**

Italy

lands

1950
34.4

47.3
32.8

40.3
31.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

40.2

24.0

NA

17.1

20.1

22.3

1955
38.6

57.2
39.4

48.7
34.8

21.7

NA

NA

NA

44.0

32.2

NA

23.3

24.0

27.7

1960
45.8
1961
48.1
1962
49.9
1963
51.8
1964

64.7
43.2
66.0
45.9
68.5
48.5
69.9
51.5
72.4

56.8
40.0
57.5
40.8
59.4
40.7
61.0
41.7
62.7

28.6

NA

NA

30.8

50.8

36.5

NA

31.0

29.2

34.8

31.2

NA

NA

32.2

53.1

39.2

NA

33.4

31.3

37.7

32.6

NA

NA

34.2

54.5

41.4

NA

35.8

34.1

39.0

33.6

NA

NA

37.0

55.4

43.1

NA

36.5

37.8

41.5

36.2

NA

NA

39.9

58.3

45.0

NA

38.7

38.1

45.0

52.7
1965
54.5
1966
57.8
1967
61.3
1968
63.7
1969
66.6

53.7
73.5
56.0
75.0
57.6
75.3
60.3
77.7
62.9
78.4
64.9

43.4
64.9
44.7
66.6
45.7
67.8
46.5
69.4
48.1
71.5
49.6

1970
66.4
1971
70.8
1972
73.0
1973
76.1
1974
80.5
1975
85.6
1976
88.3
1977
89.3
1978
88.7
1979
87.4

77.8
68.0
79.2
70.3
82.1
72.1
83.0
73.2
81.5
77.6
82.5
85.1
85.5
89.0
87.6
86.0
88.6
86.5
88.4
86.1

1980
86.3
1981
84.6
1982
83.8
1983
85.2
1984
87.6
1985
90.4
1986

88.1
83.1
88.5
82.2
90.0
81.4
91.2
81.8
92.1
84.0
94.0
85.5
96.4

37.2

NA

NA

41.9

60.7

47.2

NA

40.9

37.8

48.3

39.3

NA

NA

44.0

63.4

48.9

NA

42.4

39.7

50.9

42.3

NA

NA

46.2

65.4

50.8

NA

42.9

42.8

54.3

46.6

NA

NA

48.1

65.1

53.8

NA

46.1

45.0

57.2

51.8

NA

NA

50.2

69.9

56.5

NA

49.5

47.9

59.6

73.7
52.7
76.0
53.5
77.9
57.1
78.3
60.3
81.4
60.4
83.4
64.6
89.1
64.9
91.4
63.6
90.8
67.9
91.1
70.7

56.7

NA

NA

53.6

72.5

59.8

NA

56.0

54.5

65.2

60.7

NA

NA

58.5

78.5

63.1

NA

58.4

58.3

68.6

66.2

NA

NA

64.1

79.8

64.9

NA

60.7

60.2

72.0

71.8

NA

36.5

69.4

83.9

68.2

NA

63.8

65.1

77.7

73.3

NA

34.9

73.8

89.8

70.3

NA

66.5

68.6

81.9

74.6

NA

36.3

74.8

94.6

74.4

NA

67.4

71.1

83.7

75.6

NA

39.8

80.8

97.2

78.0

NA

71.4

76.0

85.6

77.4

NA

40.6

81.1

96.0

80.2

NA

74.3

77.3

87.3

79.4

NA

43.0

83.1

95.0

82.1

NA

76.9

78.3

89.7

82.0

NA

46.0

84.6

96.8

83.9

NA

79.2

81.9

91.4

91.2
70.5
90.8
72.5
92.0
73.5
94.3
75.6
95.4
78.1
96.2
80.5
94.2

80.9

NA

47.4

86.9

95.7

85.2

NA

80.6

79.2

90.6

82.0

NA

49.8

86.0

93.2

85.9

NA

79.7

79.9

89.3

83.5

NA

52.7

84.5

93.5

87.5

NA

79.7

79.8

90.6

84.3

NA

54.1

84.0

94.8

87.7

NA

80.8

80.2

92.4

85.8

NA

58.3

85.3

93.9

88.8

NA

82.6

82.9

91.6

87.2

55.5

60.8

87.0

92.5

90.1

NA

84.3

85.3

91.9

90.5

58.3

69.0

88.3

93.3

91.6

NA

87.3

86.7

95.0

92.0
1987
93.7
1988
94.0
1989
94.7

88.1
96.5
91.2
97.7
92.7
96.6
96.5

84.4
93.2
90.6
94.9
92.5
94.1
91.6

1990
96.1
1991
98.7
1992
100.0
1993
99.5
1994
101.1
1995
102.3
1996
104.6
1997
106.3
1998
110.4
1999
114.6

95.9
96.9
96.7
96.6
100.0
100.0
101.6
97.7
103.2
102.1
102.2
105.0
100.8
111.8
101.3
115.5
104.3
119.7
107.0
120.5

2000 110.2
115.3
126.3
2001 107.1
117.5
126.9
NA:

92.9

63.7

75.2

90.4

95.8

92.7

NA

90.9

89.8

98.0

94.8

72.0

79.0

92.4

94.9

94.1

NA

93.2

92.5

97.7

97.4

75.6

84.5

94.5

94.6

95.5

NA

93.9

95.6

97.1

94.9
93.2
96.1
97.5
100.0
100.0
101.2
104.0
103.6
105.0
103.3
104.2
103.4
103.7
103.8
104.0
104.2
105.7
105.1
111.4

100.3

81.4

92.2

96.9

96.3

96.8

NA

96.4

97.2

97.0

101.2

92.8

97.7

99.7

97.6

98.5

92.6

98.2

99.2

98.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

99.3

109.0

102.9

100.5

102.5

100.4

99.4

99.1

99.6

101.0

100.9

117.3

103.9

102.1

102.6

102.0

102.4

101.7

100.2

102.6

105.1

137.4

108.1

102.3

104.0

103.5

106.0

104.9

101.1

103.2

106.4

149.9

111.5

102.3

104.6

103.4

107.1

107.1

102.6

103.2

107.5

152.1

114.5

104.3

107.0

101.8

107.3

107.9

105.3

103.1

107.2

147.6

117.1

105.1

107.9

101.5

108.3

109.0

101.9

105.0

106.8

155.4

120.7

107.4

108.3

103.7

109.5

NA

102.6

105.7

103.6
112.5
103.5
115.4

108.6

157.1

120.9

107.5

109.2

102.3

110.0

NA

103.1

108.7

109.0

160.2

124.9

107.5

111.0

103.3

109.4

NA

102.8

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:
- 33 Table 15.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.

Total labor compensation in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-2001
1992=100)

United
United
Year States
Canada*
Japan
Norway
Sweden*
Kingdom*

Former West
Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

Germany**

Germany**

NetherItaly

lands

1950
3.4

7.4
2.9

4.6
3.1

NA

NA

NA

NA

2.9

2.2

NA

3.7

.7

4.6

1955
5.5

11.0
4.9

6.9
4.9

1.8

NA

NA

NA

4.1

3.8

NA

7.0

1.1

7.2

1960
7.3
1961
8.0
1962
8.9
1963
9.5
1964
10.3
1965
11.3
1966
12.6
1967
14.0
1968
14.9
1969
16.1

13.7
6.9
13.7
7.7
14.8
8.5
15.4
9.3
16.4
10.2
17.8
11.2
19.8
12.1
20.7
12.8
22.6
13.4
24.6
14.6

8.8
6.6
8.9
7.1
9.6
7.3
10.2
7.5
11.2
8.2
12.4
9.0
14.0
9.5
14.9
9.5
15.9
10.1
17.5
11.2

3.4

NA

NA

9.2

6.3

6.0

NA

11.6

1.7

10.9

4.1

NA

NA

10.1

7.0

6.7

NA

13.1

2.0

12.2

4.9

NA

NA

11.1

7.9

7.5

NA

14.5

2.3

13.2

5.6

NA

NA

12.4

8.5

8.3

NA

15.2

2.8

14.5

6.5

NA

NA

14.3

9.5

9.2

NA

16.4

3.0

16.9

7.3

NA

NA

15.6

10.7

9.8

NA

18.3

3.1

19.0

8.3

NA

NA

17.1

11.8

10.5

NA

19.4

3.3

21.0

9.8

NA

NA

17.9

12.5

11.1

NA

18.9

3.8

22.5

11.8

NA

NA

18.8

13.5

12.0

NA

20.7

4.1

24.4

14.2

NA

NA

21.1

15.4

13.5

NA

23.6

4.6

27.7

1970
18.2
1971
20.8
1972
23.2
1973
26.0
1974
30.4
1975
35.8
1976

24.8
16.6
25.3
18.0
27.8
19.3
31.5
21.7
34.2
25.7
34.5
31.2
39.2

18.3
12.7
19.5
13.7
21.6
15.3
24.4
17.7
28.5
20.7
31.5
26.2
36.1

17.1

NA

3.0

24.0

17.1

15.4

NA

28.2

5.7

31.5

19.6

NA

3.9

27.2

18.8

17.4

NA

30.7

6.6

35.2

22.4

NA

4.7

31.0

20.9

19.2

NA

33.0

7.2

38.4

28.3

NA

6.4

36.1

24.3

22.1

NA

37.3

8.8

44.2

35.3

NA

9.1

43.9

28.9

26.2

NA

40.5

11.5

51.0

37.9

NA

9.7

47.2

30.6

30.3

NA

40.9

14.1

55.3

41.8

NA

12.3

53.4

34.5

34.6

NA

44.2

17.7

59.1

40.3
1977
44.6
1978
47.0
1979
47.9

36.0
44.4
37.7
50.0
39.6
55.9
42.1

29.7
39.3
33.8
43.8
39.1
49.6
46.1

1980
52.5
1981
57.5
1982
61.1
1983
64.0
1984
69.2
1985
76.0
1986
83.8
1987
92.8
1988
94.9
1989
93.2

59.7
46.3
65.3
49.8
65.6
51.8
68.1
56.9
75.0
63.2
78.5
70.0
80.8
75.4
83.8
80.8
89.5
87.2
92.8
94.5

1990
95.5
1991
98.2
1992
100.0
1993
103.6
1994
109.6
1995
116.3
1996
122.3
1997
132.9
1998

95.1
102.3
96.0
104.1
100.0
100.0
104.2
92.5
109.4
98.1
112.2
112.2
113.4
120.4
117.5
124.5
123.5

45.7

NA

14.5

55.2

37.7

38.8

NA

47.8

21.2

62.5

48.2

NA

17.6

56.5

40.8

42.9

NA

50.6

24.1

65.5

51.6

NA

21.5

58.6

45.9

47.7

NA

54.8

29.4

68.8

54.5
51.5
60.9
53.5
62.2
55.9
65.7
57.0
71.3
60.9
76.5
66.3
80.6
70.3
85.7
77.8
94.0
84.4
99.3
90.3

55.9

NA

27.4

62.8

50.2

54.4

NA

59.2

34.6

72.0

60.1

NA

34.1

63.1

52.6

60.2

NA

61.0

40.1

73.8

62.5

NA

37.2

65.5

58.0

67.5

NA

62.5

45.7

76.1

65.3

NA

40.7

68.6

63.1

72.7

NA

63.2

51.1

76.1

69.4

NA

48.6

73.2

70.2

76.8

NA

65.9

55.8

76.1

72.6

29.4

52.3

77.1

76.8

80.4

NA

69.4

61.3

79.0

75.4

34.6

62.5

78.5

83.2

82.4

NA

72.9

64.7

82.7

76.6

43.7

70.5

79.7

87.7

83.9

NA

76.0

69.2

85.8

80.4

55.9

75.3

82.3

88.9

86.1

NA

78.6

75.5

86.8

86.3

62.5

81.2

87.9

91.8

91.0

NA

82.6

83.3

88.3

100.2
97.9
98.6
100.1
100.0
100.0
102.1
102.1
106.8
105.8
112.8
110.8
116.7
114.5
122.9
119.0
129.8

93.1

73.0

86.4

94.0

96.1

96.0

NA

89.5

90.9

92.2

99.4

89.4

93.1

98.8

98.0

99.2

95.2

96.0

97.6

96.1

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

97.4

111.1

105.5

99.2

99.1

97.5

96.6

96.6

100.6

100.5

96.3

128.2

112.9

99.3

101.6

98.2

97.0

96.8

104.3

100.0

96.5

159.0

120.0

100.4

107.6

101.3

99.7

99.2

110.5

101.3

96.9

179.1

125.3

101.0

110.7

102.3

99.4

99.4

116.0

102.2

99.4

178.9

131.3

102.9

114.8

100.8

99.9

99.5

121.7

105.5

95.7

160.7

136.9

105.1

119.1

101.4

102.2

101.2

123.0

110.7

142.9
131.6
1999 127.4
145.8
136.3

124.8
136.5
129.0

2000 134.8
147.6
140.7
2001 129.2
152.6
143.1

143.0
129.7
146.0
129.7

NA:

92.5

172.8

142.4

107.8

121.3

104.0

102.9

NA

125.2

114.1

91.8

194.2

147.4

111.0

125.0

105.2

106.1

NA

128.7

121.1

88.9

207.9

145.4

114.2

128.9

109.3

108.6

NA

132.3

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.
** See technical notes on Germany.
Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2002.