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Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/fls USDL: 05-2197

Technical information: (202) 691-5654 For Release: 10:00 A.M. EST 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, November 18, 2005 

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF HOURLY COMPENSATION COSTS

FOR PRODUCTION WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING, 2004*

Average hourly compensation costs in U.S. dollars for production workers in manufacturing 

in 31 foreign economies climbed to 78 percent of the U.S. level in 2004, up from 73 percent in 

2003, according to data issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. 

Compensation costs relative to the United States rose in nearly all the economies covered in 

2004, with Europe showing a relatively large increase. (See table 1.) Data for Hungary, a 

relatively low labor cost country, are included in this release for the first time. 

In the United States, hourly compensation costs for production workers in manufacturing 

increased 4.0 percent in 2004, to $23.17. Although average costs in the United States were 

higher than those in all the economies covered outside of Europe, 12 of the European countries 

had higher hourly compensation costs than the United States, in a few cases more than 40 

percent higher. Trade-weighted average costs increased 3.0 percent in the combined 31 foreign 

economies in 2004, when measured in national currency terms. This was less than the increase 

in the United States, but the value of foreign currencies rose 5.8 percent against the U.S. dollar, 

resulting in a rise in hourly compensation costs in the foreign economies of 8.9 percent on a U.S. 

dollar basis. (See chart 1 and table A.) 

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

27

1975 1985 1995

Chart 1. Hourly compensation costs in U.S. dollars for

production workers in manufacturing, 1975-2004

Europe 1

Canada

31 Foreign Economies 1

United States

Mexico

Asian NIEs 1,2

Hourly 

costs ($)

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Japan

2000 2004

1 Trade-weighted average

2 The Asian NIEs are Hong Kong SAR, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

News United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

* Data for some countries have been revised to reflect revisions provided to BLS subsequent to this news release. See Hourly 

Compensation Costs for Production Workers in Manufacturing, 32 Countries or Areas, 22 Manufacturing Industries, 1992-2004 at 

http://www.bls.gov/fls/flshcindnaics.htm for the most recent data.
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Compensation costs expressed in U.S. dollars

This release provides manufacturing compensation data in terms of both national currencies 

and U.S. dollars. While data on a national currency basis show underlying wage and benefit 

trends within each country, frequent and sometimes sharp changes in currency exchange rates 

can have a large impact on compensation costs on a U.S. dollar basis. Data on a U.S. dollar 

basis are calculated by dividing compensation costs in the national currency by the exchange rate 

(expressed as national currency units per U.S. dollar). Compensation costs on a U.S. dollar basis 

are often used as indicators of competitiveness of manufactured goods in world trade and are the 

focus of the following discussion. 

Compensation costs for production workers in manufacturing, measured in U.S. dollars, 

continued to rise strongly in 2004 in most of the foreign economies, with most countries showing 

double-digit increases. Only three economies − Hong Kong SAR, Mexico, and Singapore −

recorded slower rates of growth than the United States. As a result, the rate of compensation 

increase in a trade-weighted average of the foreign economies was 8.9 percent in 2004, well 

above the 5.7 percent historical average for the series. (See table A and table 3.) 

1 For 2004, U.S. hourly compensation costs were $23.17. 

2 Trade-weighted average

Chart 2. Indexes of hourly compensation costs in U.S. dollars

for production workers in manufacturing, 2004

(U.S. = 100)

United States 1 Canada Mexico Europe 2 Japan Asian NIEs 2 All 31 foreign 

economies 2

100

50

The continued strength of European currencies in 2004 drove manufacturing compensation 

costs in Europe up at more than three times the rate of U.S. costs when measured in U.S. dollars 

(12.7 versus 4.0 percent), even though European compensation costs on a national currency basis 

increased at a slower pace than those in the U.S. (2.4 versus 4.0 percent). Costs in Europe, on 

average, are now almost $4 higher on a per hour basis than in the United States. However, there 

is great variation in compensation costs among the European countries covered. For example, 

hourly compensation costs in Europe ranged from $5.43 in the Czech Republic and $5.72 in 

Hungary to six times that level in Norway ($34.64), the highest labor cost country in these 

comparisons. (See table 2.) 
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Outside of Europe, changes in manufacturing compensation costs varied considerably in 

2004. Canadian compensation costs measured in U.S. dollars continued to grow strongly in 

2004 (10.6 percent), boosted by an appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. 

Similarly, strong currencies led to large increases in the compensation costs of New Zealand and 

Australia (16.8 and 16.7 percent, respectively). The only other non-European countries to 

exhibit double-digit growth were Korea and Brazil (14.9 and 10.9 percent, respectively). 

Korea’s increase in labor costs was largely due to an increase in compensation costs measured in 

the national currency. This also was true to a lesser extent in Brazil. At the other end of the 

spectrum, because the peso depreciated against the dollar, Mexico showed a negligible increase 

in compensation costs measured in U.S. dollars (0.4 percent) despite a relatively large increase in 

costs on a national currency basis. 

A note on the measures 

 The hourly compensation measures in this news release are based on statistics available to BLS as of 

September 2005. These measures are prepared specifically for international comparisons of employer 

labor costs in manufacturing. The methods used, as well as the results, differ somewhat from those of 

other BLS series on U.S. compensation costs. 

 See the Technical Notes for further information regarding definitions, sources, and computation 

methods, as well as a description of the trade-weighted measures for economic groups. 

Exchange rates

 The trade-weighted value of the currencies of the 31 foreign economies against the U.S. 

dollar increased 5.8 percent between 2003 and 2004. This increase is less than that from 2002 to 

2003 (+8.4 percent), but well above the average annual change since 1975 (-3.8 percent). The 

currencies in many countries appreciated sharply in 2004, while only one currency − the 

Mexican peso − depreciated against the dollar. In general, the European currencies appreciated 

the most in 2004, rising 10.0 percent. (See table 5.) 

 The movements of the foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar in 2004 had a significant 

influence on hourly manufacturing compensation costs measured in U.S. dollars. Hourly 

compensation costs on a national currency basis in the 31 foreign economies rose 3.0 percent, 

less than in the United States, but, when adjusted for a 5.8 percent appreciation of the foreign 

currencies against the U.S. dollar, those costs increased 8.9 percent, much higher than in the 

United States. The effect that exchange rate changes can have on hourly compensation costs is 

particularly evident when comparing European labor costs with those of the Asian Newly 

Industrialized Economies (Asian NIEs). On a national currency basis, the increase in hourly 

compensation costs in the Asian NIEs (4.5 percent) was two percentage points higher than the 

increase in Europe (2.4 percent). When adjusted for changes in exchange rates, however, 

Europe’s increase in costs on a U.S. dollar basis was five percentage points higher than in the 

Asian NIEs (12.7 versus 7.8 percent). 
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Table A. Hourly compensation costs, in national currency and in U.S. dollars, for production workers 

in manufacturing and exchange rates (U.S. dollars per national currency unit) 

Percent change, 2003-2004 

Country 

Hourly 

compensation, Exchange 

Hourly 

compensation, 

or area national rates U.S. 

currency dollars 

Americas 

United States 4.0 - 4.0 

Brazil 5.5 5.1 10.9 

Canada 2.8 7.6 10.6 

Mexico 5.0 -4.4 .4 

Asia and Oceania 

Australia 3.4 12.9 16.7 

Hong Kong SAR 1 -.6 .0 -.6 

Israel 2.8 1.6 4.5 

Japan .6 7.1 7.8 

Korea 10.3 4.1 14.9 

New Zealand 2.3 14.2 16.8 

Singapore .7 3.1 3.8 

Sri Lanka - - - 

Taiwan 1.6 3.1 4.8 

Europe 

Austria 1.7 9.9 11.8 

Belgium 2.9 9.9 13.1 

Czech Republic 4.8 9.8 15.0 

Denmark 1.9 9.8 11.9 

Finland 3.0 9.9 13.2 

France 2.9 9.9 13.0 

Germany -.1 9.9 9.8 

Greece 

Hungary 

 - 

 7.8 

 - 

10.6 

 - 

19.2 

Ireland 4.6 9.9 14.9 

Italy 2.9 9.9 13.1 

Luxembourg 4.6 9.9 14.9 

Netherlands 1.9 9.9 12.0 

Norway 4.5 5.0 9.8 

Portugal 2.5 9.9 12.6 

Spain 4.0 9.9 14.3 

Sweden 2.6 10.0 12.8 

Switzerland .5 8.2 8.7 

United Kingdom 4.1 12.0 16.6 

Trade-weighted measures 2,3

All 31 foreign economies 3.0 5.8 8.9 

OECD 4 3.2 6.1 9.4 

Europe 2.4 10.0 12.7 

Asian NIEs 4.5 3.1 7.8 

1

 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

2

 Because data for Germany are not available before 1993, data for only the former West Germany 

 are included in the trade-weighted measures. 

3

 The 2003-2004 percent changes for the trade-weighted measures are based upon the changes 

 for the countries or areas for which 2004 data are available. 4

 OECD refers to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 
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Additional data available

 In addition to the compensation cost measures covered in this news release, supplementary 

tables are available for comparative levels of hourly compensation costs, hourly direct pay, pay for 

time worked, and the structure of compensation for production workers in manufacturing for all 

years from 1975 through 2004. Data also are available for national currency hourly compensation 

and exchange rates from 1975 through 2004 in the supplementary tables (http://www.bls.gov/fls). 

 BLS also computes comparative measures for 22 component manufacturing industries. Data 

for the component industries are not included in this release; in general, the data limitations for the 

component industries are greater than for total manufacturing. Data are available upon request and 

via the Internet (http://www.bls.gov/fls). The data for component industries currently are available 

on a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis from 1992 to 2003. Data also 

are available on a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis from 1975 to 2002. 

 For further information, contact the Office of Productivity and Technology by phone at 202-

691-5654, by e-mail at flshc@bls.gov, or by mail at Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts 

Avenue, NE, Room 2150, Washington, DC 20212. 

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339. 

This material is in the public domain and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without 

permission. It may be translated into foreign languages without permission, with a separate credit 

for the translation. 
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TECHNICAL NOTES 

 

 The tables in this news release present international comparisons of hourly compensation costs for production 

workers in manufacturing in selected countries or areas. The total compensation measures are prepared by the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics in order to assess international differences in employer labor costs. Comparisons based 

on the more readily available average earnings statistics published by many countries can be very misleading. 

National definitions of average earnings differ considerably; average earnings do not include all items of labor 

compensation; and the omitted items of compensation frequently represent a large proportion of total compensation. 

 The compensation measures are computed in national currency units and are converted into U.S. dollars at 

prevailing commercial market currency exchange rates. The foreign currency exchange rates used in the 

calculations are the average daily exchange rates for the reference period. They are appropriate measures for 

comparing levels of employer labor costs. They do not indicate relative living standards of workers or the 

purchasing power of their income. Prices of goods and services vary greatly among countries, and commercial 

market exchange rates are not reliable indicators of relative differences in prices. 

 The compensation measures in this news release are based on statistics available to BLS as of September 2005. 

These measures may be revised as data are collected to update compensation measures for component industries. 

 Beginning with this release, BLS has prepared measures of hourly compensation costs for Hungary. Because of 

data limitations, the measures cover only the years 1994-2004. 

Definitions 

 Hourly compensation costs include (1) hourly direct pay and (2) employer social insurance expenditures and 

other labor taxes. Hourly direct pay includes all payments made directly to the worker, before payroll deductions of 

any kind, consisting of (a) pay for time worked (basic time and piece rates plus overtime premiums, shift 

differentials, other premiums and bonuses paid regularly each pay period, and cost-of-living adjustments) and (b) 

other direct pay (pay for time not worked (vacations, holidays, and other leave, except sick leave), seasonal or 

irregular bonuses and other special payments, selected social allowances, and the cost of payments in kind). Social 

insurance expenditures and other labor taxes include (c) employer expenditures for legally required insurance 

programs and contractual and private benefit plans (retirement and disability pensions, health insurance, income 

guarantee insurance and sick leave, life and accident insurance, occupational injury and illness compensation, 

unemployment insurance, and family allowances) and, for some countries, (d) other labor taxes (other taxes on 

payrolls or employment (or reductions to reflect subsidies), even if they do not finance programs that directly benefit 

workers, because such taxes are regarded as labor costs). For consistency, compensation is measured on an hoursworked basis for every country. 

 The BLS definition of hourly compensation costs is not the same as the International Labor Office (ILO) 

definition of total labor costs. Hourly compensation costs do not include all items of labor costs. The costs of 

recruitment, employee training, and plant facilities and services−such as cafeterias and medical clinics−are not 

included because data are not available for many countries. The labor costs not included account for no more than 4 

percent of total labor costs in any country for which the data are available. 

 Production workers generally include those employees who are engaged in fabricating, assembly, and related 

activities; material handling, warehousing, and shipping; maintenance and repair; janitorial and guard services; 

auxiliary production (for example, power plants); and other services closely related to the above activities. Working 

supervisors are generally included; apprentices and other trainees are generally excluded. 

Methods 

 Total compensation is computed by adjusting each country's average earnings series for items of direct pay not 

included in earnings and for employer expenditures for legally required insurance, contractual and private benefit 

plans, and other labor taxes. For the United States and other countries that measure earnings on an hours-paid basis, 

the figures are also adjusted in order to approximate compensation per hour worked. 

 Earnings statistics are obtained from surveys of employment, hours, and earnings or from surveys or censuses of 

manufactures. 

 Adjustment factors are obtained from periodic labor cost surveys and interpolated or projected to non-survey 

years on the basis of other information for most countries. The information used includes tabulations of employer 

social security contribution rates provided by the International Social Security Association, information on 

contractual and legislated fringe benefit changes from labor bulletins, and statistical series on indirect labor costs. 

For other countries, adjustment factors are obtained from surveys or censuses of manufactures or from reports on 
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fringe-benefit systems and social security. For the United States, the adjustment factors are special calculations for 

international comparisons based on data from several surveys. 

 The statistics are also adjusted, where necessary, to account for major differences in worker coverage; differences 

in industrial classification systems; and changes over time in survey coverage, sample benchmarks, or frequency of 

surveys. Nevertheless, some differences in industrial coverage remain and, with the exception of the United States, 

Canada, and several other countries, the data exclude very small establishments (less than 5 employees in Japan and 

less than 10 employees in most European and some other countries). For the United States, the methods used, as 

well as the results, differ somewhat from those for other BLS series on U.S. compensation costs. 

 Hourly compensation costs are converted to U.S. dollars using the average daily exchange rate for the reference 

period. The exchange rates used are prevailing commercial market exchange rates as published by either the U.S. 

Federal Reserve Board or the International Monetary Fund. 

 On January 1, 1999, several European countries joined the European Monetary Union (EMU): Austria, Belgium, 

Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Greece joined on 

January 1, 2001. Currencies of EMU members were established at fixed conversion rates to the euro, the official 

currency of the EMU. In this release, data on hourly compensation costs in national currency and exchange rates for 

the EMU countries relate to euros for 1999 to present; for the years 1975-1998 these data are published in the old 

national currencies used in each country before the euro was adopted. In order to include data on trends in national 

currency compensation costs and exchange rates for the entire time period, BLS converts national currency for 

1975-1998 to a “euro” basis for calculation. The conversions for all years 1975-1998 are made using the official 

fixed conversion rates for 1999. 

Industrial classification 

 The hourly compensation measures relate to manufacturing on a North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS) basis. NAICS is the common industrial classification used by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The NAICS definition of manufacturing differs somewhat from the definition of manufacturing used in other 

countries. Some industries that are not included in the NAICS definition of manufacturing, such as publishing of 

books and sound recordings, some repair and maintenance of equipment, and some business support services, are 

included in the definition of manufacturing in most other industrial classifications. Other industries, such as some 

processing of foods, some packaging, and retail sales of bakery products from the production facility, are included in 

the NAICS definition of manufacturing but not in the definition of manufacturing for most foreign economies. Most 

of the differences other than the treatment of publishing are very minor and do not have a noticeable impact on 

overall manufacturing averages. 

 BLS makes adjustments to remove publishing from manufacturing for the foreign economies in which it is 

classified as a part of manufacturing, except for Sri Lanka, for which the data necessary to remove publishing are 

not available. For the countries for which adjustments are made, the effect of publishing on manufacturing wages 

was estimated and removed using data from national sources, the United Nations Industrial Statistics Database, the 

International Labor Office (ILO), and other sources. Except for Hong Kong, the effect of removing publishing from 

manufacturing does not change the level of hourly compensation costs for any economy more than 1.5 percent. For 

Hong Kong, the effect of the adjustments is 2 to 4 percent in several years. 

Country notes 

 The following are exceptions to the standard coverage and definitions explained above: 

 Australia. Compensation relates to production workers and non-production workers other than those in 

managerial, executive, professional, and higher supervisory positions. 

 Hong Kong SAR. Average of selected manufacturing industries. The industries covered accounted for about 63 

percent of all persons employed in manufacturing in 2001. Compensation excludes overtime pay. Hong Kong 

became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China in July 1997. 

 Austria. Excludes workers in establishments considered handicraft manufacturers. In 1986, handicraft 

employment was about 35 percent of all manufacturing employment. In 2003, the handicraft blue collar workers’ 

average monthly gross wage was $1,893. The average monthly gross wage of manufacturing blue-collar workers 

was $2,156.

 Finland. Includes workers in mining and electrical power plants. For comparability with other countries, 

compensation excludes some obligatory training and plant facilities costs; these costs would add 1.6 percent to 

average hourly compensation costs in 1994. 

 Germany. Excludes workers in establishments considered handicraft manufacturers. Handicraft employment in 

Germany was 20.3 percent of all employment in manufacturing in 1994. Average hourly earnings of production 
-8- 

workers were about 3 percent lower in manufacturing including handicrafts than in manufacturing excluding 

handicrafts in 1990. 

 Ireland. Data refer to September for 1975. 

 Norway. For comparability with other countries, compensation excludes some obligatory training and plant 

facilities costs; these costs would add 2.2 percent to average hourly compensation costs in 1994. 

Trade-weighted measures 

 The trade weights used to compute the average compensation cost measures for selected economic groups are 

new weights based on the relative dollar value of U.S. trade in manufactured commodities (exports plus imports) 

with each country or area in 2004. The trade data are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. Previously 1999 

weights had been used. See the following table for a comparison of the 1999 and 2004 weights. 

 The only countries not covered in this report that accounted for as much as one percent of such trade are China, 

Malaysia, Thailand, and India. An article on manufacturing compensation costs in China is available on the BLS 

website at http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2005/08/art3full.pdf. The compensation data on China are not directly 

comparable with the data for other countries found in this new release. 

Share of total U.S. imports and exports of manufactured products in 1999 and 2004 

(in percent) 

 

Country or area and 

economic group 

1999 trade 

share 

 2004 trade 

share 

Country or area and 

economic group 

1999 trade 

share 

2004 trade 

share 

 

Brazil................. 1.5 1.7 Greece............ 0.1 0.1 

Canada.............. 21.5 20.0 Hungary........... - 0.2 

Mexico............... 11.8 12.5 Ireland............. 1.1 1.9 

 Italy................ 2.0 2.0 

Australia............... 1.0 1.1 Luxembourg...... 0.1 0.1 

Hong Kong SAR 1.... 1.5 1.3 Netherlands...... 1.6 1.8 

Israel................... 1.1 1.2 Norway............ 0.2 0.2 

Japan.................. 11.8 9.4 Portugal........... 0.2 0.2 

Korea................. 3.4 3.7 Spain.............. 0.7 0.7 

New Zealand........ 0.2 0.2 Sweden........... 0.8 0.8 

Singapore........... 2.2 1.8 Switzerland...... 1.1 1.0 

Sri Lanka............ 0.1 0.1 United Kingdom 4.6 3.8 

Taiwan............... 3.4 2.9 

 Economic Groups 

Austria............... 0.4 0.4 31 foreign 

Belgium............. 1.3 1.5 economies...... 82.3 74.6 

Czech Republic... 0.1 0.1 

Denmark............ 0.3 0.3 OECD 3.............. 72.5 66.1 

Finland.............. 0.3 0.3 Europe.............. 22.7 22.2 

France............... 2.7 2.7 European Union-15 4 21.4 20.8 

Germany 2........... 5.2 5.6 Asian NIEs......... 10.5 9.1 

1

 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

2

 Former West Germany. 

3

 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

4

 Includes the 15 European Union members prior to expansion on May 1, 2004. 
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 The countries included in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) trade-weighted 

measure are Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and all European countries. The group labeled 

"European Union-15" consists of the 15 members of the European Union before the expansion to 25 countries on 

May 1, 2004 (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the 

Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). The group labeled "Europe" consists of the 15 

members of the European Union-15, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway, and Switzerland. The group labeled 

"Asian NIEs" consists of the four newly industrialized economies of Hong Kong SAR, Korea, Singapore, and 

Taiwan. 

 The trade-weighted measures relate to all the countries or areas covered in the series. In these measures, data for 

Germany relate to the former West Germany. Estimates are computed for missing country data using the average 

trend in other economies to estimate the missing data. Trade weighted average percent changes for the 31 foreign 

economies are computed both including and excluding Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Hungary because a lack of 

data for these countries prior to the mid-1990s. 

 The trade-weighted average rates of change are computed as the trade-weighted arithmetic average of the rates of 

change for the individual countries or areas; the trade-weighted average hourly compensation costs are computed as 

the trade-weighted arithmetic average of cost levels for the individual countries or areas. Rates of change derived 

from the trade-weighted average hourly compensation cost levels need not be the same as the trade-weighted 

average rates of change. 

Data limitations 

 Because compensation is partly estimated, the statistics should not be considered as precise measures of 

comparative compensation costs. In addition, the figures are subject to revision as the results of new labor cost 

surveys or other data used to estimate compensation costs become available. 

 The comparative level figures in this report are averages for all manufacturing industries and are not necessarily 

representative of all component industries. In the United States and some other countries, such as Japan, 

differentials in hourly compensation cost levels by industry are fairly wide. 

Labor costs versus labor income

 The hourly compensation figures in U.S. dollars shown in the tables provide comparative measures of employer 

labor costs; they do not provide intercountry comparisons of the purchasing power of worker incomes. Prices of 

goods and services vary greatly among countries, and the commercial market exchange rates used to compare 

employer labor costs do not reliably indicate relative differences in prices. Purchasing power parities, that is, the 

number of foreign currency units required to buy goods and services equivalent to what can be purchased with one 

unit of U.S. or other base-country currency must be used for meaningful international comparisons of the relative 

purchasing power of worker incomes. 

 Total compensation converted to U.S. dollars at purchasing power parities would provide one measure for 

comparing relative real levels of labor income. It should be noted, however, that total compensation includes 

employer payments to funds for the benefit of workers in addition to payments made directly to workers. (For a few 

countries, the compensation measures also include taxes or subsidies on payrolls or employment even if they do not 

finance programs which directly benefit workers.) Payments into these funds provide either deferred income (for 

example, payments to retirement funds), a type of insurance (for example, payments to unemployment or health 

benefit funds), or current social benefits (for example, family allowances), and the relationship between employer 

payments and current or future worker benefits is indirect. On the other hand, excluding these payments would 

understate the total value of income derived from work because they substitute for worker savings or self-insurance 

to cover retirement, medical costs, etc. 

 Total compensation, because it takes account of employer payments into funds for the benefit of workers, is a 

broader income concept than either total direct earnings or direct spendable earnings. An even broader concept 

would take account of all social benefits available to workers, including those financed out of general revenues as 

well as those financed through employment or payroll taxes. 

 
-10- 

 Table 1. Indexes of hourly compensation costs for production workers in manufacturing, 

 32 countries or areas and selected economic groups, selected years, 1975-2004 

 Country or area 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 

 Americas 

 United States............. 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

 Brazil.................... - - - - - 18 14 12 12 13 

 Canada.................... 99 92 88 110 96 84 79 78 87 92 

 Mexico.................... 24 23 12 11 9 11 12 12 11 11 

 Asia and Oceania 

 Australia................. 91 88 64 88 89 73 65 72 89 100 

 Hong Kong SAR (1)......... 12 16 14 22 28 28 28 26 25 24 

 Israel.................... 33 35 29 52 55 58 60 52 52 53 

 Japan..................... 48 57 49 84 137 112 94 87 91 95 

 Korea..................... 5 10 10 25 42 42 37 41 45 50 

 New Zealand............... 50 53 34 54 57 40 37 40 50 56 

 Singapore................. 14 16 20 25 44 37 34 31 32 32 

 Sri Lanka................. 5 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 - 

 Taiwan.................... 6 10 12 26 34 31 29 26 26 26 

 Europe 

 Austria................... 73 92 60 121 147 97 93 97 114 122 

 Belgium................... 94 122 65 120 149 102 96 102 119 129 

 Czech Republic............ - - - - 15 14 15 18 21 23 

 Denmark................... 101 112 64 124 147 111 107 113 135 146 

 Finland................... 75 86 65 143 141 99 96 102 122 132 

 France.................... 73 92 59 104 112 78 76 80 95 103 

 Germany, Former West...... 102 126 74 146 182 120 114 118 139 147 

 Germany................... - - - - 175 115 109 113 133 140 

 Greece.................... 27 39 29 46 53 - - - - - 

 Hungary................... - - - - 16 14 15 18 22 25 

 Ireland................... 50 63 47 79 80 65 66 71 86 95 

 Italy..................... 75 84 60 116 91 70 66 69 81 88 

 Luxembourg................ 101 120 59 108 136 89 84 87 104 115 

 Netherlands............... 107 125 69 121 140 98 96 103 123 133 

 Norway.................... 112 123 82 147 144 115 113 128 142 150 

 Portugal.................. 25 21 12 24 30 23 22 24 28 30 

 Spain..................... 41 61 36 76 74 54 52 56 67 74 

 Sweden.................... 116 129 76 140 126 102 89 95 113 123 

 Switzerland............... 98 114 75 139 168 107 105 111 125 131 

 United Kingdom............ 54 78 49 85 80 85 81 85 95 107 

 Trade-weighted measures (2,3) 

 All 31 foreign economies.. 62 68 52 80 87 70 65 65 73 78 

 less Brazil, Czech 

 Republic, Hungary....... 62 68 52 80 88 71 67 67 75 79 

 OECD (4,5)................ 68 73 56 86 93 75 70 70 79 84 

 Europe (6)................ 81 100 62 115 125 92 88 93 108 117 

 European Union-15 (7)..... 80 100 61 113 124 92 88 92 108 117 

 Asian NIEs (8)............ 8 12 13 25 38 36 33 33 34 36 

 Dash means data not available. 

 (1) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

 (2) Because data for Germany are not available before 1993, data for the former West 

 Germany only are included in the trade-weighted measures. 

 (3) For a description of trade-weighted measures and economic groups, see the Technical 

 Notes preceding these tables. 

 (4) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

 (5) Data for the Czech Republic for 1975-1994 and for Hungary for 1975-1993 are not 

 included. 

 (6) Data for the Czech Republic for 1975-1994 and for Hungary for 1975-1993 are not 

 included. 

 (7) European Union-15 refers to European Union member countries prior to the expansion 

 of the European Union to 25 countries on May 1, 2004. 

 (8) The Asian NIEs are Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. 

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2005. 
-11- 

 Table 2. Hourly compensation costs in U.S. dollars for production workers in manufacturing, 

 32 countries or areas and selected economic groups, selected years, 1975-2004 

 Country or area 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 

 Americas 

 United States............. 6.16 9.63 12.71 14.84 17.21 19.70 20.58 21.40 22.27 23.17 

 Brazil.................... - - - - - 3.51 2.95 2.56 2.74 3.03 

 Canada.................... 6.11 8.87 11.20 16.33 16.50 16.48 16.23 16.66 19.37 21.42 

 Mexico.................... 1.45 2.19 1.58 1.56 1.47 2.20 2.54 2.60 2.49 2.50 

 Asia and Oceania 

 Australia................. 5.60 8.44 8.18 13.09 15.36 14.39 13.30 15.41 19.78 23.09 

 Hong Kong SAR (1)......... 0.75 1.50 1.73 3.22 4.80 5.45 5.74 5.66 5.54 5.51 

 Israel.................... 2.03 3.41 3.66 7.71 9.50 11.49 12.25 11.03 11.66 12.18 

 Japan..................... 2.97 5.46 6.27 12.54 23.55 22.02 19.43 18.65 20.32 21.90 

 Korea..................... 0.32 0.95 1.23 3.70 7.28 8.24 7.72 8.77 10.03 11.52 

 New Zealand............... 3.10 5.14 4.30 8.01 9.78 7.91 7.53 8.60 11.04 12.89 

 Singapore................. 0.83 1.53 2.53 3.75 7.58 7.19 6.97 6.71 7.18 7.45 

 Sri Lanka................. 0.28 0.22 0.28 0.35 0.48 0.48 0.45 0.49 0.51 - 

 Taiwan.................... 0.37 0.99 1.49 3.85 5.87 6.19 6.05 5.64 5.69 5.97 

 Europe 

 Austria................... 4.50 8.87 7.57 17.91 25.26 19.17 19.08 20.69 25.32 28.29 

 Belgium................... 5.77 11.74 8.29 17.84 25.64 20.09 19.80 21.74 26.52 29.98 

 Czech Republic............ - - - - 2.53 2.83 3.13 3.83 4.72 5.43 

 Denmark................... 6.24 10.77 8.10 18.35 25.28 21.87 22.02 24.25 30.15 33.75 

 Finland................... 4.63 8.30 8.20 21.15 24.31 19.44 19.85 21.78 27.10 30.67 

 France.................... 4.50 8.90 7.48 15.36 19.26 15.46 15.65 17.12 21.14 23.89 

 Germany, Former West...... 6.26 12.16 9.46 21.71 31.41 23.71 23.51 25.31 30.99 34.05 

 Germany................... - - - - 30.09 22.67 22.48 24.20 29.63 32.53 

 Greece.................... 1.69 3.73 3.67 6.82 9.07 - - - - - 

 Hungary................... - - - - 2.69 2.79 3.16 3.92 4.80 5.72 

 Ireland................... 3.06 6.02 6.00 11.77 13.75 12.72 13.60 15.26 19.09 21.94 

 Italy..................... 4.64 8.09 7.56 17.28 15.69 13.84 13.61 14.75 18.11 20.48 

 Luxembourg................ 6.22 11.51 7.48 16.00 23.36 17.51 17.21 18.71 23.12 26.57 

 Netherlands............... 6.58 12.05 8.73 17.98 24.03 19.33 19.85 22.12 27.47 30.76 

 Norway.................... 6.90 11.80 10.47 21.76 24.84 22.66 23.29 27.29 31.56 34.64 

 Portugal.................. 1.52 1.98 1.46 3.59 5.09 4.49 4.59 5.07 6.24 7.02 

 Spain..................... 2.52 5.86 4.64 11.30 12.70 10.65 10.76 11.92 14.97 17.10 

 Sweden.................... 7.14 12.44 9.61 20.81 21.68 20.18 18.39 20.23 25.19 28.42 

 Switzerland............... 6.03 10.96 9.55 20.63 28.99 21.02 21.60 23.81 27.83 30.26 

 United Kingdom............ 3.35 7.52 6.22 12.61 13.79 16.73 16.75 18.25 21.20 24.71 

 Trade-weighted measures (2,3) 

 All 31 foreign economies.. 3.85 6.54 6.65 11.90 15.05 13.78 13.43 14.00 16.28 18.02 

 less Brazil, Czech 

 Republic, Hungary....... 3.85 6.54 6.65 11.90 15.11 14.06 13.71 14.29 16.63 18.41 

 OECD (4,5)................ 4.16 7.05 7.12 12.69 15.93 14.73 14.34 15.03 17.58 19.51 

 Europe (6)................ 4.99 9.67 7.85 17.05 21.50 18.08 18.11 19.80 24.10 27.08 

 European Union-15 (7)..... 4.92 9.59 7.74 16.84 21.40 18.13 18.12 19.78 24.14 27.17 

 Asian NIEs (8)............ 0.49 1.14 1.61 3.69 6.59 7.07 6.82 7.05 7.62 8.32 

 Dash means data not available. 

 (1) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

 (2) Because data for Germany are not available before 1993, data for the former West 

 Germany only are included in the trade-weighted measures. 

 (3) For a description of trade-weighted measures and economic groups, see the Technical 

 Notes preceding these tables. 

 (4) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

 (5) Data for the Czech Republic for 1975-1994 and for Hungary for 1975-1993 are not 

 included. 

 (6) Data for the Czech Republic for 1975-1994 and for Hungary for 1975-1993 are not 

 included. 

 (7) European Union-15 refers to European Union member countries prior to the expansion 

 of the European Union to 25 countries on May 1, 2004. 

 (8) The Asian NIEs are Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. 

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2005. 

 
-12- 

 Table 3. Annual percent change in hourly compensation costs in U.S. dollars for production 

 workers in manufacturing, 32 countries or areas and selected economic groups, selected 

 years, 1975-2004 

 Country or area 1975- 1975- 1980- 1985- 1990- 1995- 2000- 2002 2003 2004 

 2004(1) 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004 

 Americas 

 United States............. 4.7 9.3 5.7 3.2 3.0 2.7 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 

 Brazil.................... - - - - - - -3.6 -13.2 6.8 10.9 

 Canada.................... 4.4 7.7 4.8 7.8 .2 .0 6.8 2.7 16.2 10.6 

 Mexico.................... 1.9 8.5 -6.3 -.2 -1.3 8.4 3.2 2.4 -4.3 .4 

 Asia and Oceania 

 Australia................. 5.0 8.6 -.6 9.9 3.3 -1.3 12.5 15.8 28.4 16.7 

 Hong Kong SAR (2)......... 7.1 14.8 2.8 13.2 8.3 2.6 .3 -1.4 -2.2 -.6 

 Israel.................... 6.4 11.0 1.4 16.1 4.3 3.9 1.5 -10.0 5.7 4.5 

 Japan..................... 7.1 13.0 2.8 14.8 13.4 -1.3 -.1 -4.0 9.0 7.8 

 Korea..................... 13.1 24.3 5.2 24.6 14.5 2.5 8.7 13.7 14.3 14.9 

 New Zealand............... 5.0 10.7 -3.5 13.3 4.1 -4.1 13.0 14.2 28.4 16.8 

 Singapore................. 7.8 12.9 10.6 8.2 15.1 -1.0 .9 -3.8 7.0 3.8 

 Sri Lanka................. 2.2 -5.0 5.2 4.7 6.4 .0 - 10.1 3.1 - 

 Taiwan.................... 10.1 21.8 8.4 21.0 8.8 1.1 -.9 -6.8 1.0 4.8 

 Europe 

 Austria................... 6.5 14.5 -3.1 18.8 7.1 -5.4 10.2 8.4 22.4 11.8 

 Belgium................... 5.8 15.3 -6.7 16.6 7.5 -4.8 10.5 9.8 22.0 13.1 

 Czech Republic............ - - - - - 2.3 17.6 22.3 23.3 15.0 

 Denmark................... 6.0 11.5 -5.5 17.8 6.6 -2.8 11.4 10.1 24.3 11.9 

 Finland................... 6.7 12.4 -.2 20.9 2.8 -4.4 12.1 9.7 24.4 13.2 

 France.................... 5.9 14.6 -3.4 15.5 4.6 -4.3 11.5 9.4 23.5 13.0 

 Germany, Former West...... 6.0 14.2 -4.9 18.1 7.7 -5.5 9.5 7.7 22.4 9.9 

 Germany................... - - - - - -5.5 9.4 7.6 22.4 9.8 

 Greece.................... 7.4 17.2 -.3 13.2 5.9 - - - - - 

 Hungary................... - - - - - .8 19.6 24.3 22.3 19.2 

 Ireland................... 7.0 14.5 -.1 14.4 3.2 -1.5 14.6 12.2 25.1 14.9 

 Italy..................... 5.3 11.8 -1.3 18.0 -1.9 -2.5 10.3 8.4 22.8 13.1 

 Luxembourg................ 5.1 13.1 -8.3 16.4 7.9 -5.6 11.0 8.7 23.6 14.9 

 Netherlands............... 5.5 12.9 -6.2 15.6 6.0 -4.3 12.3 11.4 24.2 12.0 

 Norway.................... 5.7 11.3 -2.4 15.8 2.7 -1.8 11.2 17.2 15.6 9.8 

 Portugal.................. 5.4 5.4 -5.8 19.7 7.3 -2.5 11.8 10.3 23.1 12.6 

 Spain..................... 6.8 18.4 -4.6 19.5 2.4 -3.5 12.6 10.8 25.5 14.3 

 Sweden.................... 4.9 11.7 -5.0 16.7 .8 -1.4 8.9 10.0 24.5 12.8 

 Switzerland............... 5.7 12.7 -2.7 16.7 7.0 -6.2 9.5 10.3 16.9 8.7 

 United Kingdom............ 7.1 17.5 -3.7 15.2 1.8 3.9 10.2 9.0 16.2 16.6 

 Trade-weighted measures (3,4) 

 All 31 foreign economies.. 5.7 12.1 .3 11.6 4.5 .6 6.1 3.8 12.5 8.9 

 less Brazil, Czech 

 Republic, Hungary....... 5.7 12.1 .3 11.6 4.5 .6 6.1 3.8 12.5 8.9 

 OECD (5,6)................ 5.4 11.7 -.4 11.2 3.9 .5 6.8 4.8 13.6 9.4 

 Europe (7)................ 6.1 14.4 -3.8 16.6 4.5 -2.7 10.8 9.4 21.7 12.7 

 European Union-15 (8)..... 6.2 14.5 -3.9 16.6 4.4 -2.6 10.8 9.3 22.0 12.9 

 Asian NIEs (9)............ 10.4 20.2 6.9 19.0 12.1 1.4 3.3 2.3 6.8 7.8 

 Rates of change based on compound rate method. 

 Dash means data not available. 

 (1) 1975-2003 for Sri Lanka. 1975-1998 for Greece. 

 (2) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

 (3) Because data for Germany are not available before 1993, data for the former West 

 Germany only are included in the trade-weighted measures. 

 (4) Trade-weighted percent changes computed as the trade-weighted average of the rates 

 of change for the individual countries or areas. For description of trade-weighted 

 measures and economic groups, see the Technical Notes preceding these tables. 

 (5) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

 (6) Data for the Czech Republic and Hungary are not included for 1975-2004, 1975-1980, 

 1980-1985, 1985-1990, and 1990-1995. 

 (7) Data for the Czech Republic and Hungary are not included for 1975-2004, 1975-1980, 

 1980-1985, 1985-1990, and 1990-1995. 

 (8) European Union-15 refers to European Union member countries prior to the expansion 

 of the European Union to 25 countries on May 1, 2004. 

 (9) The Asian NIEs are Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. 

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2005. 
-13- 

 Table 4. Annual percent change in hourly compensation costs in national currency for 

 production workers in manufacturing, 32 countries or areas and selected economic groups, 

 selected years, 1975-2004 

 Country or area 1975- 1975- 1980- 1985- 1990- 1995- 2000- 2002 2003 2004 

 2004(1) 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004 

 Americas 

 United States............. 4.7 9.3 5.7 3.2 3.0 2.7 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 

 Brazil.................... - - - - - - 8.4 7.8 12.4 5.5 

 Canada.................... 5.3 10.8 8.1 4.5 3.5 1.6 3.3 4.1 3.7 2.8 

 Mexico.................... 28.8 22.5 51.8 61.1 16.5 17.2 7.9 5.9 6.9 5.0 

 Asia and Oceania 

 Australia................. 7.1 11.6 9.6 7.5 4.3 3.6 6.1 10.1 7.0 3.4 

 Hong Kong SAR (2)......... 8.8 14.9 12.5 13.2 8.2 2.7 .3 -1.4 -2.3 -.6 

 Israel.................... 44.4 68.3 200.9 29.2 13.0 10.4 3.9 1.4 1.6 2.8 

 Japan..................... 3.5 7.0 3.9 4.0 4.0 1.4 .0 -1.2 .8 .6 

 Korea..................... 16.5 30.0 13.1 19.6 16.5 10.7 9.1 10.0 9.0 10.3 

 New Zealand............... 7.2 15.6 10.3 9.2 2.1 3.0 2.9 3.3 2.5 2.3 

 Singapore................. 6.6 10.6 11.2 4.1 9.6 2.9 .4 -3.9 4.2 .7 

 Sri Lanka................. 12.2 12.7 16.2 13.1 11.7 8.5 - 17.8 4.0 - 

 Taiwan.................... 9.6 20.5 10.6 11.8 8.5 4.5 .7 -4.9 .6 1.6 

 Europe 

 Austria................... 4.9 7.9 6.4 5.3 4.7 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.2 1.7 

 Belgium................... 5.4 10.1 7.5 3.9 4.9 3.0 2.6 3.9 1.9 2.9 

 Czech Republic............ - - - - - 10.3 6.3 5.3 6.2 4.8 

 Denmark................... 6.2 11.1 7.2 5.8 4.5 4.6 3.4 4.2 3.7 1.9 

 Finland................... 7.7 12.7 10.5 9.8 5.6 3.3 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.0 

 France.................... 6.7 14.3 12.3 4.5 2.8 2.7 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.9 

 Germany, Former West...... 4.4 7.5 4.8 4.8 5.1 2.2 1.6 2.0 2.2 .0 

 Germany................... - - - - - 2.2 1.6 1.9 2.2 -.1 

 Greece.................... 18.3 23.9 26.1 16.4 14.2 - - - - - 

 Hungary................... - - - - - 18.5 10.1 11.9 6.3 7.8 

 Ireland................... 8.3 16.2 14.0 4.8 3.8 4.8 6.4 6.3 4.5 4.6 

 Italy..................... 8.5 18.0 15.8 7.5 4.3 2.6 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.9 

 Luxembourg................ 4.7 8.0 5.7 3.8 5.2 2.1 3.0 3.0 3.2 4.6 

 Netherlands............... 4.2 7.6 3.9 2.5 3.3 3.7 4.2 5.5 3.7 1.9 

 Norway.................... 6.7 10.1 9.1 8.6 3.0 4.9 4.0 4.0 2.5 4.5 

 Portugal.................. 12.4 20.7 20.5 15.3 8.3 5.0 3.8 4.4 2.8 2.5 

 Spain..................... 10.0 23.8 13.4 7.9 6.6 3.9 4.5 4.9 4.8 4.0 

 Sweden.................... 7.0 12.2 9.5 8.3 4.7 3.6 3.1 3.4 3.5 2.6 

 Switzerland............... 3.1 3.4 5.0 4.1 3.6 .7 1.4 1.6 1.0 .5 

 United Kingdom............ 7.8 16.5 8.2 8.1 4.3 4.8 5.1 4.5 6.7 4.1 

 Trade-weighted measures (3,4) 

 All 31 foreign economies.. 10.6 15.0 18.4 15.5 7.1 5.4 3.8 3.4 3.9 3.0 

 less Brazil, Czech 

 Republic, Hungary....... 10.6 15.0 18.4 15.5 7.1 5.4 3.8 3.4 3.9 3.0 

 OECD (5,6)................ 10.2 13.9 15.9 15.8 6.9 5.4 4.1 4.0 4.2 3.2 

 Europe (7)................ 6.4 12.3 8.8 5.7 4.4 3.3 3.4 3.7 3.5 2.4 

 European Union-15 (8)..... 6.5 12.7 9.0 5.8 4.4 3.4 3.5 3.8 3.7 2.5 

 Asian NIEs (9)............ 11.6 21.6 11.9 13.6 11.7 6.3 3.8 1.5 4.1 4.5 

 Rates of change based on compound rate method. 

 Dash means data not available. 

 (1) 1975-2003 for Sri Lanka. 1975-1998 for Greece. 

 (2) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

 (3) Because data for Germany are not available before 1993, data for the former West 

 Germany only are included in the trade-weighted measures. 

 (4) Trade-weighted percent changes computed as the trade-weighted average of the rates 

 of change for the individual countries or areas. For description of trade-weighted 

 measures and economic groups, see the Technical Notes preceding these tables. 

 (5) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

 (6) Data for the Czech Republic and Hungary are not included for 1975-2004, 1975-1980, 

 1980-1985, 1985-1990, and 1990-1995. 

 (7) Data for the Czech Republic and Hungary are not included for 1975-2004, 1975-1980, 

 1980-1985, 1985-1990, and 1990-1995. 

 (8) European Union-15 refers to European Union member countries prior to the expansion 

 of the European Union to 25 countries on May 1, 2004. 

 (9) The Asian NIEs are Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. 

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2005. 
-14- 

 Table 5. Annual percent change in exchange rates (U.S. dollars per national currency 

 unit), 32 countries or areas and selected economic groups, selected years, 1975-2004 

 Country or area 1975- 1975- 1980- 1985- 1990- 1995- 2000- 2002 2003 2004 

 2004(1) 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004 

 Americas 

 United States............. - - - - - - - - - - 

 Brazil.................... - - - - - - -11.1 -19.4 -5.0 5.1 

 Canada.................... -.8 -2.7 -3.1 3.2 -3.2 -1.6 3.4 -1.3 12.1 7.6 

 Mexico.................... -20.9 -11.5 -38.3 -38.0 -15.2 -7.5 -4.3 -3.4 -10.5 -4.4 

 Asia and Oceania 

 Australia................. -2.0 -2.7 -9.3 2.2 -1.0 -4.7 6.1 5.2 20.0 12.9 

 Hong Kong SAR (2)......... -1.6 -.1 -8.6 .0 .1 -.1 .0 .0 .2 .0 

 Israel.................... -26.3 -34.1 -66.3 -10.2 -7.7 -5.9 -2.3 -11.2 4.0 1.6 

 Japan..................... 3.5 5.6 -1.1 10.5 9.1 -2.7 -.1 -2.9 8.0 7.1 

 Korea..................... -2.9 -4.4 -6.9 4.2 -1.7 -7.4 -.3 3.4 4.9 4.1 

 New Zealand............... -2.1 -4.3 -12.6 3.7 1.9 -7.0 9.8 10.5 25.3 14.2 

 Singapore................. 1.2 2.1 -.5 3.9 5.1 -3.9 .5 .1 2.8 3.1 

 Sri Lanka................. -8.9 -15.7 -9.5 -7.5 -4.8 -7.8 - -6.6 -.9 - 

 Taiwan.................... .4 1.1 -2.0 8.2 .3 -3.2 -1.6 -2.1 .4 3.1 

 Europe 

 Austria................... 1.6 6.1 -9.0 12.8 2.4 -7.5 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Belgium................... .4 4.7 -13.2 12.2 2.5 -7.6 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Czech Republic............ - - - - - -7.2 10.7 16.2 16.1 9.8 

 Denmark................... -.1 .4 -11.9 11.4 2.0 -7.1 7.8 5.7 19.9 9.8 

 Finland................... -.9 -.3 -9.7 10.1 -2.6 -7.4 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 France.................... -.7 .3 -14.0 10.5 1.8 -6.8 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Germany, Former West...... 1.5 6.2 -9.2 12.7 2.5 -7.5 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Germany................... - - - - - -7.5 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Greece.................... -9.2 -5.4 -21.0 -2.7 -7.3 - - - - - 

 Hungary................... - - - - - -14.9 8.6 11.1 15.0 10.6 

 Ireland................... -1.2 -1.5 -12.3 9.2 -.7 -6.1 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Italy..................... -3.0 -5.3 -14.8 9.8 -6.0 -4.9 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Luxembourg................ .4 4.7 -13.2 12.2 2.5 -7.6 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Netherlands............... 1.2 4.9 -9.8 12.7 2.6 -7.6 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Norway.................... -.9 1.1 -10.5 6.6 -.3 -6.4 6.9 12.7 12.8 5.0 

 Portugal.................. -6.2 -12.7 -21.9 3.8 -1.0 -7.1 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Spain..................... -2.9 -4.3 -15.9 10.8 -3.9 -7.1 7.7 5.6 19.8 9.9 

 Sweden.................... -2.0 -.4 -13.2 7.8 -3.7 -4.9 5.7 6.4 20.3 10.0 

 Switzerland............... 2.6 9.0 -7.4 12.0 3.3 -6.9 8.0 8.5 15.8 8.2 

 United Kingdom............ -.7 .9 -11.0 6.6 -2.4 -.8 4.8 4.3 8.9 12.0 

 Trade-weighted measures (3,4) 

 All 31 foreign economies.. -3.8 -2.0 -12.4 -.4 -2.2 -4.5 2.3 .4 8.4 5.8 

 less Brazil, Czech 

 Republic, Hungary....... -3.8 -2.0 -12.4 -.4 -2.2 -4.5 2.3 .4 8.4 5.8 

 OECD (5,6)................ -3.7 -1.7 -12.2 -.7 -2.5 -4.6 2.6 .8 9.1 6.1 

 Europe (7)................ -.2 2.0 -11.6 10.4 .1 -5.9 7.1 5.5 17.6 10.0 

 European Union-15 (8)..... -.3 1.7 -11.8 10.3 -.1 -5.8 7.1 5.3 17.7 10.1 

 Asian NIEs (9)............ -1.0 -1.0 -4.5 4.8 .4 -4.5 -.5 .7 2.5 3.1 

 Rates of change based on compound rate method. 

 Dash means data not available. 

 (1) 1975-2003 for Sri Lanka. 1975-1998 for Greece. 

 (2) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

 (3) Because data for Germany are not available before 1993, data for the former West 

 Germany only are included in the trade-weighted measures. 

 (4) Trade-weighted percent changes computed as the trade-weighted average of the rates 

 of change for the individual countries or areas. For description of trade-weighted 

 measures and economic groups, see the Technical Notes preceding these tables. 

 (5) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

 (6) Data for the Czech Republic and Hungary are not included for 1975-2004, 1975-1980, 

 1980-1985, 1985-1990, and 1990-1995. 

 (7) Data for the Czech Republic and Hungary are not included for 1975-2004, 1975-1980, 

 1980-1985, 1985-1990, and 1990-1995. 

 (8) European Union-15 refers to European Union member countries prior to the expansion 

 of the European Union to 25 countries on May 1, 2004. 

 (9) The Asian NIEs are Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. 

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2005. 
-15- 

 Table 6. Hourly compensation costs in national currency units and exchange rates, 32 

 countries or areas, 2004 

 Country or area Compensation costs Exchange Rates 

 Americas 

 United States............. 23.17 1.000 

 Brazil.................... 8.87 2.926 

 Canada.................... 27.89 1.302 

 Mexico.................... 28.22 11.29 

 Asia and Oceania 

 Australia................. 31.35 1.358 

 Hong Kong SAR (1)......... 42.90 7.789 

 Israel.................... 54.60 4.482 

 Japan..................... 2370 108.2 

 Korea..................... 13190 1145 

 New Zealand............... 19.40 1.505 

 Singapore................. 12.59 1.690 

 Sri Lanka................. - - 

 Taiwan.................... 199.1 33.37 

 Europe 

 Austria................... 22.75 .8040 

 Belgium................... 24.11 .8040 

 Czech Republic............ 139.5 25.70 

 Denmark................... 202.1 5.989 

 Finland................... 24.66 .8040 

 France.................... 19.21 .8040 

 Germany................... 26.15 .8040 

 Greece.................... - - 

 Hungary................... 1160 202.7 

 Ireland................... 17.64 .8040 

 Italy..................... 16.46 .8040 

 Luxembourg................ 21.36 .8040 

 Netherlands............... 24.73 .8040 

 Norway.................... 233.5 6.740 

 Portugal.................. 5.65 .8040 

 Spain..................... 13.75 .8040 

 Sweden.................... 208.8 7.348 

 Switzerland............... 37.61 1.243 

 United Kingdom............ 13.49 .5460 

 Dash means data not available. 

 (1) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. 

 National currency units are: United States, dollar; Brazil, real; 

 Canada, dollar; Mexico, peso; Australia, dollar; Hong Kong, dollar; 

 Israel, new shekel; Japan, yen; Korea, won; New Zealand, dollar; 

 Singapore, dollar; Sri Lanka, rupee; Taiwan, dollar; Austria, euro; 

 Belgium, euro; Czech Republic, koruna; Denmark, krone; Finland, euro; 

 France, euro; Germany, euro; Greece, euro; Hungary, forint; Ireland, euro; 

 Italy, euro; Luxembourg, euro; Netherlands, euro; Norway, krone; 

 Portugal, euro; Spain, euro; Sweden, krona; Switzerland, franc; 

 United Kingdom, pound. 

 Note: For data for all years 1975-2004, see the supplementary tables to this 

 news release at http://www.bls.gov/fls. 

 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2005.