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

USDL 01-78
For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Thursday, April 5, 2001

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, REVISED DATA FOR 1999
Labor productivity in manufacturing increased in 1999 in 10 of
the 11 countries for which comparable data were available, according to
revised data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
Labor. The productivity increase in the United States was the highest
among the countries compared, 6.6 percent. The next largest increases
were in the United Kingdom and France. The productivity increase in
Belgium was slight, and there was no change in productivity in Norway.
(See chart 1.)
This release presents revisions to the data contained in a news
release (USDL 00-295) issued Oct. 17, 2000. The output series for U.S.
manufacturing used for international comparisons differs from the
manufacturing series that BLS publishes quarterly on U.S. productivity
and costs. Labor productivity for this release is computed as value
added output per hour worked. (See technical notes.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 1. Percent change in manufacturing output per hour, 1999
-2Unit labor costs - the cost of labor input required to produce
one unit of output - are computed as the ratio of labor costs in
nominal terms divided by real output. Unit labor costs also can be
expressed as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor productivity.
An increase in productivity represents a decrease in the amount of
labor input used to produce a unit of output; thus, an increase in
productivity can offset an increase in compensation per hour in its
effect on unit labor costs.
Unit labor costs in manufacturing, expressed in national currency

units, declined in 7
6. Unit labor costs
States had a decline
Korea (-4.3 percent)
were in Denmark (6.0

of the 14 countries compared in 1999 and rose in
in the United Kingdom were unchanged. The United
of 2.4 percent. The largest declines occurred in
and Japan (-3.8 percent). The largest increases
percent) and Norway (5.7 percent). (See table A.)

In order to assess international competitiveness trends in
manufactured products properly, changes in exchange rates must be taken
into account. Converted to U.S. dollars at market exchange rates, unit
labor costs increased in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in 1999. Denmark and
Norway showed increased unit labor costs that were smaller than those
in national currency units. All the other countries experienced
declines. (See chart 2.)
The increase in unit labor costs in U.S. dollars in Japan, Korea,
and Taiwan occurred because the exchange rates of their currencies
strengthened against the U.S. dollar during 1999. The exchange rates
of all the other currencies weakened against the U.S. dollar. (See
table A.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs (U.S. dollar
basis), 1999
-3Table A summarizes changes in manufacturing productivity, unit
labor costs, and related variables between 1998 and 1999. Output and
unit labor cost data are presented for 14 economies. Comparable
productivity data are not shown for Korea, Taiwan, and Denmark. (See
technical notes.) Labor productivity rose or remained unchanged for
all 11 countries. In Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium,
output per hour rose because output increased more than hours. Except
for the U.K., all countries with positive productivity growth
experienced an increase in output and a decrease in hours. The U.K.
growth in productivity was the result of a decline in hours worked
while output remained unchanged. Norway's unchanged productivity was
due to equal decreases in hours worked and in output.
Unit labor costs measured in national currency are affected by
the degree and direction of change in both hourly compensation and
productivity. Of the 11 countries for which hours worked series are
available, all, except Norway and Japan, showed an increase in both
hourly compensation and labor productivity in 1999. In Germany, Italy,
the Netherlands, and Belgium, hourly compensation grew more than
productivity, resulting in increases in unit labor costs. In Norway,

an increase in hourly compensation combined with unchanged productivity
resulted in a rise in unit labor costs. In the United Kingdom, hourly
compensation and productivity increased at approximately the same rate.
In the U.S., Canada, France, and Sweden, productivity growth was
greater than the rise in hourly compensation, causing unit labor costs
to decline.
Table A. Manufacturing productivity and unit labor costs in 14 countries or areas
Percent change, 1998-99
Output
per
hour

Output

United States

6.6

Canada
Japan
Korea (2)
Taiwan (2)
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

Country
or area

(1)
(2)

Total
compensation

Hourly
compensation

Hours

Employment

Average
hours

5.7

- 0.8

- 1.6

0.8

3.2

4.0

2.4
3.8
NA
NA
0.1
NA
4.0

6.2
0.8
21.8
6.7
1.2
- 3.3
2.5

3.8
- 2.9
NA
NA
1.1
NA
- 1.4

2.9
- 2.7
NA
NA
- 1.0
- 2.1
0.2

0.9
- 0.2
NA
NA
2.1
NA
- 1.7

5.5
- 3.0
16.5
4.0
1.5
2.5
2.3

1.7
- 0.2
NA
NA
0.4
NA
3.8

1.2
1.7
2.2
0.0
3.0
4.5

0.4
1.0
3.1
- 3.0
4.2
0.0

- 0.8
- 0.7
0.8
- 3.0
1.2
- 4.3

- 0.4
- 0.3
0.8
- 2.6
1.0
- 3.7

- 0.4
- 0.4
0.0
- 0.4
0.2
- 0.6

0.9
2.1
4.0
2.5
3.7
0.0

1.7
2.8
3.1
5.7
2.5
4.5

Unit labor costs
National
U.S.
currency
dollars

- 2.4

- 2.4

---

-

0.7
3.8
4.3
2.5
0.3
6.0
- 0.1

- 0.9
10.8
12.6
1.2
- 3.8
1.6
- 4.3

- 0.1
15.2
17.7
3.8
- 4.1
- 4.1
- 4.2

0.5
1.1
0.8
5.7
- 0.5
0.0

- 3.7
- 3.4
- 3.3
2.3
- 4.4
- 2.4

-

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

NA=Not Available
Although the productivity measure relates output to the hours
worked of persons employed in manufacturing, it does not measure the
specific contributions of labor as a single factor of production.

-4Rather, it reflects the joint effects of many influences, including new
technology, capital investment, capacity utilization, energy use, and

Exchange
rate (1)

4.2
4.4
4.1
3.3
3.9
2.4

managerial skills, as well as the skills and efforts of the work force.
Table B (pages 7-11) shows average annual percent changes for
selected periods, beginning in 1979. Annual indexes of the data are in
tables 1-15 (pages 17-31).
BOX: Notes about the measures
The measures in this news release are based on data available to BLS as
of March 2001. Revisions for 1999 and earlier years were made to the
measures for several countries to incorporate data not available at the
time of the October 2000 news release.
U.S. manufacturing output measure
The output measure for manufacturing in the United States is the chainweighted index of real gross product originating (deflated value
added), introduced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U.S.
Department of Commerce, in August 1996. This series is based on
annually changing price weights.
The United States output data used in this report were released by BEA
in December 2000. They include new estimates of GDP by industry for
1999 and revised estimates for 1997-98. The data for 1997-98 reflect
the annual revision of the national income and product accounts
released in August 2000 and newly available source data. The estimates
are described in the Survey of Current Business, Vol. 80, No. 11,
December 2000.
The U.S. output series used for international comparisons differs from
the manufacturing series that BLS publishes on quarterly measures of
U.S. productivity and costs. While both series are based on annuallychanging price weights, the international comparisons program uses a
value added output concept, while the quarterly U.S. manufacturing
series is on a sectoral output basis. For information on the
differences between the value added and the sectoral output measures,
see technical notes.
Germany (unified)
Time series data for the whole of Germany, beginning with 1991, are
published by the German Federal Statistical Office. For years prior to
1991, only data for the former West Germany are available. Comparative
indexes for the former West Germany also are included in this report
for historical comparison purposes, although the data for West Germany
end with 1998 and have not been updated or revised.
New measures of National Accounts

Member states of the European Union are 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 to date due to
these conversions to new systems are incorporated in this news release.
END OF BOX (Notes about the measures)
-5Manufacturing productivity, output, and labor input
U.S. output per hour in manufacturing increased 6.6 percent in
1999, the largest increase among all countries compared, as well as the
largest U.S. increase since 1987 and twice the average annual increase
between 1979 and 1999. (See tables B and 1.)
Only two countries-Belgium and Norway-experienced lower
productivity change in 1999 than in 1998. In the Netherlands,
productivity growth for 1999 was the same as in 1998. (See table B.)
For the 1979-1999 period, productivity grew on an annual average
basis in all 10 countries for which these data are available. The rate
of increase ranged from 3.8 percent per year for Belgium to 1.4 percent
per year for Norway. Canada was the only country other than Norway
that experienced productivity growth (2.1 percent per year) below 3.0
percent per year. (See table B.)
In 1999, manufacturing output in the U.S. grew 5.7 percent.
Manufacturing output also increased in all the other countries, except
Denmark, Norway, and the U.K. Korean output grew by 21.8 percent in
1999, after declining 7.4 percent in 1998. Increases in other
countries in 1999 ranged from 6.7 percent (Taiwan) to 0.4 percent
(Germany). Japanese output grew by 0.8 percent, after dropping 5.9
percent in 1998. Manufacturing output in Denmark and Norway declined
in 1999, after increasing in 1998. Output in the U.K. was unchanged in
1999. (See table B.)
During 1979-99, manufacturing output increased at an average
annual rate in all the countries compared; the lowest gain was 0.4
percent per year in Norway, and the highest was 8.9 percent per year in
Korea. Seven countries increased output growth above the 1979-1999
annual average, while six countries' output growth was slower than the
average. (See table B.)
In 1999, total hours worked in manufacturing declined in 7 of the

11 countries for which comparable hours data were available and rose in
4. The largest declines were in the U.K. (-4.3 percent) and Norway (3.0 percent). U.S. hours fell 0.8 percent, the second consecutive year
that U.S. manufacturing hours declined. Hours worked in Canada
increased 3.8 percent in 1999. Hours also rose in Belgium, the
Netherlands, and Sweden. (See table B.)
Total hours worked in manufacturing declined between 1979 and
1999 in all countries for which hours data are available, except
Canada. Canadian hours worked rose at an average rate of 0.3 percent
per year during the 1979-99 period and have been increasing at a
quicker rate over the last four years. For the other countries, the
average 1979-99 declines in hours ranged from 2.4 percent per year in
the U.K. to 0.4 percent per year in the U.S. (See table B.)
-6Manufacturing hourly compensation and unit labor costs
Hourly compensation in manufacturing increased in 1999 in all the
countries for which hours worked data were available, except Japan.
The largest increases occurred in Norway (5.7 percent), the U.K. (4.5
percent), and the U.S. (4.0 percent). In Japan, hourly compensation
declined 0.2 percent in 1999. (See table B.)
A percent change in unit labor costs can be expressed
approximately as a percent change in hourly compensation minus a
percent change in labor productivity. Therefore, an increase in unit
labor costs indicates that labor compensation is rising faster than
productivity, while the inverse is true for declining unit labor costs.
Based on this relationship, table B shows that, for the pre-1990
periods of comparison for all countries, average annual increases in
hourly compensation in national currency surpassed average annual
increases in labor productivity. However, U.S. unit labor costs have
declined at an average annual rate of 0.4 percent since 1990, going
down in three of the last four years. In 1999, unit labor costs
decreased 2.4 percent, as productivity increased 6.6 percent and hourly
compensation increased 4.0 percent. (See table B.)
In 1999, unit labor costs, expressed in national currency units,
declined in seven of the countries compared, increased in six, and were
unchanged in the U.K. The biggest declines occurred in Korea (-4.3
percent) and Japan (-3.8 percent); the largest increases were in
Denmark (6.0 percent) and Norway (5.7 percent). While unit labor costs
in Korea have declined for 3 consecutive years, those in the
Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway have risen for 4, 5, and 20

consecutive years, respectively. U.S. unit labor costs decreased 2.4
percent in 1999, following a small rise in 1998 and declines in 1997
and 1996. Only four other countries besides the U.S.-Japan, Belgium,
France, and Sweden-experienced declines in unit labor costs over the
1990s, measured in their own currencies. (See tables B and 9.)
For the last several years, the U.S. dollar has strengthened
against the currencies of most of the countries being compared. During
1999, all the European currencies weakened against the U.S. dollar,
from 2.4 to 4.4 percent. The Canadian dollar also lost ground to the
U.S. dollar. However, the currencies of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
appreciated in value during 1999. The Japanese yen rose by 15.2
percent, the Korean won by 17.7 percent, and the Taiwanese dollar by
3.8 percent. (See tables B and 11.)
Movements in the currency markets had a noticeable effect on
comparative unit labor costs expressed in U.S. dollars. The
strengthening of currencies in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan against the
dollar in 1999 caused unit labor costs in these countries to rise when
expressed in U.S. dollars, while decreasing in terms of their own
currencies. The increases were 12.6 percent in Korea, 10.8 percent in
Japan, and 1.2 percent in Taiwan. (See table B.)
Unit labor costs expressed in U.S. dollars declined in 1999 in
Belgium (-3.8 percent), Germany (-3.7 percent), Italy (-3.4 percent),
and the Netherlands (-3.3 percent), while increasing in terms of their
national currencies. (See table B.)

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

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

Output per hour
United States

3.3

3.5

2.4

3.8

2.8

3.6

4.6

6.6

Canada
Japan

2.1
3.6

3.3
3.5

0.7
4.3

2.1
3.2

-1.3
4.6

3.0
4.2

-0.3
0.2

2.4
3.8

Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

NA
NA
3.8
NA
3.4

NA
NA
6.0
2.1
3.0

NA
NA
2.2
0.5
3.4

NA
NA
3.2
NA
3.6

NA
NA
3.4
NA
0.5

NA
NA
8.3
NA
6.6

NA
NA
1.6
NA
1.1

NA
NA
0.1
NA
4.0

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
3.0
3.1
1.4
3.4
3.2

NA
4.6
4.4
2.4
3.1
4.1

NA
2.3
2.1
1.4
1.9
4.1

NA
2.2
2.9
0.8
4.5
2.2

2.1
0.2
1.7
0.1
2.1
-1.9

4.9
1.9
1.8
0.9
6.8
0.7

0.0
-0.4
2.2
0.9
2.8
-0.1

1.2
1.7
2.2
0.0
3.0
4.5

United States

2.9

2.2

2.5

3.7

2.4

5.4

4.3

5.7

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.4
2.8
8.9
6.5
2.2
1.2
1.2

1.8
4.7
8.3
8.2
2.6
2.9
-0.4

2.0
4.8
12.2
7.0
2.5
-0.2
2.6

3.0
0.4
7.5
5.2
1.7
0.9
1.6

1.4
4.2
6.8
4.8
2.4
-4.3
-0.3

6.9
3.4
6.6
6.7
6.7
2.6
4.9

3.9
-5.9
-7.4
3.3
2.2
2.5
1.6

6.2
0.8
21.8
6.7
1.2
-3.3
2.5

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
1.9
2.2
0.4
2.6
0.7

NA
1.4
1.8
0.6
2.2
-1.2

NA
3.6
3.1
-1.6
1.4
3.4

NA
1.2
1.9
1.4
3.5
0.5

-2.9
-1.4
0.5
1.1
2.1
0.4

3.4
2.5
2.6
5.1
5.8
1.3

1.5
1.8
3.3
1.6
4.3
0.5

0.4
1.0
3.1
-3.0
4.2
0.0

Output

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

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

Total hours
United States

-0.4

-1.2

0.0

-0.1

-0.3

1.7

-0.3

-0.8

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.3
-0.8
NA
NA
-1.5
NA
-2.1

-1.5
1.1
NA
NA
-3.2
0.8
-3.3

1.3
0.5
NA
NA
0.4
-0.6
-0.8

0.9
-2.7
NA
NA
-1.5
NA
-2.0

2.8
-0.4
NA
NA
-1.0
NA
-0.7

3.8
-0.8
NA
NA
-1.5
NA
-1.6

4.2
-6.1
NA
NA
0.6
NA
0.5

3.8
-2.9
NA
NA
1.1
NA
-1.4

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-0.8
-2.4

NA
-3.0
-2.5
-1.8
-0.8
-5.1

NA
1.3
1.0
-2.9
-0.5
-0.6

NA
-1.0
-1.0
0.6
-0.9
-1.7

-4.9
-1.6
-1.2
1.0
0.0
2.4

-1.5
0.7
0.8
4.1
-1.0
0.6

1.4
2.3
1.1
0.8
1.4
0.6

-0.8
-0.7
0.8
-3.0
1.2
-4.3

United States

-0.6

-1.4

-0.1

-0.3

-0.3

1.0

0.7

-1.6

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.1
-0.2
NA
NA
-1.6
-0.1
-1.7

-1.3
1.2
NA
NA
-2.6
1.0
-2.3

1.2
0.8
NA
NA
-0.3
-0.2
-0.9

0.5
-1.7
NA
NA
-1.6
-0.9
-1.8

2.3
-0.9
NA
NA
-1.4
0.2
-0.9

2.7
-0.2
NA
NA
-1.5
-0.8
-2.1

4.8
-4.1
NA
NA
0.4
0.7
0.2

2.9
-2.7
NA
NA
-1.0
-2.1
0.2

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
-1.2
-0.8
-0.9
-1.5
-2.4

NA
-2.9
-2.2
-1.8
-1.2
-4.8

NA
0.3
1.2
-2.7
-0.8
-0.8

NA
-0.8
-0.9
0.6
-2.0
-1.7

-2.7
-0.8
-1.1
1.6
-0.3
1.8

-1.5
0.3
1.2
4.3
-1.1
0.6

0.4
2.5
1.3
0.6
1.2
0.7

-0.4
-0.3
0.8
-2.6
1.0
-3.7

Employment

Continued on next page
-9Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99

Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

Average hours
United States

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.3

0.0

0.7

-1.0

0.8

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

0.1
-0.5
NA
NA
0.0
NA
-0.4

-0.2
0.0
NA
NA
-0.6
-0.3
-1.0

0.1
-0.3
NA
NA
0.7
-0.5
0.1

0.3
-1.0
NA
NA
0.1
NA
-0.2

0.5
0.6
NA
NA
0.4
NA
0.1

1.1
-0.6
NA
NA
0.1
NA
0.5

-0.6
-2.1
NA
NA
0.2
NA
0.3

0.9
-0.2
NA
NA
2.1
NA
-1.7

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
0.1
-0.2
-0.1
0.7
0.0

NA
-0.1
-0.3
0.0
0.4
-0.3

NA
1.0
-0.2
-0.2
0.3
0.2

NA
-0.2
-0.1
0.0
1.1
0.1

-2.3
-0.8
-0.1
-0.5
0.2
0.6

0.0
0.4
-0.4
-0.2
0.1
0.0

1.0
-0.2
-0.2
0.1
0.2
-0.1

-0.4
-0.4
0.0
-0.4
0.2
-0.6

Labor compensation in manufacturing 2/:
United States
Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

National currency basis

4.2

5.8

3.9

3.3

1.0

3.7

5.0

3.2

5.3
3.0
15.1
9.9
3.0
5.0
4.1

7.5
5.9
18.7
15.9
4.7
9.0
9.1

5.6
5.1
19.7
10.7
4.0
4.6
3.6

3.7
0.0
10.4
5.6
1.4
2.6
1.1

1.9
0.4
12.2
4.2
0.6
2.9
0.9

6.9
2.6
-2.2
5.0
1.9
3.7
0.9

7.1
-3.7
-9.4
4.8
2.1
3.3
2.2

5.5
-3.0
16.5
4.0
1.5
2.5
2.3

NA
7.5
2.6
5.7
6.0
5.0

NA
13.0
2.3
8.0
8.9
5.9

NA
8.2
3.1
4.7
7.9
8.1

NA
3.6
2.5
4.8
3.2
2.7

-0.3
5.0
1.1
5.1
7.3
2.5

0.5
4.9
3.4
8.7
3.4
3.6

2.3
0.4
4.2
7.2
5.7
4.5

0.9
2.1
4.0
2.5
3.7
0.0

Continued on next page

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

1979-99

Hourly compensation 2/:

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

National currency basis

United States

4.6

7.2

3.9

3.3

1.3

1.9

5.3

4.0

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

5.0
3.8
NA
NA
4.6
NA
6.3

9.1
4.7
NA
NA
8.1
8.1
12.8

4.2
4.6
NA
NA
3.7
5.3
4.5

2.8
2.8
NA
NA
2.9
NA
3.1

-0.9
0.8
NA
NA
1.6
NA
1.7

3.0
3.4
NA
NA
3.4
NA
2.5

2.8
2.5
NA
NA
1.4
NA
1.7

1.7
-0.2
NA
NA
0.4
NA
3.8

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
8.6
3.6
6.8
6.9
7.6

NA
16.6
5.0
10.0
9.8
11.6

NA
6.8
2.1
7.8
8.4
8.8

NA
4.6
3.5
4.2
4.2
4.4

4.8
6.7
2.3
4.1
7.4
0.1

2.0
4.2
2.6
4.4
4.4
2.9

0.9
-1.9
3.1
6.3
4.2
3.9

1.7
2.8
3.1
5.7
2.5
4.5

Unit labor costs:

National currency basis

United States

1.2

3.6

1.4

-0.4

-1.4

-1.6

0.7

-2.4

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France

2.8
0.2
5.7
3.2
0.8
3.7
2.8

5.6
1.1
9.6
7.2
2.0
5.9
9.5

3.5
0.3
6.7
3.5
1.5
4.8
1.0

0.7
-0.5
2.6
0.4
-0.3
1.7
-0.5

0.4
-3.7
5.1
-0.5
-1.7
7.6
1.2

-0.1
-0.8
-8.3
-1.6
-4.5
1.1
-3.9

3.1
2.3
-2.1
1.4
-0.2
0.8
0.6

-0.7
-3.8
-4.3
-2.5
0.3
6.0
-0.1

Germany (unified)
Italy

NA
5.5

NA
11.4

NA
4.4

NA
2.3

2.6
6.5

-2.8
2.3

0.9
-1.4

0.5
1.1

Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

0.4
5.3
3.4
4.2

0.5
7.4
6.5
7.2

0.0
6.4
6.4
4.5

0.6
3.3
-0.3
2.2

0.6
4.0
5.2
2.1

0.9
3.5
-2.3
2.2

0.9
5.4
1.3
4.0

0.8
5.7
-0.5
0.0

Continued on next page
-11Table B. Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-99
Average annual rates of change 1/
Country
or area

Unit labor costs:
United States
Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

1979-99

1979-85

1985-90

1990-99

1996

1997

1998

1999

U.S. dollar basis
1.2

3.6

1.4

-0.4

-1.4

-1.6

0.7

-2.4

1.6
3.5
1.1
3.7
-0.5
2.2
0.9

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

6.8
10.8
10.9
12.0
13.8
16.7
11.7

-2.0
2.2
-3.1
-1.6
-1.7
0.3
-1.8

1.1
-16.8
0.8
-4.0
-6.5
3.9
-1.4

-1.6
-10.8
-22.3
-6.0
-17.4
-11.3
-15.8

-3.8
-5.4
-33.5
-13.0
-1.5
-0.6
-0.5

-0.9
10.8
12.6
1.2
-3.8
1.6
-4.3

NA
1.4
0.3
3.0
0.0
2.8

NA
-3.0
-7.6
-1.7
-5.2
-1.3

NA
14.6
12.8
13.3
14.7
11.4

NA
-2.3
-0.8
0.8
-3.9
1.1

-2.4
12.5
-4.3
2.0
11.9
1.0

-15.7
-7.4
-12.9
-5.7
-14.2
7.3

-0.6
-3.3
-0.7
-1.1
-2.6
5.2

-3.7
-3.4
-3.3
2.3
-4.4
-2.4

Exchange rates 3/
United States

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Canada
Japan
Korea
Taiwan

-1.2
3.3
-4.4
0.5

-2.5
-1.5
-9.2
-1.7

3.2
10.5
3.9
8.2

-2.6
2.7
-5.6
-2.0

0.6
-13.6
-4.0
-3.5

-1.5
-10.1
-15.3
-4.5

-6.7
-7.6
-32.1
-14.2

-0.1
15.2
17.7
3.8

Belgium
Denmark
France

-1.3
-1.4
-1.8

-11.1
-11.0
-11.7

12.2
11.4
10.5

-1.4
-1.3
-1.4

-4.8
-3.5
-2.5

-13.5
-12.2
-12.4

-1.4
-1.4
-1.0

-4.1
-4.1
-4.2

Germany (unified)
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

NA
-3.8
-0.2
-2.1
-3.2
-1.4

NA
-12.9
-8.0
-8.4
-11.0
-7.9

NA
9.8
12.7
6.6
7.8
6.6

NA
-4.5
-1.4
-2.4
-3.6
-1.1

-4.8
5.6
-4.9
-1.9
6.4
-1.1

-13.3
-9.5
-13.6
-8.8
-12.2
4.9

-1.4
-1.9
-1.6
-6.2
-3.9
1.2

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

1/ Rates of change based on the compound
rate method.
2/ Adjusted to include employment taxes
that are not compensation to employees
but are labor costs to employers.

3/ Value of foreign currency relative to
the U.S. dollar.
NA = Not available.

-12Trade-weighted unit labor costs
Because the economies covered differ greatly in their relative
importance to U.S. trade in manufactured goods, BLS constructs indexes
of U.S. unit labor cost trends relative to a trade-weighted average of
unit labor cost trends in the other economies. (See chart 3.)
PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT:
Chart 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 13
competitors, 1979-99
The construction of the indexes shown in chart 3 is a three-step
process. First, the indexes of unit labor costs for all economies are
rebased to a common year (in this case, 1979=100). Second, for each
year, a "competitors" index is calculated as the weighted geometric
mean of the indexes for all competitor economies; 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 United States to the competitors. This process is used to
calculate the relative trade-weighted unit labor cost indexes on both a
national currency and a U.S. dollar basis.
In chart 3, the solid line indicates that U.S. unit labor costs
rose faster than "competitors" costs 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 1995 to 1998, however, the strength of the U.S. dollar caused
relative U.S. unit labor costs to rise; in 1999, the ratio fell
slightly. The data underlying this chart are shown in table C.
-13Table C. U.S. manufacturing unit labor
costs relative to 13 competitors, 1979-99

Year

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

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
142.3
139.2
134.0
132.1
129.9
130.8
127.6

100.0
111.3
120.3
128.4
130.5
131.0
132.6
138.0
140.2
141.5
144.9
150.7
157.9
162.0
163.1
160.7
161.0
161.3
159.5
162.4
160.0

100.0
100.1
96.9
96.7
93.2
92.3
93.0
93.4
87.6
86.6
88.3
87.8
87.4
87.3
87.2
86.6
83.2
81.9
81.4
80.5
79.8

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
142.3
139.2
134.0
132.1
129.9
130.8
127.6

100.0
109.6
109.1
105.6
104.1
98.8
96.9
121.2
139.4
151.8
151.1
162.5
172.9
180.7
177.5
177.6
188.0
178.9
163.5
154.9
158.4

100.0
101.6
106.8
117.7
116.7
122.5
127.4
106.3
88.1
80.7
84.7
81.5
79.8
78.2
80.1
78.4
71.3
73.8
79.5
84.5
80.6

BOX: Note on European exchange rates for 1999
On Jan. 1, 1999, 11 European countries joined the European Monetary
Union (EMU). Currencies of EMU members are established at fixed
conversion rates to the euro, the official currency of the EMU.
Exchange rates between the national currencies of EMU countries and the
U.S. dollar are no longer reported; only the exchange rate between the
euro and the U.S. dollar is available.
In this news release, 1999 exchange rates in national currencies for

Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are calculated by
taking the number of euros per U.S. dollar and then converting euros
into national currencies at fixed conversion rates.
1 euro equals:
40.3399
Belgian Francs
6.55957
French Francs
1.95583
German Marks

1936.27
2.20371

Italian Lire
Netherlands Guilders

In 1999, 1 euro was equal to 1.0653 U.S. dollars.
END OF BOX (Note on European exchange rates for 1999)
-14TECHNICAL NOTES
The Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs trend indexes of
manufacturing labor productivity (output per hour), hourly compensation
costs, and unit labor costs from three basic aggregate measures output, total labor hours, and total compensation. The hours and
compensation measures refer to employees (wage and salary earners) in
Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy. For all other countries,
the measures refer to all employed persons, including employees, selfemployed 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 France refer to mining and manufacturing less energyrelated products, and the measures for Denmark include mining and
exclude manufacturing handicrafts from 1960 to 1966.
The comparisons in this news release make use of data made available
to BLS as of March 2001 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 revised System of National Accounts (SNA 93).
For other countries, data were compiled according to previously used
systems.
To obtain historical time series, BLS may link together data series
compiled according to different accounting systems.
Output. For most countries, the output measures are value added in
manufacturing from the national accounts. However, output for Japan
prior to 1970 and for the Netherlands prior to 1960 are indexes of
industrial production. The national accounts measures for the United
Kingdom are essentially identical to their indexes of industrial
production.

In this release, manufacturing output data for the United States
from 1977 forward are the gross product originating (value added)
measures prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S.
Department of Commerce. U. S. gross product originating is a chaintype annual-weighted series. /1 Comparable manufacturing output data
are not available prior to 1977.
The gross product originating series differs from the manufacturing
output series that BLS publishes on quarterly measures of U.S.
productivity and costs. The quarterly measures are on a sectoral
output basis rather than a value added basis. Sectoral output is gross
output less intra-sector sales and transfers. /2
A value added concept has been used for the international
comparisons series because the data are more readily available in the
countries' national accounts, whereas sectoral output would require a
complex estimation procedure. Also, although BLS has determined that
sectoral output is the correct concept for U.S. measures of single
factor productivity (output per hour), there are other considerations
that may make value added a better concept for international
comparisons, such as differences among countries in the extent of
vertical integration.
The historical real output series for many of the other countries
are estimated using fixed price weights, with the weights updated
periodically (for example, every 5 or 10 years).
-15Measures of real output also may differ among countries because of
different approaches to estimating the prices of high-technology
products like computers and, in general, of products that undergo rapid
quality change.
Labor Input. The total hours measures are developed from statistics
of manufacturing employment and average hours. The total hours series
used for France (from 1970 forward), Norway, Sweden, and Canada are
series published with the national accounts. Where such series are not
available, the measures are developed by BLS using employment figures
published with the national accounts, or other comprehensive employment
series, and estimates of average annual hours worked. For the former
West Germany after 1959 and Germany from 1991, BLS uses aggregate hours
worked, which were developed by a research institute of the German
Ministry of Labor for use with the national accounts employment
figures; earlier figures are BLS estimates. For the other countries,
and the former West Germany before 1959, BLS constructs its own
estimates of average hours. BLS is in the process of assessing the
comparability of the employment and hours time series data available
from statistical sources in Denmark, Korea, and Taiwan.

Compensation (Labor Cost). The compensation measures are from
national accounts data. Compensation includes employer expenditures
for legally required insurance programs and contractual and private
benefit plans, in addition to all payments made in cash or in-kind
directly to employees. For Canada, France, and Sweden, compensation is
increased to account for important taxes on payroll or employment. For
the United Kingdom, compensation is reduced between 1967 and 1991 to
account for subsidies. When data for the self-employed are not
available, total compensation is estimated by assuming the same hourly
compensation for self-employed and employees. Real compensation for
the U.S. is derived using the Consumer Price Index research series
(CPI-U-RS).
Current Indicators. The measures for recent years may be based on
current indicators of output (such as industrial production indexes),
employment, average hours, and hourly compensation until national
accounts and other statistics, normally used for the long-term
measures, become available.
Trade-Weighted Measures. The trade weights for Canada, Japan, and
the European countries were obtained by re-scaling a series of weights,
developed by the International Monetary Fund, based on average trade
flows over the 1989-91 period. These weights are based on aggregate
trade data for total manufacturing and take account of both bilateral
trade and the relative importance of "third country" markets. The
1989-91 weights do not include Korea and Taiwan.
BLS developed weights
for Korea and Taiwan by using data from an earlier study from the
International Monetary Fund and other sources. The weight used for
Germany is based on the trade weight of the former West Germany.
The following weights were used for the entire period for which
trade-weighted unit labor cost measures are produced:
Country

Weight

Country

Canada
Japan
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Italy

23.94
28.91
2.02
0.45
5.58
10.98
4.35

Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
Korea
Taiwan

Weight
2.13
0.45
1.79
8.50
5.43
5.48

-16Level Comparisons.

The BLS measures are limited to trend

comparisons. BLS does not prepare level comparisons of manufacturing
productivity and unit labor costs because of data limitations and
technical problems in comparing the levels of manufacturing output
among countries. Each country measures manufacturing output in its own
currency units. To compare outputs among countries, a common unit of
measure is needed. Market exchange rates are not suitable as a basis
for comparing output levels. What is needed are purchasing power
parities, which are the number of foreign currency units required to
buy goods and services equivalent to what can be bought with one unit
of U.S. currency.
Purchasing power parities are available for total gross domestic
product (GDP) from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD). However, these parities are derived for
expenditures made by consumers, business, and government for goods and
services - not for value added by industry. Therefore, they do not
provide purchasing power parities by industry. The parities for total
GDP are not suitable for each component industry, such as
manufacturing.
1/ For more information on the U. S. measure, see Sherlene K.S. Lum,
Brian C. Moyer, and Robert E. Yuskavage, "Improved Estimates of Gross
Product by Industry for 1947-98," Survey of Current Business, June
2000, pp. 24-38.
2/ For information on sectoral output, see William Gullickson,
"Measurement of productivity growth in U.S. manufacturing," Monthly
Labor Review, July 1995, pp. 13-28.
- 17 Table 1. Output per hour in manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United

Germany

United
Year
Norway

States
Sweden

Canada
Kingdom

Japan

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

1950
24.7

NA
19.5

26.6
25.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

22.6

13.2

1955
28.7

NA
21.3

32.7
27.5

8.6

NA

NA

NA

24.6

1960
37.0
1961

NA
27.3
NA

38.7
31.1
40.8

13.8

NA

NA

18.0

15.6

NA

NA

18.2

France

(unified)

Former West

Nether-

Germany

Italy

lands

NA

13.2

11.5

11.3

16.6

NA

19.7

16.1

14.4

29.9

21.8

NA

29.2

20.2

18.6

31.6

23.1

NA

30.6

21.8

19.6

38.3
1962
38.3
1963
40.3
1964
42.6
1965
45.1
1966
47.0
1967
48.7
1968
51.7
1969
56.5

28.7
NA
30.9
NA
32.7
NA
35.5
NA
38.2
NA
39.8
NA
43.2
NA
47.2
NA
50.9

31.2
44.3
31.9
46.2
33.6
48.2
35.8
50.3
36.8
51.0
38.1
51.5
39.8
54.5
42.7
57.4
43.7

1970
58.3
1971
60.0
1972
63.1
1973
66.9
1974
69.5
1975
68.8
1976
70.5
1977
71.5
1978
72.8
1979
78.1

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
76.7
1981
76.5
1982
79.7
1983

70.5
73.1
74.1
72.7
76.2
75.4
80.0

16.4

NA

NA

19.2

33.2

24.7

NA

32.8

24.1

20.4

17.7

NA

NA

19.9

34.3

26.0

NA

34.1

24.8

21.2

20.1

NA

NA

21.2

37.1

28.0

NA

37.1

25.0

23.1

21.0

NA

NA

22.3

38.9

30.0

NA

39.3

27.9

24.7

23.0

NA

NA

23.8

40.8

32.5

NA

40.9

30.3

26.3

26.0

NA

NA

25.1

43.8

34.5

NA

43.4

31.8

28.3

29.1

NA

NA

27.3

47.8

38.1

NA

47.0

34.3

31.8

33.4

NA

NA

29.9

49.8

40.5

NA

50.4

35.6

34.9

56.6
44.7
60.0
46.8
62.7
49.4
66.2
53.0
67.2
53.9
64.7
52.8
70.3
55.0
74.9
55.5
76.7
56.3
75.9
56.7

37.5

NA

NA

32.9

52.7

43.0

NA

52.0

37.9

38.1

39.8

NA

NA

35.1

56.3

45.5

NA

54.0

38.5

40.4

43.6

NA

NA

39.2

60.8

47.5

NA

57.4

41.7

43.6

47.6

NA

NA

43.5

66.9

50.9

NA

61.1

45.2

48.3

48.8

NA

NA

45.8

69.1

52.0

NA

63.2

48.1

51.9

50.2

NA

NA

47.6

76.1

53.8

NA

65.9

46.5

51.2

53.2

NA

NA

52.4

78.8

57.1

NA

70.6

52.9

56.8

55.3

NA

NA

55.0

80.4

60.5

NA

72.7

54.0

61.4

57.5

NA

NA

58.3

81.6

63.2

NA

75.2

57.5

65.4

62.2

NA

NA

61.4

85.6

66.2

NA

78.4

63.0

68.6

75.1
56.1
77.8
59.0
77.3
62.2
82.4

63.2

NA

NA

65.4

90.3

66.5

NA

77.2

65.9

69.2

65.2

NA

NA

70.1

91.8

68.5

NA

78.7

67.4

70.8

67.9

NA

NA

73.5

92.1

73.3

NA

78.8

68.6

72.1

68.8

NA

NA

81.0

96.6

75.0

NA

82.6

71.8

77.8

82.4
1984
87.4
1985
90.2
1986
89.0
1987
93.3
1988
92.2
1989
94.6

80.9
83.2
85.2
86.0
86.2
86.0
87.5
92.9
89.2
96.9
90.5
95.7
93.2

67.1
90.2
70.7
92.4
72.3
90.0
74.8
90.6
79.4
90.9
82.3
93.7
86.1

1990
96.6
1991
97.5
1992
100.0
1993
100.6
1994
101.4
1995
102.0
1996
102.0
1997
103.0
1998
103.9
1999
103.9

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
121.2
132.9
126.8
136.7
135.1
140.8

95.7
88.3
95.3
92.1
100.0
100.0
104.5
104.0
109.9
106.8
111.0
104.3
109.5
102.3
112.8
103.0
112.5
102.9
115.2
107.5

NA:

71.1

NA

NA

85.0

96.1

76.1

NA

85.4

78.4

85.4

76.5

NA

NA

87.0

96.7

79.1

NA

89.1

82.6

89.0

76.1

NA

NA

87.8

91.1

80.4

NA

89.6

83.8

90.8

80.2

NA

NA

88.9

90.6

81.8

NA

88.1

85.7

91.6

83.9

NA

NA

92.0

94.1

87.5

NA

91.5

86.7

93.7

88.5

NA

NA

96.9

99.6

91.9

NA

94.6

89.4

97.1

94.4

NA

NA

96.8

99.1

93.5

NA

99.0

92.5

98.6

99.0

NA

NA

99.1

99.6

96.9

99.0

101.9

95.2

99.6

100.0

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

101.7

NA

NA

102.5

104.5

100.6

101.8

100.6

102.9

101.4

103.3

NA

NA

108.4

NA

108.5

109.9

107.9

105.6

112.7

111.0

NA

NA

113.2

NA

114.5

112.8

111.2

109.3

117.7

116.1

NA

NA

117.1

NA

115.0

115.3

115.1

109.5

119.7

121.0

NA

NA

126.8

NA

122.6

121.0

121.8

111.5

121.9

121.2

NA

NA

128.8

NA

124.0

121.0

127.1

111.1

124.6

125.8

NA

NA

128.9

NA

128.9

122.4

NA

112.9

127.3

Not Available

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

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

United

Germany

United
Year
Norway

States
Sweden

Canada
Kingdom

Japan

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

1950
32.3

NA
25.7

29.0
29.6

NA

NA

NA

NA

31.8

16.2

1955
37.7

NA
28.0

34.3
32.4

10.3

NA

NA

NA

34.0

1960
46.7
1961
47.6
1962
47.4
1963
49.7
1964
52.8
1965
54.7
1966
57.1
1967
58.6
1968
60.7
1969
64.9

NA
33.8
NA
35.1
NA
37.4
NA
39.2
NA
42.0
NA
44.7
NA
46.5
NA
49.6
NA
53.0
NA
56.0

40.3
35.9
42.3
35.5
46.2
35.9
48.4
37.8
50.7
40.6
52.9
41.2
53.2
41.8
53.8
43.5
56.8
47.0
59.6
48.1

17.1

NA

NA

22.6

19.1

NA

NA

19.6

NA

21.0

1970
66.3
1971
67.6
1972
70.0
1973
73.9
1974
75.6
1975
74.5
1976
74.2

NA
57.1
NA
59.4
NA
60.7
NA
64.0
NA
65.9
NA
65.5
NA
65.7

58.3
48.4
61.7
49.5
64.5
51.8
67.6
56.3
68.1
55.3
64.8
54.0
70.5
56.8

France

(unified)

Former West

Nether-

Germany

Italy

lands

NA

19.2

12.7

14.7

20.2

NA

28.8

18.2

18.9

39.2

26.5

NA

38.4

23.0

24.5

22.9

40.2

28.3

NA

39.6

24.6

24.8

NA

24.1

42.6

30.0

NA

41.3

26.4

25.6

NA

NA

25.0

43.3

31.7

NA

42.4

27.3

26.5

23.7

NA

NA

26.5

47.2

33.9

NA

46.1

27.6

28.7

24.3

NA

NA

27.4

49.5

35.9

NA

48.7

29.7

30.5

26.8

NA

NA

29.1

51.0

39.1

NA

50.0

32.6

32.4

30.4

NA

NA

30.3

54.1

41.1

NA

51.7

34.7

34.7

33.9

NA

NA

33.0

57.7

44.1

NA

56.6

37.4

38.2

38.3

NA

NA

35.7

59.3

48.1

NA

60.7

38.5

41.4

42.6

NA

NA

38.3

60.8

50.3

NA

62.4

40.3

44.4

44.5

NA

NA

40.2

64.6

52.8

NA

63.4

39.8

46.5

48.5

NA

NA

43.9

68.4

54.7

NA

66.6

42.9

49.5

52.4

NA

NA

47.6

71.2

57.6

NA

70.4

47.0

53.8

51.5

NA

NA

48.7

75.0

58.1

NA

71.4

48.2

56.0

51.8

NA

NA

48.0

79.9

58.4

NA

72.5

45.8

54.2

56.5

NA

NA

53.8

83.2

62.1

NA

79.9

52.1

60.0

1977
74.1
1978
73.9
1979
78.0

67.1
64.1
67.9
64.2
68.4
68.1

75.1
57.7
77.5
58.3
76.3
58.5

58.9

NA

NA

56.1

84.1

65.2

NA

81.1

52.9

64.6

61.5

NA

NA

59.4

84.3

67.6

NA

82.8

56.2

68.2

67.0

NA

NA

62.6

88.4

70.6

NA

86.0

61.1

70.7

1980
77.1
1981
76.9
1982
79.4
1983
82.5
1984
87.4
1985
89.8
1986
88.7
1987
90.7
1988
90.3
1989
93.3

67.9
68.4
71.4
68.5
72.1
71.5
77.8
77.8
82.0
83.5
84.9
83.6
84.8
84.5
92.1
87.3
96.9
88.1
95.7
90.6

74.7
55.9
76.8
58.0
75.6
61.7
81.7
66.7
89.3
70.9
92.0
73.2
90.0
75.9
91.4
80.1
93.6
85.0
94.3
88.1

68.0

NA

NA

65.6

93.9

71.0

NA

83.5

64.1

71.8

69.7

NA

NA

68.7

94.3

72.1

NA

84.1

65.6

73.8

72.3

NA

NA

73.7

96.0

74.0

NA

83.7

66.6

75.9

73.4

NA

NA

79.2

102.1

75.4

NA

87.9

69.7

82.1

76.6

NA

NA

82.5

101.2

76.7

NA

90.9

76.1

88.8

82.1

NA

NA

85.7

98.4

79.2

NA

93.1

79.5

90.2

81.2

NA

NA

86.5

94.9

80.6

NA

93.0

82.6

91.5

86.0

NA

NA

88.4

92.2

82.6

NA

91.3

86.1

91.9

90.9

NA

NA

93.0

95.8

88.6

NA

94.4

90.1

94.7

94.8

NA

NA

97.5

100.2

92.9

NA

96.2

92.7

97.6

1990
95.1
1991
96.4
1992
100.0
1993
100.9
1994
102.0
1995
101.6
1996
101.1
1997
101.9
1998
102.9

96.3
93.1
96.6
94.2
100.0
100.0
103.4
110.2
109.7
127.5
115.6
131.5
118.7
134.5
123.9
143.8
128.2
148.2

95.9
90.1
95.1
93.1
100.0
100.0
105.6
103.8
112.2
108.1
112.7
107.1
111.8
105.6
116.4
106.4
115.3
106.2

99.7

NA

NA

98.5

98.4

94.1

NA

98.8

93.6

99.1

102.2

NA

NA

99.2

99.3

96.4

94.7

101.0

95.3

99.8

100.0

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

99.6

NA

NA

100.9

103.6

100.5

99.4

97.6

100.9

101.4

101.4

NA

NA

109.7

114.0

108.5

107.9

104.7

106.4

112.7

109.7

NA

NA

113.3

116.9

113.9

110.6

107.3

110.2

118.1

115.4

NA

NA

117.6

111.6

114.5

110.4

109.3

109.5

120.0

119.6

NA

NA

127.5

115.4

122.7

115.9

116.0

112.0

121.6

117.3

NA

NA

129.8

117.4

124.5

117.1

122.3

111.3

124.1

1999
102.5
NA:

137.8
153.0

119.1
110.3

121.5

NA

NA

132.7

115.9

127.2

118.0

NA

112.7

126.8

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.
Source:
- 19 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

NetherYear
lands

States
Norway

Canada
Sweden

United
Japan
Kingdom

1950
16.8

NA
38.5

22.6
30.9

1955
23.0

NA
47.2

1960
31.7
1961
32.8
1962
34.5
1963
35.9
1964
39.3
1965
42.1
1966
44.3
1967
46.1
1968
50.4
1969
55.3

NA
57.0
NA
59.4
NA
59.8
NA
63.4
NA
67.9
NA
71.5
NA
75.8
NA
78.2
NA
80.1
NA
86.0

Former West

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

(unified)

Germany

Italy

2.2
49.8

NA

NA

NA

26.8

18.4

NA

14.5

9.6

29.2
35.7

4.9
58.5

NA

NA

NA

29.4

22.9

NA

27.5

14.9

34.2
45.9
35.6
49.0
40.0
52.8
42.8
55.4
46.9
60.3
51.2
64.5
54.5
66.3
55.6
68.5
58.9
72.0
63.0
77.7

10.7
67.7
12.9
67.8
14.0
68.0
15.6
70.4
18.1
76.8
18.8
79.0
21.3
80.4
25.6
80.9
29.5
86.6
34.4
89.9

NA

NA

30.7

40.8

31.0

NA

41.5

21.9

NA

NA

32.1

43.0

33.3

NA

44.0

24.2

NA

NA

34.6

46.7

35.7

NA

46.2

26.8

NA

NA

36.2

47.3

38.4

NA

47.1

28.5

NA

NA

39.5

52.9

42.0

NA

51.2

28.9

NA

NA

40.8

56.3

44.1

NA

55.0

30.4

NA

NA

43.2

57.5

48.1

NA

55.9

33.1

NA

NA

43.7

58.1

50.4

NA

54.7

36.4

NA

NA

46.7

62.6

53.2

NA

60.3

39.8

NA

NA

52.2

66.0

59.6

NA

67.4

42.4

1970
59.5
1971
61.5
1972
63.2
1973
67.7
1974
70.2
1975
65.6
1976
69.6
1977
73.1
1978
75.4
1979
77.3

NA
89.9
NA
92.3
NA
96.5
NA
102.0
NA
105.6
NA
103.2
NA
102.8
72.5
102.7
76.5
100.6
79.0
104.7

60.6
80.7
64.4
81.2
69.5
81.7
76.0
87.5
77.6
92.2
71.8
92.5
78.1
92.5
81.5
87.2
86.5
84.9
88.3
90.3

39.2
90.3
41.0
89.3
44.7
91.2
50.4
99.6
49.1
98.3
46.6
91.6
50.6
93.3
52.2
95.1
53.7
95.6
58.4
95.4

7.0

12.7

57.6

68.0

64.1

NA

70.9

45.8

8.3

15.5

60.1

69.4

68.1

NA

71.6

46.4

9.5

18.9

64.7

75.3

71.3

NA

73.8

49.0

12.3

22.3

70.6

79.5

76.7

NA

78.5

55.3

14.3

21.0

73.4

80.7

78.2

NA

77.7

58.9

16.2

22.0

67.9

78.7

76.6

NA

74.1

55.5

19.9

27.0

73.0

82.5

81.1

NA

79.8

63.8

22.8

30.6

73.3

82.9

84.8

NA

81.3

66.0

27.5

37.1

74.3

82.7

86.8

NA

82.8

69.2

30.1

40.0

76.2

87.4

89.3

NA

87.1

76.4

1980
77.4
1981
77.5
1982
76.7
1983
79.1
1984
83.6
1985
86.1
1986
88.3
1987
89.5
1988
92.8
1989
96.9

75.8
103.6
79.2
101.7
74.6
101.3
79.2
99.9
87.6
104.7
90.0
108.5
88.6
108.1
96.4
110.7
103.2
105.3
102.4
101.3

86.0
90.7
88.1
88.0
78.8
88.3
83.0
93.9
93.3
101.3
98.3
102.9
99.4
104.0
103.9
106.6
110.1
109.8
112.6
110.9

60.4
87.2
62.6
81.8
64.6
81.7
66.6
83.4
71.0
86.5
76.7
89.0
75.5
90.1
79.0
94.4
85.3
101.4
90.9
105.4

29.9

44.0

78.2

91.3

88.7

NA

85.3

80.4

32.7

47.3

77.2

88.4

87.3

NA

84.4

78.8

34.6

48.5

80.4

89.8

88.2

NA

81.5

77.5

39.5

54.1

84.6

95.8

88.0

NA

82.7

77.8

46.0

62.2

87.2

100.3

87.0

NA

85.2

80.9

48.8

64.3

89.1

103.5

87.3

NA

88.3

83.3

57.9

74.7

89.1

103.5

87.3

NA

89.7

85.5

68.5

84.3

88.8

99.3

87.2

NA

88.0

88.7

76.7

87.7

93.3

100.8

92.2

NA

90.9

94.5

79.4

90.8

99.1

104.3

97.2

NA

94.0

98.1

1990
100.1
1991
100.6

101.6
100.2
98.3
98.3

108.6
110.1
99.0
104.1

97.1
105.3
102.0
100.0

86.7

90.0

101.0

102.7

99.1

NA

99.1

99.6

95.0

96.1

100.7

101.7

99.8

102.3

102.8

99.2

1992
100.0
1993
98.2
1994
104.2
1995
107.8
1996
108.4
1997
111.2
1998
114.9
1999
118.4
NA:

100.0
100.0
103.5
102.7
111.1
106.7
118.4
109.0
121.3
110.1
127.9
115.7
133.3
117.6
141.0
114.0

100.0
100.0
104.6
101.9
113.2
117.1
118.1
128.4
119.8
131.1
128.1
138.6
133.1
144.6
141.3
150.7

100.0
100.0
96.3
101.4
94.9
106.1
98.9
107.8
103.0
108.2
106.5
109.6
100.2
110.1
101.0
110.1

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

105.4

102.4

97.0

99.0

95.7

92.5

91.8

96.4

116.8

108.5

101.4

109.3

100.3

95.2

93.5

102.2

129.9

114.9

104.2

114.7

104.9

95.3

93.7

107.2

138.7

120.3

106.6

109.7

104.6

92.6

92.5

105.6

147.8

128.3

113.8

112.6

109.7

95.7

95.8

108.3

136.8

132.6

116.3

115.3

111.5

97.1

100.7

110.3

166.7

141.5

117.7

111.5

114.2

97.5

NA

111.4

Germany

Former West

Not Available

Source:
- 20 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

States
Norway

Canada
Sweden

United
Japan
Kingdom

1950
148.6

85.5
156.1

84.7
158.5

1955
159.1

94.6
164.2

1960
170.6
1961
167.1
1962
169.2
1963
169.5
1964
170.0

92.1
154.1
89.7
154.9
93.4
156.3
94.4
157.3
96.4
159.6

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

(unified)

Germany

Italy

NA
195.7

NA

NA

NA

118.7

140.0

NA

109.8

83.6

89.4
167.3

57.0
213.2

NA

NA

NA

119.8

138.0

NA

139.6

92.5

88.3
168.3
87.1
171.0
90.3
170.8
92.6
169.1
97.2
169.6

77.8
217.4
82.4
217.5
85.2
213.3
87.9
209.7
90.0
214.7

NA

NA

170.7

136.5

142.3

NA

142.3

108.7

NA

NA

175.9

136.2

143.8

NA

143.9

110.9

NA

NA

180.3

140.7

144.8

NA

140.8

110.8

NA

NA

181.8

138.0

148.0

NA

138.1

114.9

NA

NA

186.5

142.6

149.7

NA

138.0

115.2

1965
170.4
1966
168.3
1967
162.7
1968
158.8
1969
158.5

102.0
158.5
108.6
161.2
108.0
160.5
109.6
155.0
110.9
152.1

101.9
168.8
106.8
166.5
107.9
158.4
108.2
152.6
109.7
152.5

89.8
214.4
92.8
211.2
98.3
203.1
101.4
202.9
103.0
205.6

NA

NA

183.2

144.9

146.9

NA

140.0

108.8

NA

NA

181.5

140.8

148.3

NA

136.7

109.4

NA

NA

173.6

132.7

146.2

NA

125.9

114.5

NA

NA

170.9

130.9

139.7

NA

128.3

116.0

NA

NA

174.9

132.7

147.1

NA

133.8

119.2

1970
156.2
1971
152.4
1972
144.9
1973
140.2
1974
135.4
1975
128.2
1976
122.7
1977
119.1
1978
115.2
1979
112.7

104.4
154.3
100.5
153.8
105.1
153.0
110.4
152.5
107.9
151.9
97.2
150.0
101.9
145.8
106.1
143.6
110.6
138.3
112.7
134.0

107.1
154.7
107.4
149.1
110.8
142.9
114.9
142.5
115.5
144.0
111.1
142.3
111.0
140.2
108.8
134.2
112.8
127.1
116.2
125.5

104.4
202.1
103.1
190.6
102.6
184.4
106.0
187.9
100.6
182.5
92.8
173.6
95.1
169.5
94.4
171.2
93.4
169.8
93.8
168.2

NA

NA

174.7

129.0

149.0

NA

136.3

120.9

NA

NA

171.4

123.3

149.7

NA

132.5

120.6

NA

NA

165.2

123.8

149.9

NA

128.7

117.5

NA

NA

162.1

118.8

150.7

NA

128.4

122.4

NA

NA

160.4

116.7

150.3

NA

122.9

122.4

NA

NA

142.6

103.5

142.3

NA

112.5

119.3

NA

NA

139.4

104.7

141.9

NA

113.1

120.5

NA

NA

133.3

103.1

140.1

NA

111.8

122.2

NA

NA

127.4

101.4

137.3

NA

110.1

120.4

NA

NA

124.2

102.1

134.9

NA

111.0

121.4

1980
111.8
1981
109.4
1982
106.3
1983
101.6
1984
97.9
1985
96.7
1986
97.3

107.5
135.0
107.0
133.0
97.9
127.1
98.9
121.2
105.3
119.7
104.6
120.2
103.0
121.6

114.6
124.0
113.2
121.0
102.0
117.2
100.7
116.1
103.3
118.9
106.4
119.4
110.5
118.9

95.6
155.3
95.9
138.7
95.1
131.3
96.8
124.3
99.8
122.4
100.3
123.1
99.2
120.5

NA

NA

119.7

101.1

133.3

NA

110.5

122.0

NA

NA

110.2

96.3

127.4

NA

107.1

116.8

NA

NA

109.4

97.5

120.3

NA

103.4

113.0

NA

NA

104.3

99.2

117.4

NA

100.1

108.4

NA

NA

102.6

104.4

114.2

NA

99.7

103.2

NA

NA

102.4

107.0

110.4

NA

99.1

100.8

NA

NA

101.5

113.7

108.6

NA

100.1

102.1

1987
97.7
1988
99.0
1989
99.8

103.8
118.6
106.6
114.3
107.1
107.1

114.7
119.5
121.2
121.4
120.2
119.0

98.5
118.9
101.7
123.2
102.7
122.4

NA

NA

100.0

109.6

106.6

NA

99.9

103.5

NA

NA

101.5

107.2

105.4

NA

99.3

108.9

NA

NA

102.3

104.7

105.8

NA

99.3

109.7

1990
101.5
1991
101.0
1992
100.0
1993
96.9
1994
92.4
1995
91.6
1996
90.5
1997
91.2
1998
92.2
1999
93.0

104.8
103.7
100.4
100.8
100.0
100.0
101.4
102.1
103.6
105.2
104.0
106.8
103.7
107.9
105.5
112.3
105.2
113.2
104.3
109.8

113.5
116.4
103.9
109.0
100.0
100.0
100.1
94.9
103.0
98.1
106.4
105.3
109.4
105.3
113.5
104.3
118.3
105.8
122.7
107.1

102.9
119.3
103.1
108.6
100.0
100.0
94.7
97.5
91.9
99.4
89.1
103.3
88.7
105.8
88.0
106.4
82.7
107.0
80.3
102.5

NA

NA

104.3

103.7

105.9

NA

100.1

107.7

NA

NA

101.5

102.1

103.0

103.3

100.9

104.2

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

NA

NA

94.7

94.8

95.1

90.8

91.3

93.6

NA

NA

93.6

NA

92.4

86.6

86.7

96.7

NA

NA

92.0

NA

91.6

84.5

84.3

98.0

NA

NA

91.1

NA

91.0

80.3

80.4

96.5

NA

NA

89.7

NA

89.5

79.1

78.6

97.1

NA

NA

90.3

NA

89.9

80.2

79.3

99.3

NA

NA

91.3

NA

88.6

79.6

NA

98.6

NA:

Not Available

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

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

United
Year
Norway

States
Sweden

Canada
Kingdom

Japan

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

1950
119.2

84.3
120.1

77.9
168.3

NA

NA

NA

NA

84.4

113.7

(unified)

NA

Former West

Nether-

Germany

Italy

lands

75.2

75.8

114.1

1955
125.1

93.1
127.7

85.3
181.0

47.8

NA

NA

NA

86.7

113.3

NA

95.5

81.9

121.8

1960
122.2
1961
124.7
1962
126.2
1963
127.7
1964
128.7
1965
130.8
1966
132.7
1967
133.4
1968
132.0
1969
132.5

92.6
135.7
90.0
139.6
92.8
140.9
93.5
141.4
94.9
143.4
99.3
144.4
105.4
142.7
106.7
138.2
108.5
136.0
110.6
138.7

84.8
188.4
84.1
191.0
86.5
189.2
88.5
186.2
92.5
189.1
96.9
191.6
102.4
192.1
103.3
186.2
103.8
184.4
105.7
186.9

62.8

NA

NA

135.7

104.1

116.9

NA

108.1

95.1

129.4

67.5

NA

NA

140.1

107.0

117.7

NA

111.3

98.1

132.2

71.3

NA

NA

143.3

109.7

118.9

NA

111.8

101.2

134.7

74.1

NA

NA

144.7

109.3

121.5

NA

111.0

104.4

135.4

76.4

NA

NA

148.8

112.0

123.7

NA

111.0

104.7

137.1

77.4

NA

NA

148.7

113.9

122.5

NA

113.0

102.3

137.9

79.7

NA

NA

148.5

112.8

123.2

NA

111.8

101.7

137.0

84.3

NA

NA

143.9

107.5

122.7

NA

105.8

105.0

132.9

87.2

NA

NA

141.5

108.5

120.6

NA

106.6

106.4

132.1

89.7

NA

NA

146.3

111.4

124.1

NA

111.0

110.0

133.7

1970
135.5
1971
136.4
1972
137.8
1973
138.1
1974
139.6
1975
138.6
1976
138.4
1977
138.6
1978
136.1
1979
134.2

106.3
141.2
102.2
136.7
105.0
134.6
110.5
136.8
110.1
140.0
100.6
141.3
104.2
141.0
108.2
136.0
112.7
132.3
115.6
132.7

103.9
186.6
104.4
180.3
107.7
176.0
112.5
177.0
113.9
177.7
110.9
169.6
110.7
164.2
108.5
164.7
111.7
164.0
115.7
163.1

91.9

NA

NA

150.2

111.9

127.3

NA

113.6

113.6

134.3

92.3

NA

NA

149.6

107.3

128.9

NA

112.9

116.7

132.2

92.3

NA

NA

147.4

110.1

130.4

NA

110.8

114.4

127.5

96.2

NA

NA

148.4

111.6

133.2

NA

111.5

117.8

125.8

95.3

NA

NA

150.7

107.6

134.6

NA

108.9

122.1

125.4

90.0

NA

NA

141.5

98.5

131.2

NA

102.2

121.1

121.0

89.5

NA

NA

135.8

99.2

130.5

NA

99.9

122.3

116.0

88.6

NA

NA

130.5

98.5

130.0

NA

100.3

124.7

113.1

87.4

NA

NA

125.0

98.0

128.4

NA

100.0

123.1

110.5

87.2

NA

NA

121.8

98.8

126.5

NA

101.2

125.0

109.3

1980
134.5
1981
132.3
1982
127.5
1983
121.0
1984
119.8
1985
120.7
1986
122.0
1987
122.0
1988
116.6
1989
108.7

111.6
132.6
111.0
128.4
103.5
123.4
101.8
120.7
106.8
121.3
106.0
123.1
104.5
123.1
104.7
122.1
106.6
124.6
107.0
122.5

115.1
155.8
114.8
141.1
104.3
132.4
101.6
125.0
104.4
122.1
106.8
121.6
110.4
118.8
113.7
117.8
117.6
119.2
119.4
119.6

88.9

NA

NA

119.3

97.2

125.0

NA

102.2

125.4

107.8

89.8

NA

NA

112.4

93.8

121.0

NA

100.3

120.1

105.0

89.3

NA

NA

109.2

93.6

119.1

NA

97.4

116.4

101.0

90.8

NA

NA

106.8

93.9

116.7

NA

94.1

111.7

96.4

92.7

NA

NA

105.7

99.1

113.4

NA

93.7

106.3

94.2

93.5

NA

NA

104.0

105.2

110.3

NA

94.9

104.8

95.4

93.0

NA

NA

103.0

109.1

108.3

NA

96.4

103.5

96.5

91.9

NA

NA

100.5

107.7

105.6

NA

96.4

103.0

97.4

93.9

NA

NA

100.4

105.3

104.1

NA

96.3

104.8

98.0

95.9

NA

NA

101.7

104.1

104.7

NA

97.6

105.8

99.3

1990
105.4
1991
101.9
1992
100.0
1993
101.8
1994
104.7
1995
107.2
1996
108.9
1997
113.6
1998
114.3
1999
111.3

105.4
118.3
101.8
110.5
100.0
100.0
100.1
92.4
101.3
91.8
102.5
97.7
102.2
97.4
103.2
96.4
104.0
97.6
102.3
98.5

113.2
116.8
104.1
107.4
100.0
100.0
99.1
97.6
100.9
98.2
104.8
100.6
107.2
102.4
110.1
103.0
115.4
103.7
118.7
99.9

97.5

NA

NA

102.5

104.3

105.4

NA

100.3

106.4

101.1

99.8

NA

NA

101.5

102.4

103.6

108.0

101.8

104.1

100.7

100.0

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

96.8

NA

NA

96.1

95.5

95.2

93.0

94.0

95.5

96.9

93.6

NA

NA

92.5

95.8

92.4

88.2

89.3

96.0

92.4

90.1

NA

NA

91.9

98.1

92.1

86.2

87.3

97.2

91.3

89.3

NA

NA

90.6

98.3

91.3

83.8

84.6

96.4

90.3

89.1

NA

NA

89.2

97.5

89.4

82.6

82.6

96.7

91.4

85.5

NA

NA

89.6

98.3

89.6

82.9

82.4

99.1

92.6

83.2

NA

NA

88.7

96.2

89.8

82.6

NA

98.8

93.4

NA:

Not Available

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

Source:
- 22 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

NetherYear
lands

States
Norway

Canada
Sweden

United
Japan
Kingdom

1950
130.3

101.4
130.9

108.8
131.9

1955
130.6

101.5
131.2

1960
131.9
1961
126.5
1962
125.6
1963
125.2
1964
124.0
1965
123.6
1966
122.9
1967
122.4
1968
120.2
1969
118.5
1970
116.4
1971
115.3
1972
113.6
1973

Former West

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

(unified)

Germany

Italy

NA
116.3

NA

NA

NA

140.7

123.1

NA

146.0

110.2

104.8
131.0

119.3
117.8

NA

NA

NA

138.2

121.8

NA

146.1

113.0

99.5
126.1
99.6
124.2
100.6
123.8
100.9
123.2
101.6
124.0
102.7
121.1
103.0
121.5
101.2
120.3
101.0
117.5
100.2
114.7

104.1
124.0
103.6
122.5
104.4
121.2
104.7
119.6
105.1
118.2
105.1
116.9
104.4
116.7
104.4
114.7
104.2
112.2
103.8
110.0

123.9
115.4
122.0
113.9
119.5
112.7
118.6
112.6
117.9
113.5
115.9
111.9
116.5
110.0
116.7
109.1
116.4
110.0
114.8
110.0

NA

NA

125.8

131.2

121.8

NA

131.7

114.3

NA

NA

125.5

127.3

122.2

NA

129.4

113.1

NA

NA

125.8

128.3

121.8

NA

126.0

109.5

NA

NA

125.7

126.3

121.8

NA

124.4

110.0

NA

NA

125.3

127.4

121.0

NA

124.3

110.0

NA

NA

123.2

127.2

119.9

NA

123.9

106.4

NA

NA

122.2

124.8

120.4

NA

122.3

107.6

NA

NA

120.7

123.4

119.2

NA

119.0

109.1

NA

NA

120.7

120.6

115.9

NA

120.4

109.1

NA

NA

119.5

119.1

118.6

NA

120.6

108.3

98.2
113.9
98.4
112.7
100.0
111.0
99.9

103.2
109.5
102.8
109.0
102.9
106.2
102.1

113.6
108.3
111.8
105.8
111.1
104.8
110.2

NA

NA

116.3

115.3

117.1

NA

119.9

106.4

NA

NA

114.6

114.9

116.1

NA

117.3

103.4

NA

NA

112.0

112.4

115.0

NA

116.2

102.7

NA

NA

109.3

106.4

113.2

NA

115.2

103.9

111.4
1974
108.0
1975
106.0
1976
105.8
1977
105.3
1978
104.3
1979
103.1

110.4
98.0
108.8
96.6
108.2
97.7
105.4
98.1
103.6
98.1
101.6
97.5
99.9

104.2
101.4
102.9
100.2
100.7
100.3
99.5
100.2
98.7
101.0
96.1
100.5
94.6

106.2
105.6
102.7
103.2
102.4
106.2
103.3
106.5
104.0
106.9
103.5
107.6
103.1

1980
103.7
1981
104.2
1982
105.3
1983
105.4
1984
104.0
1985
101.3
1986
100.8
1987
100.3
1988
101.1
1989
100.5

96.3
100.4
96.4
100.6
94.6
99.7
97.2
100.1
98.6
99.9
98.7
99.6
98.6
99.7
99.1
97.2
100.0
98.0
100.0
98.6

99.5
93.6
98.6
94.2
97.8
94.9
99.1
96.2
99.0
98.0
99.6
96.9
100.0
96.5
100.9
97.9
103.0
97.5
100.7
97.2

1990
100.5
1991
100.2
1992
100.0
1993
100.0
1994
100.0
1995

99.4
98.4
98.7
98.9
100.0
100.0
101.3
100.3
102.2
100.5
101.5

100.2
98.5
99.8
98.7
100.0
100.0
101.1
102.8
102.0
106.8
101.5

NA

NA

106.4

108.5

111.7

NA

112.9

100.3

NA

NA

100.7

105.1

108.4

NA

110.1

98.5

NA

NA

102.6

105.6

108.7

NA

113.2

98.5

NA

NA

102.1

104.6

107.8

NA

111.5

98.0

NA

NA

101.9

103.4

106.9

NA

110.1

97.8

NA

NA

102.0

103.3

106.6

NA

109.7

97.1

107.6
99.7
106.8
98.3
106.5
99.2
106.6
99.5
107.7
100.3
107.3
101.3
106.7
101.4
107.2
100.9
108.3
103.4
107.1
102.3

NA

NA

100.4

104.0

106.7

NA

108.1

97.3

NA

NA

98.1

102.7

105.3

NA

106.8

97.3

NA

NA

100.2

104.2

101.0

NA

106.2

97.1

NA

NA

97.7

105.6

100.6

NA

106.4

97.1

NA

NA

97.1

105.3

100.8

NA

106.4

97.1

NA

NA

98.5

101.8

100.1

NA

104.5

96.2

NA

NA

98.6

104.2

100.3

NA

103.9

98.6

NA

NA

99.4

101.8

100.9

NA

103.6

100.4

NA

NA

101.1

101.8

101.3

NA

103.2

104.0

NA

NA

100.6

100.6

101.1

NA

101.7

103.7

105.6
102.1
103.2
101.1
100.0
100.0
97.9
99.8
98.1
101.3
98.8

NA

NA

101.8

99.4

100.6

NA

99.8

101.2

NA

NA

100.0

99.7

99.4

95.6

99.1

100.1

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

NA

NA

98.5

99.2

99.9

97.6

97.0

98.0

NA

NA

101.2

NA

100.0

98.2

97.1

100.7

NA

NA

100.1

NA

99.5

98.0

96.5

100.8

100.3
1996
100.2
1997
99.8
1998
99.6
1999
99.6
NA:

99.6
101.5
99.1
102.2
98.9
101.2
99.1
102.0
98.7

107.8
102.1
108.1
103.2
108.2
102.5
108.4
103.4
108.7

102.7
99.4
103.3
98.8
103.3
96.7
103.2
96.6
102.6

NA

NA

100.5

NA

99.6

95.8

95.0

100.0

NA

NA

100.6

NA

100.1

95.8

95.2

100.4

NA

NA

100.8

NA

100.4

96.8

96.2

100.2

NA

NA

102.9

NA

98.7

96.4

NA

99.8

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.
Source:
- 23 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

NetherYear
lands

States
Norway

Canada*
Sweden*

1950
3.1

8.7
2.2

5.4
1.9

1955
4.5

11.7
3.4

1960
6.4
1961
7.3
1962
7.8
1963
8.6
1964
9.9
1965
11.1
1966
12.5

14.9
4.7
15.3
5.2
15.9
5.7
16.4
6.1
17.0
6.5
17.4
7.2
18.2
7.8

United
Japan
Kingdom*

Denmark

France*

(unified)

Former West

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Germany

Italy

NA
1.6

NA

NA

NA

2.5

1.6

NA

3.4

0.8

7.7
2.9

3.1
2.3

NA

NA

NA

3.4

2.8

NA

5.0

1.2

9.9
4.1
10.2
4.5
10.6
5.0
11.0
5.5
11.5
6.0
12.2
6.6
13.1
7.3

4.3
3.1
5.0
3.3
5.7
3.4
6.4
3.6
7.2
3.8
8.1
4.2
8.9
4.5

NA

NA

5.4

4.6

4.3

NA

8.1

1.6

NA

NA

5.7

5.2

4.7

NA

9.1

1.8

NA

NA

6.2

5.6

5.2

NA

10.3

2.1

NA

NA

6.8

6.1

5.7

NA

11.0

2.5

NA

NA

7.7

6.6

6.2

NA

11.9

2.6

NA

NA

8.5

7.4

6.7

NA

13.1

2.8

NA

NA

9.4

8.4

7.1

NA

14.2

3.0

1967
13.8
1968
15.4
1969
17.4

19.2
8.8
20.7
9.6
22.2
10.6

13.7
8.1
14.7
8.8
15.9
9.6

10.0
4.7
11.6
5.0
13.8
5.5

NA

NA

10.3

9.4

7.6

NA

15.0

3.3

NA

NA

11.0

10.3

8.6

NA

16.1

3.5

NA

NA

12.1

11.6

9.2

NA

17.6

3.9

1970
20.2
1971
23.1
1972
26.5
1973
31.6
1974
37.7
1975
43.1
1976
48.1
1977
52.5
1978
56.8
1979
61.1

23.7
11.8
25.2
13.5
26.5
15.2
28.5
17.1
31.6
20.1
35.5
24.0
38.4
27.7
41.8
31.1
45.2
34.1
49.6
35.8

17.0
10.7
18.1
12.1
19.4
13.5
21.1
15.2
24.6
17.9
28.2
21.9
32.4
25.7
36.0
28.1
38.7
31.1
42.6
33.5

16.4
6.3
19.0
7.2
21.9
8.3
26.7
9.5
35.0
11.4
40.8
15.1
43.9
17.6
48.5
19.8
51.7
23.1
55.0
27.5

NA

NA

13.7

13.3

10.3

NA

20.7

4.7

NA

NA

15.9

15.2

11.6

NA

23.2

5.4

NA

NA

18.8

16.9

12.8

NA

25.6

6.1

NA

NA

22.3

20.5

14.7

NA

29.0

7.2

NA

NA

27.4

24.8

17.4

NA

33.0

9.3

NA

NA

33.1

29.6

21.3

NA

36.4

11.8

NA

NA

38.3

33.0

24.4

NA

39.1

14.6

NA

NA

41.4

36.5

27.7

NA

42.8

17.3

NA

NA

44.4

40.2

31.2

NA

45.9

20.0

NA

NA

47.2

45.0

35.4

NA

49.3

24.2

1980
64.4
1981
67.4
1982
71.5
1983
74.9
1984
77.7
1985
81.8
1986
85.0
1987
87.8
1988
87.7

55.6
39.0
61.1
43.3
67.0
48.2
68.8
52.9
71.2
57.9
75.1
63.4
78.5
69.1
80.7
78.4
84.0
83.3

47.4
37.3
53.7
41.2
60.9
44.2
65.2
49.0
68.9
53.2
71.8
58.6
72.8
63.4
74.6
67.6
77.4
71.8

58.5
33.2
62.6
38.5
65.7
42.4
67.5
45.5
69.5
49.1
72.4
53.1
76.0
57.6
77.8
64.8
79.1
67.7

NA

NA

52.5

49.6

40.8

NA

53.6

28.4

NA

NA

57.3

54.6

47.2

NA

57.0

34.3

NA

NA

59.9

59.5

56.1

NA

60.4

40.4

NA

NA

65.7

63.6

61.9

NA

63.1

47.2

NA

NA

71.4

67.2

67.2

NA

66.0

54.1

NA

NA

75.3

71.7

72.8

NA

70.0

60.8

NA

NA

77.3

73.2

75.8

NA

72.8

63.3

NA

NA

79.7

80.1

78.6

NA

76.0

66.8

NA

NA

81.1

82.9

81.6

NA

79.1

69.3

1989
88.5

86.6
87.2

82.5
79.4

84.0
72.9

NA

NA

85.9

87.7

86.0

NA

83.2

75.9

1990
90.8
1991
95.2
1992
100.0
1993
103.7
1994
108.2
1995
110.6
1996
113.2
1997
116.2
1998
119.8
1999
123.5

90.8
92.3
95.6
97.5
100.0
100.0
102.7
101.5
105.6
104.4
107.9
109.2
109.3
113.6
111.4
118.7
117.3
126.2
122.0
133.4

88.3
87.8
95.0
95.5
100.0
100.0
102.0
97.1
103.7
99.8
106.0
106.3
105.1
114.1
108.2
119.1
111.2
124.1
113.0
127.1

90.5
80.9
96.4
90.5
100.0
100.0
102.8
104.3
104.9
106.5
108.3
107.0
109.2
107.1
112.9
110.3
115.8
114.6
115.5
119.7

NA

NA

90.1

92.7

90.6

NA

89.4

84.4

NA

NA

97.3

95.9

96.2

92.2

95.1

93.6

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

NA

NA

104.8

104.6

103.0

106.4

105.9

107.5

NA

NA

106.1

NA

105.6

112.0

111.7

107.8

NA

NA

109.2

NA

108.4

118.2

117.7

112.8

NA

NA

110.9

NA

110.2

123.8

123.7

120.3

NA

NA

114.7

NA

113.0

126.3

126.6

125.4

NA

NA

116.4

NA

114.9

127.5

127.6

123.0

NA

NA

116.8

NA

119.3

129.6

NA

126.5

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
costs to employers.
Source:
- 24 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

Table 8. Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 14 countries or areas, 1950-1999
(Indexes: 1992=100)
United
United
Year
Norway
1950
1.9

Germany

States
Canada*
Japan
Sweden*
Kingdom*
8.7
2.1

6.0
2.5

NA

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

NA

NA

NA

Denmark

2.2

France*

2.4

(unified)

NA

Former West
Germany

1.3

NetherItaly

lands

1.7

1.4

1955
2.9

11.7
3.3

9.4
3.6

1.1

NA

NA

1960
4.1
1961
4.5
1962
5.0
1963
5.3
1964
5.6
1965
6.2
1966
6.8
1967
7.6
1968
8.4
1969
9.3

14.9
4.6
15.3
5.0
15.9
5.6
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
4.9
12.2
5.2
12.0
5.5
12.3
5.7
12.9
6.1
13.6
6.6
14.6
7.2
15.4
7.3
16.5
6.8
17.8
7.4

1.5

NA

NA

1.8

NA

2.0

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

19.7
8.6
21.7
10.0
23.7
11.8
25.5
13.2
30.3
15.1
33.5
19.0
39.8
17.9
41.0
19.6
41.0
25.1
43.9
33.0

1980

55.6

49.0

NA

3.0

4.3

NA

1.9

2.4

2.1

3.5

4.0

4.6

NA

3.0

3.2

3.0

NA

3.7

4.5

5.1

NA

3.5

3.5

3.5

NA

NA

4.0

4.9

5.6

NA

4.0

4.1

3.8

2.2

NA

NA

4.4

5.4

6.1

NA

4.3

4.9

4.2

2.5

NA

NA

5.0

5.8

6.6

NA

4.7

5.2

4.8

2.8

NA

NA

5.5

6.4

7.2

NA

5.1

5.5

5.4

3.1

NA

NA

6.1

7.3

7.6

NA

5.5

5.9

6.1

3.5

NA

NA

6.7

8.1

8.2

NA

5.9

6.5

6.7

4.1

NA

NA

7.1

8.3

9.2

NA

6.3

7.0

7.5

4.9

NA

NA

7.7

9.3

9.4

NA

7.0

7.6

8.5

5.8

NA

NA

8.9

10.7

9.9

NA

8.9

9.2

9.8

6.9

NA

NA

10.5

12.4

11.1

NA

10.4

10.8

11.6

9.1

NA

NA

13.7

14.7

13.4

NA

12.6

12.8

14.5

12.5

NA

NA

18.5

20.5

17.5

NA

17.1

15.1

20.0

15.2

NA

NA

22.6

24.6

19.2

NA

19.9

17.7

24.7

17.4

NA

NA

29.0

31.1

26.3

NA

23.1

22.3

30.1

18.8

NA

NA

31.9

32.9

27.0

NA

24.3

21.7

32.0

22.9

NA

NA

37.1

36.7

29.8

NA

28.8

24.2

37.6

31.4

NA

NA

45.4

44.1

36.7

NA

35.8

29.0

46.2

32.0

NA

NA

51.7

51.6

44.0

NA

42.0

35.9

53.5

32.7

NA

NA

57.7

53.2

51.1

NA

46.1

40.8

57.0

49.0
1981
46.9
1982
46.4
1983
45.0
1984
44.1
1985
45.8
1986
58.0
1987
72.3
1988
79.3
1989
78.4

51.4
61.1
47.4
67.0
41.0
68.8
37.2
71.2
37.5
75.1
39.7
78.5
51.8
80.7
62.1
84.0
68.2
86.6
71.6

43.7
54.1
44.1
59.6
42.0
63.9
39.0
64.3
37.2
63.5
39.0
63.3
47.8
68.0
60.2
76.0
68.3
84.1
67.7

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
103.8
1999
106.2

90.8
86.4
95.6
91.9
100.0
100.0
102.7
72.6
105.6
75.3
107.9
86.7
109.3
99.1
111.4
90.7
117.3
90.9
122.0
89.5

91.5
81.7
100.1
90.5
100.0
100.0
95.5
88.7
91.7
92.4
93.3
95.6
93.1
94.7
94.4
102.3
90.6
107.5
91.9
109.6

NA:

36.0

NA

NA

49.5

46.2

46.0

NA

39.3

37.1

47.4

33.4

NA

NA

42.1

43.0

45.1

NA

38.8

36.8

47.1

36.0

NA

NA

41.3

42.0

43.0

NA

38.6

38.2

46.1

37.1

NA

NA

39.7

39.2

40.7

NA

36.3

37.9

42.6

38.5

NA

NA

40.8

40.9

42.9

NA

37.2

39.2

43.3

57.2

NA

NA

55.6

54.6

57.9

NA

52.4

52.3

61.1

68.2

NA

NA

68.6

70.6

69.2

NA

66.0

63.5

76.2

78.2

NA

NA

70.9

74.3

72.5

NA

70.4

65.5

78.0

77.1

NA

NA

70.1

72.3

71.4

NA

69.1

68.1

73.4

79.1

NA

NA

86.6

90.4

88.0

NA

86.4

86.8

87.7

90.8

NA

NA

91.5

90.5

90.2

86.7

89.4

92.9

89.4

100.0

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

117.3

NA

NA

97.4

97.4

96.2

100.4

100.0

84.2

98.1

130.1

NA

NA

102.1

NA

100.8

107.8

107.6

82.4

104.6

146.2

NA

NA

119.1

NA

115.1

128.9

128.3

85.3

121.2

127.2

NA

NA

115.1

NA

114.1

128.5

128.4

96.1

118.0

118.3

NA

NA

103.0

NA

102.5

113.7

114.0

90.7

104.6

112.0

NA

NA

103.0

NA

103.1

113.1

113.3

87.3

106.2

128.8

NA

NA

99.2

NA

102.6

110.3

NA

85.8

105.0

Not Available

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

* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
costs to employers.
Source:
- 25 -

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

NetherYear
lands

States
Norway

Canada*
Sweden*

United
Japan
Kingdom*

1950
27.5

NA
8.9

20.3
9.5

1955
31.3

NA
11.7

1960
34.4
1961
37.1
1962
38.2
1963
40.4
1964
42.9
1965
45.1
1966
47.3
1967
48.8
1968
48.4
1969
50.0
1970
52.9
1971
57.1
1972

Former West

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

(unified)

Germany

Italy

NA
6.3

NA

NA

NA

11.0

12.2

NA

25.5

7.3

23.5
13.8

36.4
8.3

NA

NA

NA

13.8

17.0

NA

25.4

7.5

NA
12.8
NA
13.5
NA
14.9
NA
15.1
NA
15.2
NA
15.9
NA
16.7
NA
18.0
NA
18.7
NA
18.8

25.6
15.0
25.0
15.6
23.9
16.2
23.8
16.9
23.8
16.9
24.2
17.4
25.6
18.2
26.7
18.7
26.9
18.5
27.6
18.8

31.3
9.8
32.1
10.5
34.9
10.8
36.1
10.7
35.8
10.7
38.7
11.4
38.9
11.9
38.5
11.7
40.0
11.7
41.4
12.5

NA

NA

30.1

15.4

19.5

NA

27.8

7.9

NA

NA

31.5

16.3

20.3

NA

29.7

8.1

NA

NA

32.1

17.0

21.1

NA

31.5

8.6

NA

NA

34.2

17.9

21.8

NA

32.2

9.9

NA

NA

36.3

17.9

22.0

NA

32.1

10.5

NA

NA

38.3

18.9

22.3

NA

33.3

10.1

NA

NA

39.6

20.5

21.8

NA

34.7

9.9

NA

NA

40.9

21.4

22.1

NA

34.5

10.4

NA

NA

40.3

21.6

22.6

NA

34.3

10.2

NA

NA

40.4

23.4

22.7

NA

35.0

10.9

NA
20.3
NA
22.5
NA

30.1
20.6
30.2
22.2
31.0

43.8
14.1
47.8
15.4
50.1

8.3

23.3

41.7

25.2

24.0

NA

39.8

12.4

8.8

24.4

45.2

27.1

25.5

NA

42.9

14.1

9.7

24.4

47.9

27.8

26.9

NA

44.7

14.6

60.8
1973
65.3
1974
72.7
1975
84.3
1976
84.8
1977
85.5
1978
86.8
1979
89.0

24.1
NA
25.5
NA
28.9
NA
34.8
NA
39.3
61.2
43.5
65.3
46.8
70.7
45.8

23.6
32.0
24.8
36.6
27.9
43.6
33.7
46.2
38.9
48.1
43.3
50.5
46.6
56.0
46.6

16.8
56.2
17.9
71.8
21.1
81.3
28.7
82.6
31.9
87.6
35.7
89.8
41.1
88.4
48.5

1980
93.0
1981
95.1
1982
99.2
1983
96.2
1984
90.9
1985
91.8
1986
93.7
1987
95.9
1988
93.6
1989
91.1

78.8
50.8
82.4
56.6
87.9
60.5
86.0
64.2
85.6
66.3
87.3
70.2
91.2
77.7
86.9
84.1
86.7
90.4
90.5
92.2

63.2
51.0
69.0
56.6
78.8
58.7
79.0
60.7
76.3
62.5
77.7
68.0
81.0
72.4
82.4
75.8
85.2
79.4
88.0
85.1

1990
92.1
1991
95.5
1992
100.0
1993
102.3
1994

93.7
95.6
97.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.6
100.9
98.5

92.3
92.9
99.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.6
90.5
94.3

11.6

28.2

51.2

30.6

28.8

NA

47.5

15.8

14.2

42.7

59.9

35.9

33.5

NA

52.1

19.4

16.3

43.4

69.5

38.9

39.5

NA

55.2

25.4

20.7

44.6

73.1

41.8

42.7

NA

55.4

27.7

24.4

46.4

75.3

45.4

45.8

NA

58.8

32.1

29.3

46.5

76.1

49.3

49.4

NA

61.1

34.7

35.9

52.8

76.8

52.5

53.5

NA

62.9

38.4

92.5
59.1
96.0
65.3
96.7
68.2
98.0
67.8
97.7
69.4
94.6
73.5
99.9
77.0
97.0
81.6
94.3
82.3
94.9
84.7

45.1

61.1

80.3

55.0

61.3

NA

69.4

43.1

52.1

70.9

81.7

59.5

69.0

NA

72.4

50.9

55.6

75.5

81.5

64.6

76.5

NA

76.7

58.9

59.6

73.9

81.1

65.8

82.6

NA

76.4

65.7

61.9

76.8

84.0

69.9

88.2

NA

77.3

68.9

62.1

80.0

86.5

74.2

92.0

NA

78.6

73.5

62.1

82.1

88.0

80.4

94.3

NA

81.2

75.6

66.9

82.1

89.7

88.4

96.1

NA

86.3

78.0

76.1

84.4

88.1

88.2

93.3

NA

86.5

79.9

81.5

88.3

88.7

88.1

93.6

NA

87.9

84.9

95.9
91.7
97.4
98.2
100.0
100.0
101.1
100.3
101.5

85.9

95.1

93.0

93.6

96.8

NA

90.3

91.3

95.0

96.4

98.1

96.3

99.3

93.1

93.3

98.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

103.8

100.9

102.3

100.1

102.4

104.5

105.3

104.4

108.2

101.9

97.9

93.0

97.3

101.9

103.6

102.1

96.0
1995
94.0
1996
94.5
1997
95.3
1998
96.1
1999
97.0
NA:

102.9
94.8
107.0
93.5
111.4
91.9
115.2
92.5
121.5
90.3
128.4

83.5
95.5
87.2
95.9
91.7
95.9
89.6
98.8
90.8
98.1
90.3

99.7
97.6
102.6
94.0
104.8
93.3
107.1
95.5
111.4
91.8
111.4

120.4

102.1

96.4

93.8

94.7

104.7

105.9

103.2

126.5

101.6

94.7

100.9

95.9

107.4

107.5

109.9

116.1

100.0

90.5

102.0

92.2

104.4

103.9

112.4

113.6

101.4

90.3

102.8

92.7

105.3

100.4

110.8

108.7

98.9

90.6

108.9

92.6

105.9

NA

112.0

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
costs to employers.
Source:
- 26 Table 10.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

United
Year
Norway

States
Canada*
Japan
Sweden*
Kingdom*

1950
7.8

NA
10.7

22.5
10.0

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

(unified)

NA

NA

NA

NA

9.6

18.5

NA

Former West
Germany

NetherItaly

lands

9.5

14.4

12.7

1955
10.2

NA
15.5

28.8
13.2

12.8

NA

NA

NA

12.0

25.7

NA

9.4

14.8

14.5

1960
11.2
1961
11.8
1962
12.9
1963
13.1
1964

NA
16.9
NA
17.6
NA
18.3
NA
18.9
NA

32.0
15.6
29.8
16.7
27.0
17.2
26.7
17.0
26.7

11.0

NA

NA

19.4

13.5

21.1

NA

10.4

15.6

16.0

11.3

NA

NA

20.3

14.3

21.9

NA

11.6

16.0

18.0

12.3

NA

NA

20.7

14.9

22.8

NA

12.3

17.1

18.7

12.7

NA

NA

22.0

15.7

23.5

NA

12.6

19.7

19.8

12.5

NA

NA

23.5

15.6

23.7

NA

12.6

20.7

20.9

13.2
1965
13.8
1966
14.5
1967
15.6
1968
16.2
1969
16.4

19.1
NA
19.6
NA
20.6
NA
21.1
NA
20.9
NA
21.1

17.0
27.1
18.0
28.7
18.9
29.9
18.3
30.2
15.9
31.0
16.9

1970
17.6
1971
19.9
1972
22.7
1973
27.6
1974
32.5
1975
41.5
1976
44.8
1977
50.8
1978
55.5
1979
56.2

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

1980
63.9
1981
61.3
1982
58.2
1983
54.7
1984
50.5
1985
50.8
1986

78.8
70.2
82.4
65.1
87.9
54.4
86.0
46.1
85.6
44.0
87.3
46.1
91.2

13.6

NA

NA

24.8

16.5

24.0

NA

13.0

19.9

22.0

13.6

NA

NA

25.6

17.9

23.5

NA

13.6

19.5

23.0

13.5

NA

NA

26.5

18.5

23.7

NA

13.5

20.5

23.8

14.1

NA

NA

25.9

17.4

24.2

NA

13.4

20.3

23.5

14.6

NA

NA

25.9

18.8

23.1

NA

13.9

21.3

24.3

34.8
19.2
36.1
21.3
37.8
23.8
38.6
24.8
45.2
28.0
51.8
36.1
56.6
32.6
54.7
35.3
53.5
44.6
57.8
58.3

15.5

21.0

14.7

27.0

20.3

23.0

NA

17.1

24.4

25.7

17.4

19.9

15.3

29.9

22.1

24.5

NA

19.3

28.1

28.8

21.0

19.5

15.4

35.0

24.1

28.2

NA

21.9

30.8

33.3

26.3

22.8

18.6

42.4

30.7

34.4

NA

28.0

33.5

41.3

31.2

27.6

28.3

49.5

35.6

36.9

NA

31.5

36.8

47.6

34.8

26.4

28.7

60.9

40.9

48.8

NA

35.1

47.9

58.7

35.3

33.6

29.6

60.9

41.8

47.3

NA

34.4

41.1

56.5

41.5

39.5

30.8

67.6

45.7

49.3

NA

39.6

44.8

61.3

54.6

47.5

31.6

77.8

54.1

58.1

NA

47.6

50.4

70.7

51.3

58.2

36.9

84.2

60.3

66.5

NA

53.6

57.0

78.0

65.3
77.9
69.5
74.8
77.2
67.4
77.5
58.2
71.2
52.6
68.7
54.0
70.4

51.8

58.3

42.7

88.3

58.9

76.8

NA

59.6

62.0

82.3

55.2

60.0

48.4

70.6

50.4

67.1

NA

49.9

55.1

66.9

49.2

59.6

48.5

57.2

46.7

61.6

NA

49.3

53.6

65.3

52.3

60.3

46.4

51.0

43.4

57.4

NA

46.7

53.3

59.3

52.2

60.1

48.8

46.8

40.8

53.5

NA

42.4

48.4

49.8

50.3

56.5

50.4

46.9

42.3

54.2

NA

41.7

47.5

48.7

75.2

55.1

54.6

63.4

60.0

72.1

NA

58.5

62.4

67.3

65.3
1987
77.5
1988
86.1
1989
82.9

59.2
86.9
69.6
86.7
75.4
90.5
76.8

64.0
75.1
75.8
83.6
83.0
89.8
78.6

1990
95.0
1991
95.7
1992
100.0
1993
88.3
1994
90.7
1995
105.0
1996
107.1
1997
101.0
1998
100.0
1999
102.2

93.7
91.3
97.6
96.3
100.0
100.0
100.6
67.7
98.5
63.1
94.8
71.1
93.5
79.6
91.9
68.3
92.5
66.5
90.3
63.6

95.6
92.6
105.1
98.3
100.0
100.0
91.4
85.3
83.4
86.5
84.1
91.7
85.0
92.6
83.6
99.3
80.5
104.5
79.8
102.0

NA:

85.0

63.5

65.1

77.2

77.9

84.6

NA

74.9

74.1

83.2

93.2

81.3

74.2

77.0

79.0

82.9

NA

76.9

75.6

83.2

87.1

94.8

84.1

72.3

72.6

77.6

NA

73.0

76.2

75.5

83.8

94.9

88.9

89.5

91.3

94.1

NA

87.3

93.8

88.9

91.7

101.1

90.6

92.3

90.8

93.1

87.6

87.8

97.6

89.8

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

115.4

101.1

96.1

95.1

93.2

95.6

98.6

99.4

81.8

96.8

125.9

105.2

96.9

94.2

88.3

92.9

98.2

99.8

78.1

92.8

131.7

122.3

96.9

105.2

101.1

100.6

114.2

115.5

78.0

103.0

109.6

123.3

93.0

98.3

105.0

99.2

111.5

111.6

87.8

98.6

97.7

95.8

87.4

81.2

93.1

83.6

94.0

93.5

81.3

85.9

92.4

63.7

76.0

80.0

92.6

83.2

93.5

89.1

78.6

85.2

102.4

71.7

76.9

76.9

94.1

79.6

90.1

NA

75.9

82.4

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
costs to employers.
Source:
- 27 Table 11.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

NetherYear

States

Germany
Canada

United
Japan

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France

(unified)

Former West
Germany

Italy

lands

Norway

Sweden

Kingdom

1950
46.2

100.0
87.1

110.5
112.6

35.2
158.6

NA

NA

NA

87.5

151.3

NA

37.2

197.3

1955
46.1

100.0
87.0

122.5
112.6

35.2
158.0

NA

NA

NA

87.4

151.2

NA

37.1

197.1

1960
46.6
1961
48.5
1962
48.8
1963
48.8
1964
48.8
1965
48.8
1966
48.6
1967
48.8
1968
48.6
1969
48.5

100.0
87.1
100.0
87.0
100.0
87.1
100.0
86.9
100.0
86.8
100.0
86.9
100.0
86.9
100.0
86.9
100.0
87.0
100.0
87.0

124.6
112.7
119.4
112.7
113.1
113.0
112.0
112.3
112.0
113.1
112.1
112.9
112.2
112.8
112.0
112.9
112.2
112.7
112.2
112.7

35.2
159.0
35.1
158.6
35.1
159.0
35.1
158.5
35.0
158.1
35.1
158.3
35.0
158.1
35.0
155.7
35.2
135.5
35.4
135.3

NA

NA

64.5

87.6

107.9

NA

37.4

198.4

NA

NA

64.5

87.4

107.9

NA

38.9

198.4

NA

NA

64.6

87.5

108.0

NA

39.1

198.5

NA

NA

64.5

87.4

108.0

NA

39.2

198.2

NA

NA

64.6

87.3

108.0

NA

39.3

197.3

NA

NA

64.8

87.3

108.0

NA

39.1

197.2

NA

NA

64.5

87.4

107.7

NA

39.1

197.3

NA

NA

64.7

86.5

107.6

NA

39.2

197.4

NA

NA

64.4

80.7

106.9

NA

39.1

197.7

NA

NA

64.1

80.3

102.2

NA

39.8

196.4

1970
48.6
1971
50.4
1972
54.8
1973
63.3
1974
65.5
1975
69.7
1976
66.6
1977
71.7
1978

100.0
86.9
100.0
88.3
100.0
94.3
100.0
108.2
100.0
112.6
100.0
119.2
100.0
113.9
100.0
116.8
100.0

115.8
112.3
119.7
114.1
122.0
122.5
120.8
133.8
123.6
131.4
118.8
140.6
122.6
133.7
113.7
130.4
106.0

35.4
135.6
36.5
138.4
41.8
141.6
46.8
138.8
43.5
132.5
42.7
125.8
42.8
102.2
47.3
98.8
60.8

252.7

62.9

64.7

80.5

95.7

NA

42.8

196.5

226.0

62.9

66.2

81.6

96.1

NA

44.9

199.3

199.7

62.9

73.0

86.8

104.9

NA

49.0

211.1

197.0

65.8

82.8

100.2

119.3

NA

59.0

211.8

194.0

66.2

82.7

99.3

110.1

NA

60.5

189.4

162.1

66.2

87.6

105.3

123.6

NA

63.6

188.9

162.1

66.2

83.3

99.9

110.9

NA

62.1

148.4

162.1

66.2

89.7

100.6

107.7

NA

67.3

139.6

162.1

67.9

102.3

109.6

117.6

NA

77.9

145.2

81.4
1979
87.7

118.6
100.0
122.7

129.0
103.2
135.9

108.6
58.1
120.2

1980
88.5
1981
70.4
1982
65.8
1983
61.6
1984
54.8
1985
53.0
1986
71.8
1987
86.8
1988
88.9
1989
82.9

100.0
125.8
100.0
108.2
100.0
96.2
100.0
85.1
100.0
76.2
100.0
72.3
100.0
84.0
100.0
92.2
100.0
95.2
100.0
89.9

103.4
137.7
100.8
115.0
97.9
92.7
98.1
75.9
93.3
70.4
88.5
67.7
87.0
81.7
91.1
91.8
98.2
94.9
102.1
90.2

1990
96.6
1991
93.9
1992
100.0
1993
94.6
1994
96.7
1995
109.6
1996
104.3
1997
90.1
1998
88.7
1999
85.0

100.0
99.4
100.0
95.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
87.5
100.0
88.1
100.0
98.1
100.0
96.2
100.0
87.7
100.0
82.3
100.0
79.6

103.6
98.4
105.5
96.3
100.0
100.0
93.7
74.7
88.4
75.5
88.1
81.6
88.6
86.8
87.3
76.2
81.5
73.3
81.3
70.4

162.1

69.8

109.6

114.8

124.4

NA

85.2

148.3

55.9
131.7
57.5
114.6
50.9
99.0
53.4
85.8
53.4
75.7
53.2
73.5
75.3
83.1
87.7
92.8
98.9
100.8
91.8
92.7

129.2

69.8

110.0

107.1

125.3

NA

85.9

143.9

115.2

68.3

86.4

84.6

97.3

NA

69.0

108.2

107.2

64.3

70.2

72.4

80.5

NA

64.3

91.0

101.1

62.8

62.9

66.0

69.5

NA

61.2

81.1

97.1

63.5

55.7

58.3

60.6

NA

54.9

70.2

91.0

63.1

54.2

57.0

58.9

NA

53.1

64.5

88.7

66.5

72.0

74.6

76.4

NA

72.0

82.6

95.0

79.2

86.1

88.2

88.0

NA

86.9

95.0

106.8

87.9

87.4

89.6

88.8

NA

88.9

94.6

116.4

95.3

81.6

82.5

83.0

NA

83.0

89.8

87.4
101.0
94.2
100.1
100.0
100.0
114.1
85.0
124.1
86.7
134.9
89.4
116.5
88.4
104.7
92.7
96.8
93.8
111.5
91.6

110.4

93.5

96.2

97.5

97.2

NA

96.6

102.8

106.5

94.0

94.0

94.3

93.7

94.0

94.0

99.3

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

97.4

95.2

93.0

93.1

93.4

94.4

94.4

78.3

97.2

95.1

96.2

95.0

95.4

96.3

96.3

76.5

101.5

95.0

109.1

107.8

106.2

109.1

109.1

75.6

97.5

91.6

103.8

104.1

103.5

103.8

103.8

79.9

82.5

87.4

89.8

91.3

90.7

90.0

90.0

72.3

56.0

75.0

88.5

90.1

89.7

88.8

88.8

70.9

65.9

77.8

84.9

86.4

86.0

85.1

85.1

67.8

NA:

Not Available

Source:
- 28 Table 12.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

NetherYear
lands

States
Norway

Canada*
Sweden*

1950
4.0

8.8
2.9

5.9
2.4

1955
5.9

11.8
4.4

1960
8.4
1961
9.2
1962
9.8
1963
10.7
1964
12.3
1965
13.8
1966
15.3
1967
16.9
1968
18.5
1969
20.7
1970
23.5
1971
26.6
1972
30.1

United
Japan
Kingdom*

Denmark

France*

(unified)

Former West

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Germany

Italy

NA
1.9

NA

NA

NA

3.5

2.0

NA

4.9

0.9

8.1
3.9

3.7
2.7

NA

NA

NA

4.7

3.4

NA

7.3

1.4

14.8
6.0
15.2
6.4
16.0
7.0
16.5
7.5
17.3
8.0
17.9
8.7
18.8
9.5
19.4
10.5
20.9
11.3
22.2
12.2

10.3
5.1
10.6
5.5
11.0
6.1
11.5
6.6
12.1
7.1
12.8
7.8
13.6
8.5
14.4
9.2
15.3
9.8
16.5
10.5

5.3
3.5
6.1
3.7
6.9
3.9
7.6
4.1
8.5
4.4
9.4
4.7
10.4
5.0
11.7
5.1
13.6
5.5
15.8
6.0

NA

NA

6.8

6.0

5.2

NA

10.7

1.8

NA

NA

7.2

6.6

5.7

NA

11.8

2.0

NA

NA

7.8

7.2

6.3

NA

13.0

2.3

NA

NA

8.6

7.8

6.9

NA

13.7

2.7

NA

NA

9.6

8.5

7.4

NA

14.8

2.9

NA

NA

10.5

9.4

8.0

NA

16.2

3.0

NA

NA

11.5

10.4

8.5

NA

17.4

3.2

NA

NA

12.4

11.6

9.1

NA

17.8

3.6

NA

NA

13.3

12.5

10.0

NA

19.4

3.8

NA

NA

14.4

13.8

10.9

NA

21.3

4.2

23.3
13.5
24.8
15.3
26.5
16.9

17.6
11.7
18.6
13.2
20.0
14.3

18.7
6.8
21.2
7.6
24.3
8.7

NA

NA

16.0

15.3

12.1

NA

24.8

5.0

NA

NA

18.2

17.5

13.5

NA

27.2

5.6

NA

NA

21.0

19.0

14.7

NA

29.8

6.2

1973
35.2
1974
40.7
1975
45.7
1976
50.9
1977
55.3
1978
59.2
1979
62.9

28.5
18.9
31.0
21.8
34.3
25.9
37.6
29.2
41.0
32.2
44.3
34.6
48.4
35.7

21.6
15.8
24.9
18.4
28.3
22.1
32.5
25.5
36.1
27.8
39.1
29.9
42.8
31.7

29.4
10.1
37.0
11.7
42.1
15.5
46.7
18.1
51.6
20.6
55.2
23.9
59.2
28.4

NA

NA

24.3

21.8

16.6

NA

33.4

7.4

NA

NA

29.2

26.9

19.5

NA

37.2

9.4

NA

NA

33.3

31.1

23.1

NA

40.0

11.6

NA

NA

39.3

34.8

26.5

NA

44.3

14.4

NA

NA

42.3

38.2

29.9

NA

47.7

17.0

NA

NA

45.2

41.6

33.4

NA

50.6

19.5

NA

NA

48.1

46.5

37.7

NA

54.1

23.5

1980
66.7
1981
70.2
1982
75.3
1983
78.9
1984
80.7
1985
82.9
1986
85.7
1987
88.1
1988
88.6
1989
89.0

53.5
39.1
58.8
43.6
63.3
48.1
66.9
53.0
70.2
57.9
74.1
63.1
77.4
68.9
80.0
76.3
84.0
81.6
86.7
86.0

47.2
34.9
52.9
38.8
59.6
42.0
64.6
47.2
68.2
52.1
71.5
56.8
72.9
61.2
75.3
66.2
79.7
70.0
83.0
77.1

62.9
33.1
66.9
37.8
70.0
42.1
71.9
45.3
74.9
49.2
77.7
53.8
81.1
58.4
83.4
65.4
85.7
70.0
89.9
74.6

NA

NA

52.7

51.6

43.5

NA

57.9

27.6

NA

NA

56.1

56.1

49.8

NA

60.9

33.4

NA

NA

60.0

62.0

56.7

NA

64.1

39.3

NA

NA

64.2

67.2

62.3

NA

67.2

45.8

NA

NA

69.3

70.8

67.7

NA

70.3

52.5

NA

NA

74.1

73.0

72.9

NA

73.1

58.5

NA

NA

76.2

76.3

76.1

NA

75.6

62.4

NA

NA

79.2

81.5

79.4

NA

78.8

67.1

NA

NA

81.9

84.4

82.7

NA

81.7

72.0

NA

NA

86.4

88.2

86.9

NA

84.6

78.7

1990
91.2
1991
95.4
1992
100.0
1993
103.7
1994
108.2

90.2
90.9
94.3
96.4
100.0
100.0
104.1
101.8
108.0
104.9

88.5
86.5
94.8
94.2
100.0
100.0
103.0
99.8
105.8
106.6

95.5
82.6
99.5
91.4
100.0
100.0
100.6
104.2
102.9
107.9

NA

NA

91.7

92.1

91.1

NA

89.2

85.4

NA

NA

97.3

95.6

95.7

88.2

94.3

93.7

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

NA

NA

103.2

103.8

102.9

103.9

102.8

105.4

NA

NA

107.4

106.0

105.6

109.9

108.5

108.6

1995
110.9
1996
113.4
1997
115.9
1998
119.3
1999
123.0
NA:

109.5
108.8
110.9
112.6
113.9
117.4
118.7
125.0
124.4
131.6

107.7
114.6
107.2
123.3
111.6
128.9
114.0
134.5
116.9
138.2

107.1
109.9
108.5
110.7
111.6
114.0
112.0
118.3
111.6
122.8

NA

NA

109.2

109.7

107.9

115.8

113.6

113.7

NA

NA

111.5

112.6

109.8

118.6

117.6

120.4

NA

NA

115.4

117.7

113.1

121.0

120.5

125.9

NA

NA

117.3

120.6

115.4

123.4

122.8

123.3

NA

NA

120.2

126.3

117.8

125.0

NA

126.3

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
costs to employers.
Source:
- 29 Table 13.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

United
Year
Norway

States
Sweden

Canada
Kingdom

Japan

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

1950
26.3

46.8
25.2

37.0
26.6

NA

NA

NA

NA

28.6

19.8

1955
29.5

56.5
30.5

46.5
29.0

18.2

NA

NA

NA

31.9

1960
36.4
1961
38.7
1962
40.4
1963
42.0
1964
42.5

65.2
35.3
66.5
37.9
68.3
40.3
69.5
43.3
71.4
45.7

54.6
34.1
55.5
35.2
57.0
35.5
58.3
36.4
59.7
37.6

23.1

NA

NA

24.5

25.5

NA

NA

27.3

NA

28.4
30.7

France

(unified)

Former West

Nether-

Germany

Italy

lands

NA

11.7

18.5

17.1

26.7

NA

15.9

21.5

21.2

38.7

30.1

NA

23.6

24.7

26.4

25.7

41.7

32.2

NA

25.8

26.6

29.8

NA

27.2

42.5

34.0

NA

28.4

29.8

31.0

NA

NA

29.4

43.9

35.4

NA

29.4

32.8

33.1

NA

NA

31.9

45.7

37.2

NA

31.1

33.1

36.2

1965
45.0
1966
47.7
1967
51.0
1968
54.3
1969
58.1

71.8
48.0
73.0
49.4
74.7
52.5
77.2
56.0
78.5
58.8

61.7
39.2
63.8
40.8
64.9
41.8
66.6
42.9
68.9
44.2

32.1

NA

NA

34.0

47.7

39.4

NA

33.1

34.0

39.0

33.7

NA

NA

36.1

50.8

40.6

NA

34.7

35.4

41.3

36.3

NA

NA

38.3

53.0

42.5

NA

36.1

38.2

44.3

40.1

NA

NA

39.9

54.0

46.3

NA

38.3

40.3

47.5

45.2

NA

NA

42.1

58.7

47.5

NA

41.1

43.0

50.2

1970
58.3
1971
62.9
1972
65.8
1973
69.0
1974
74.0
1975
79.1
1976
83.9
1977
86.3
1978
87.4
1979
87.6

79.5
61.7
80.8
64.0
82.3
67.4
83.4
69.7
83.4
74.7
85.6
83.5
87.8
88.3
89.6
86.0
90.6
88.8
90.9
89.8

71.5
47.8
73.9
49.7
75.7
53.5
76.7
55.8
80.2
57.8
83.3
62.0
88.8
61.8
91.2
60.1
89.9
64.4
90.6
67.4

49.9

NA

NA

46.1

62.9

50.9

NA

46.7

49.8

55.6

54.3

NA

NA

51.1

68.3

54.1

NA

49.8

54.7

59.1

59.6

NA

NA

57.3

71.0

56.2

NA

52.3

58.0

62.9

65.2

NA

NA

63.6

78.8

60.0

NA

55.4

61.9

69.4

69.4

NA

NA

69.4

82.8

62.7

NA

58.9

67.7

75.6

72.4

NA

NA

74.4

90.0

68.4

NA

61.3

72.9

78.5

71.2

NA

NA

78.9

92.1

71.5

NA

63.1

77.7

80.5

72.7

NA

NA

79.5

91.8

74.2

NA

66.7

77.1

82.3

74.3

NA

NA

81.6

91.9

76.5

NA

69.9

78.9

85.6

76.2

NA

NA

83.1

93.7

78.4

NA

72.2

82.6

88.2

1980
86.0
1981
84.1
1982
84.1
1983
85.1
1984
87.7
1985
90.8
1986
92.4

91.7
87.5
92.1
86.2
95.4
85.0
94.1
84.3
93.6
85.1
95.5
87.2
98.1
90.3

91.7
69.0
92.0
72.0
94.1
72.4
95.2
74.4
96.4
76.3
96.6
77.8
94.1
81.5

75.3

NA

NA

86.7

92.1

79.5

NA

74.6

80.0

87.3

76.8

NA

NA

87.8

90.7

81.2

NA

74.6

81.5

85.7

78.4

NA

NA

84.5

89.7

86.2

NA

75.0

82.6

85.8

79.1

NA

NA

86.1

89.7

86.9

NA

76.0

83.7

87.4

79.7

NA

NA

88.0

89.2

87.7

NA

77.7

86.8

87.8

81.2

NA

NA

88.5

90.9

89.6

NA

80.7

89.8

90.4

84.8

NA

NA

89.7

89.6

90.9

NA

84.1

88.2

93.9

1987
96.4
1988
96.0
1989
96.1

97.6
92.3
97.9
94.0
96.8
98.1

92.3
88.1
92.1
87.7
93.4
87.7

86.7

NA

NA

91.0

94.1

91.5

NA

87.7

89.0

97.4

87.6

NA

NA

91.5

93.2

92.6

NA

90.3

87.9

96.6

91.0

NA

NA

94.1

94.1

94.1

NA

92.3

90.3

96.3

1990
97.7
1991
99.8
1992
100.0
1993
99.2
1994
100.6
1995
102.7
1996
105.6
1997
107.5
1998
111.8
1999
115.5

96.6
97.4
98.1
97.2
100.0
100.0
100.2
95.1
100.8
95.6
100.4
97.3
99.0
103.3
98.8
106.8
102.6
110.3
104.5
109.2

94.7
88.9
96.3
93.9
100.0
100.0
100.2
102.7
101.6
102.4
101.7
99.4
99.2
97.2
100.6
97.0
102.5
97.4
102.4
100.2

95.1

NA

NA

95.4

96.9

96.0

NA

96.6

94.6

96.5

98.1

NA

NA

99.7

98.0

98.8

96.9

99.1

98.7

98.1

100.0

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

101.4

NA

NA

102.0

103.3

100.9

101.9

102.1

103.2

101.1

102.8

NA

NA

100.9

NA

101.7

104.3

104.8

99.6

102.7

106.3

NA

NA

102.3

NA

102.7

108.2

108.7

98.9

103.1

107.0

NA

NA

101.8

NA

102.4

111.9

112.8

101.5

103.6

108.7

NA

NA

103.6

NA

103.7

112.1

113.3

103.9

104.1

110.8

NA

NA

104.1

NA

104.8

112.0

113.3

100.2

105.3

110.9

NA

NA

103.3

NA

108.2

113.2

NA

101.5

106.2

NA:

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
Source:
- 30 Table 14.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

Germany

United
Year
Norway

States
Sweden

Canada
Kingdom

Japan

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

1950
34.5

47.4
33.3

40.3
30.9

NA

NA

NA

NA

40.2

France

24.4

(unified)

NA

Former West

Nether-

Germany

Italy

lands

17.2

20.4

22.3

1955
38.7

57.4
39.9

48.7
34.2

21.7

NA

NA

NA

44.0

32.5

NA

23.3

24.3

27.7

1960
45.9
1961
48.1
1962
50.0
1963
51.8
1964
52.7
1965
54.5
1966
57.9
1967
61.3
1968
63.7
1969
66.6

64.9
43.8
66.2
46.4
68.8
48.9
70.1
51.8
72.6
54.0
73.7
56.1
75.2
57.6
75.6
60.2
77.9
62.8
78.7
64.6

56.8
39.3
57.5
40.1
59.4
40.0
61.0
41.0
62.7
42.7
64.9
43.9
66.6
44.9
67.8
45.7
69.4
47.3
71.5
48.7

28.6

NA

NA

30.8

50.8

36.6

NA

31.0

28.2

34.8

31.2

NA

NA

32.2

53.1

39.3

NA

33.4

30.0

37.6

32.6

NA

NA

34.2

54.5

41.4

NA

35.8

32.6

39.0

33.6

NA

NA

37.0

55.4

43.1

NA

36.5

36.1

41.4

36.2

NA

NA

40.0

58.3

45.0

NA

38.7

36.4

44.9

37.2

NA

NA

41.9

60.7

47.2

NA

41.0

36.1

48.2

39.3

NA

NA

44.1

63.4

48.8

NA

42.4

38.1

50.8

42.4

NA

NA

46.2

65.4

50.7

NA

42.9

41.7

54.2

46.7

NA

NA

48.2

65.1

53.7

NA

46.1

43.9

57.1

51.9

NA

NA

50.3

69.9

56.3

NA

49.5

46.6

59.5

1970
66.4
1971
70.9
1972
73.1
1973
76.1
1974
80.5
1975
85.6
1976
88.4
1977
89.4
1978
88.8
1979
87.5

78.0
67.6
79.5
69.8
82.3
71.6
83.3
72.6
81.7
76.8
82.7
84.1
85.8
87.8
87.9
84.9
88.9
85.3
88.6
84.9

73.7
51.8
76.0
52.6
77.9
56.1
78.3
59.2
81.4
59.3
83.4
63.5
89.1
63.8
91.4
62.4
90.8
66.7
91.1
69.5

56.7

NA

NA

53.7

72.5

59.6

NA

56.0

53.0

64.7

60.7

NA

NA

58.5

78.5

62.9

NA

58.4

56.6

68.1

66.2

NA

NA

64.2

79.8

64.7

NA

60.7

59.6

71.5

71.9

NA

NA

69.5

83.9

67.9

NA

63.8

64.3

77.3

73.3

NA

NA

73.9

89.8

70.0

NA

66.5

67.9

81.7

74.6

NA

NA

74.9

94.6

74.1

NA

67.4

71.8

83.2

75.7

NA

NA

80.9

97.2

77.7

NA

71.5

76.5

85.2

77.4

NA

NA

81.2

96.0

79.9

NA

74.3

75.6

86.7

79.4

NA

NA

83.2

95.0

81.8

NA

76.9

77.2

89.2

82.0

NA

NA

84.7

96.8

83.6

NA

79.2

80.2

90.9

1980
86.3
1981
84.6
1982
83.8
1983
85.2
1984
87.7
1985
90.4
1986
92.1
1987
93.7
1988
94.1
1989
94.7

88.3
81.9
88.8
81.2
90.2
80.6
91.5
81.1
92.3
83.4
94.2
84.5
96.7
87.1
96.7
90.3
98.0
91.6
96.9
95.3

91.2
68.8
90.8
70.7
92.0
71.8
94.3
74.0
95.4
76.5
96.2
78.8
94.2
82.7
93.2
88.9
94.9
90.7
94.1
89.7

81.0

NA

NA

87.0

95.7

84.8

NA

80.7

77.9

90.6

82.0

NA

NA

86.1

93.2

85.6

NA

79.7

79.3

89.3

83.5

NA

NA

84.7

93.5

87.1

NA

79.7

80.2

90.4

84.3

NA

NA

84.1

94.7

87.4

NA

80.9

81.3

92.2

85.8

NA

NA

85.4

93.9

88.4

NA

82.7

84.2

91.3

87.2

NA

NA

87.1

92.5

89.7

NA

84.3

86.4

91.6

90.5

NA

NA

88.4

93.3

91.2

NA

87.3

87.0

94.6

92.9

NA

NA

90.5

95.8

92.3

NA

90.9

89.4

97.7

94.9

NA

NA

92.5

94.9

93.7

NA

93.2

91.3

97.6

97.4

NA

NA

94.7

94.6

95.1

NA

93.9

93.7

96.8

1990
96.2
1991
98.7
1992
100.0
1993
99.5
1994
101.2
1995
102.4
1996
104.6
1997
106.3
1998
110.8
1999
114.0

96.0
95.8
96.8
95.9
100.0
100.0
101.5
97.7
103.0
102.0
101.9
104.9
100.5
111.7
100.9
115.6
103.8
119.6
106.5
118.6

94.9
90.7
96.1
94.9
100.0
100.0
101.2
102.5
103.6
103.7
103.3
102.0
101.3
100.4
103.8
100.2
105.0
100.6
105.9
102.8

100.4

NA

NA

97.0

96.3

96.5

NA

96.4

95.8

96.9

101.2

NA

NA

99.7

97.6

98.3

92.7

98.2

98.8

98.3

100.0

NA

NA

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

99.3

NA

NA

100.5

102.5

100.8

99.4

99.1

101.1

101.1

100.9

NA

NA

102.1

102.6

101.8

102.4

101.7

100.3

102.7

105.1

NA

NA

102.3

104.0

102.2

106.1

104.9

99.7

103.5

106.4

NA

NA

102.3

104.6

102.0

107.2

107.2

101.5

103.8

107.5

NA

NA

104.2

106.9

103.8

107.3

107.9

104.4

103.8

107.2

NA

NA

104.9

107.6

105.1

108.4

109.0

100.4

104.8

107.1

NA

NA

106.4

110.0

106.8

109.1

NA

101.3

105.8

NA:

Not Available

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

Source:
- 31 Table 15.
(Indexes:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.

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

United
Year
Norway

Germany

States
Canada*
Japan
Sweden*
Kingdom*
NA

Korea

Taiwan

Belgium

Denmark

France*

(unified)

NA

NA

NA

2.9

2.2

NA

NA

4.1

3.9

Former West
Germany

NetherItaly

lands

3.7

.7

4.6

NA

7.0

1.1

7.2

1950
3.4

7.4
2.9

4.6
3.1

1955
5.5

11.0
4.9

6.9
4.9

1.8

NA

NA

1960
7.3
1961
8.0
1962
8.9
1963
9.6
1964
10.4
1965
11.4
1966
12.6
1967
14.0
1968
14.9
1969
16.2

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
6.7
8.9
7.1
9.6
7.3
10.2
7.5
11.2
8.2
12.4
9.0
13.9
9.6
14.8
9.5
15.9
10.2
17.4
11.3

3.4

NA

NA

9.2

6.3

6.1

NA

11.6

1.7

10.9

4.1

NA

NA

10.1

7.0

6.8

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

8.4

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

24.8
16.6
25.3
18.0
27.8
19.3
31.5

18.2
12.8
19.4
13.7
21.5
15.3
24.3

17.1

.6

3.0

24.0

17.1

15.4

NA

28.2

5.7

31.5

19.6

.7

3.8

27.2

18.8

17.4

NA

30.7

6.5

35.2

22.4

.9

4.6

31.0

20.9

19.2

NA

33.0

7.1

38.4

28.3

1.4

6.3

36.1

24.3

22.1

NA

37.3

8.8

44.2

26.1
1974
30.5
1975
35.9
1976
40.4
1977
44.7
1978
47.1
1979
48.0

21.7
34.2
25.7
34.5
31.2
39.2
36.0
44.4
37.7
50.0
39.6
55.9
42.1

17.8
28.4
20.8
31.3
26.3
36.0
29.8
39.2
34.0
43.7
39.3
49.5
46.2

1980
52.6
1981
57.6
1982
61.3
1983
64.1
1984
69.4
1985
76.2
1986
84.0
1987
93.0
1988
95.2
1989
93.4

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
95.7
1991
98.3
1992
100.0
1993
103.6
1994
109.9
1995

95.1
102.3
96.0
104.1
100.0
100.0
104.2
92.2
109.4
97.9
112.2

35.3

2.0

9.0

43.9

28.9

26.2

NA

40.5

11.4

51.0

37.9

2.6

9.5

47.2

30.6

30.3

NA

40.9

14.1

55.3

41.8

4.1

12.1

53.4

34.5

34.6

NA

44.2

17.7

59.1

45.7

5.6

14.2

55.2

37.7

38.8

NA

47.8

21.2

62.5

48.2

8.1

17.3

56.5

40.8

42.9

NA

50.6

24.0

65.5

51.6

10.8

21.2

58.6

45.9

47.7

NA

54.8

29.4

68.8

54.3
51.5
60.8
53.4
62.1
55.7
65.6
56.5
71.2
60.1
76.3
65.4
80.5
69.4
85.6
77.1
93.8
83.4
99.1
89.3

55.9

13.5

26.9

62.8

50.2

54.4

NA

59.2

34.6

72.0

60.1

17.0

33.6

63.1

52.6

60.2

NA

61.0

40.1

73.8

62.5

19.2

36.6

65.5

58.0

67.5

NA

62.5

45.7

76.1

65.3

23.6

40.0

68.6

63.1

72.7

NA

63.2

51.1

76.1

69.4

28.5

47.8

73.2

70.2

76.8

NA

65.9

55.8

76.1

72.6

30.3

51.4

77.1

76.8

80.4

NA

69.4

61.2

79.0

75.4

35.9

61.4

78.5

83.2

82.4

NA

72.9

64.6

82.7

76.6

45.8

69.2

79.7

87.7

83.8

NA

76.0

69.2

85.8

80.4

58.4

74.0

82.3

88.9

86.1

NA

78.6

75.4

86.8

86.3

64.7

80.2

87.9

91.8

91.0

NA

82.6

83.3

88.3

100.2
96.5
98.7
98.2
100.0
100.0
102.1
101.7
106.8
105.9
112.8

93.1

74.5

85.6

94.0

96.1

96.0

NA

89.5

90.9

92.2

99.4

90.2

92.6

98.8

98.0

99.1

95.2

96.0

97.5

96.1

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

97.4

109.4

103.4

99.2

99.1

98.0

96.6

96.6

100.6

100.5

96.3

126.4

110.6

99.3

101.6

97.6

97.0

96.8

104.3

100.0

96.5

156.5

117.2

100.4

107.6

99.4

99.8

99.2

110.6

101.3

116.6
1996
122.6
1997
133.3
1998
142.9
1999
146.5
NA:

111.9
113.4
120.1
117.5
124.2
123.4
131.2
127.3
136.1

110.6
114.9
113.4
122.8
117.4
131.5
122.7
138.7
122.7

96.9

175.5

122.2

101.0

110.7

100.3

99.5

99.4

116.1

102.5

99.4

171.6

128.3

102.9

114.8

101.1

99.9

99.5

121.7

106.0

95.7

155.5

134.5

105.1

118.6

103.4

102.3

101.2

122.2

110.4

92.8

181.2

139.9

106.6

121.5

105.8

103.2

NA

124.7

114.8

Not Available

Note: The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Korea, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
costs to employers.
Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2001.