TEXT
Table 1.  Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 2.  Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 3.  Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 4.  Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 5.  Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 6.  Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 7.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 8.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 9.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 10.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 11.  Exchange rates, 12 countries, 1950-1994 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
Table 12.  Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 13.  Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 14.  Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
Table 15.  Korea:  Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
Table 16.  Taiwan:  Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994

Technical information                                 USDL: 95-342
    (202) 606-5654                                    For Release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact                                         Friday, September 8, 1995
    (202) 606-5902
 
 
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
AND UNIT LABOR COST TRENDS, 1994
 
        The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor today reported on 1994
developments in manufacturing labor productivity (output per hour) and unit labor costs in the United
States and other industrial economies.
 
        Manufacturing productivity in the United States increased 4 percent in 1994.  Of the 10 foreign
economies for which productivity data are available, seven had productivity increases that matched or
exceeded the U.S. growth rate.  Four countries -- Denmark, France, Germany (former West Germany), and
the Netherlands -- had growth rates greater than 7 percent (See table A and chart 1.)
 
        U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs decreased 2.3 percent in 1994.  Of the 12 foreign economies
for which these data are available, only three -- Korea, Taiwan, and Norway -- recorded increases in
unit labor costs in 1994.  Five economies -- Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands --
had declines in unit labor costs that exceeded the U.S. rate of decline.
 
        In evaluating competitive changes in unit labor costs, changes in relative currency values also
need to be taken into account.  The value of the Canadian dollar fell 5-1/2 percent relative to the
U.S. dollar, and Canadian unit labor costs measured in U.S. dollars declined 6-1/2 percent.  In
contrast, the value of the Japanese yen rose nearly 9 percent, and Japanese unit labor costs measured
in U.S. dollars increased 7-1/2 percent -- the largest U.S.-dollar-based increase among the 13
economies.  Exchange rate movements played a smaller role in affecting relative changes in unit labor
costs in the other economies.  (See table A and chart 2.)
 
        The 1994 measures of percent changes in manufacturing productivity, unit labor costs, and related
variables for the United States, Canada, Japan, and the eight European countries for which data are
available are summarized in table A on page 2.  Table A also shows percent changes in unit labor costs
for Korea and Taiwan.  Comparable productivity figures for Korea and Taiwan are not available because
adequate labor input measures have not been developed. Table B shows average annual percent changes
for selected periods from 1979 for 14 economies, including Belgium in addition to the 13 economies for
which 1994 measures are available.  Indexes of the measures for the United States, Canada, Japan, and
the European countries are in tables 1-14; output and unit labor cost indexes for Korea and Taiwan are
in tables 15 and 16.  U.S. indexes for most of the measures are not currently available prior to
1977; see box on page 9.
 
 
                                                             - 2 -
Table A.  Manufacturing productivity* and labor costs in 13 countries or areas
Percent change, 1993-94
 
                                                              Unit labor costs
               Output                                 Hourly  ----------------
                 per                  Employ- Average compen- National  U.S.   Exchange
Country         hour   Output  Hours   ment    hours  sation   curr.   dollars  rate (1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
United States   4.0     6.4     2.3     1.2     1.1     1.7    - 2.3    - 2.3     ---
 
Canada          4.0     6.7     2.6     2.0      .5     3.0    - 1.0    - 6.5    - 5.6
Japan           2.9      .8   - 2.1   - 2.2      .0     1.9     -1.0      7.6      8.7
Korea (2)        NA    10.4      NA      NA      NA      NA      3.5      3.4    -  .1
Taiwan (2)       NA     6.1      NA      NA      NA      NA      2.2      2.0    -  .2
Denmark         7.5     8.5      .9      .9      .0     3.0    - 4.2    - 2.2      2.0
France          7.6     4.8   - 2.6   - 2.6      .0     2.6    - 4.7    - 2.6      2.2
 
Germany (3)     7.3     2.5   - 4.5   - 5.0      .6     4.1    - 3.0    - 1.0      2.0
Italy           3.6     5.3     1.6   - 1.1     2.8     1.1    - 2.4    - 4.7    - 2.4
Netherlands     7.3     3.8   - 3.3   - 3.3      .0     1.4    - 5.5    - 3.4      2.2
Norway          1.0     5.0     3.9     3.6      .3     2.7      1.7      2.3       .6
Sweden          5.1    10.7     5.3     1.0     4.3     5.0     - .1      1.0      1.0
United Kingdom  4.1     4.1      .0    - .6      .6     4.0     - .1      1.9      2.0
 
* Although the productivity measure relates output to the hours of persons employed in manufacturing, it
does not measure the specific contributions of labor as a single factor of production.  Rather, it reflects
the joint effects of many influences, including new technology, capital investment, capacity utilization,
energy use, and managerial skills, as well as the skills and efforts of the work force.
 
(1)  Value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
(2)  Productivity not available because  adequate labor input measures have not been developed.
(3)  Data relate to the former West Germany.
NA=Not Available.
 
Productivity, output, and labor input
 
        The U.S. productivity increase of 4 percent in 1994 was exceeded in Denmark, France, Germany, and
the Netherlands, which all had increases of about 7-1/2 percent, and Sweden, where productivity rose 5
percent.  (These were the largest productivity increases in France since 1964, in Germany since 1976,
and in the Netherlands since 1984.)  Canada and the United Kingdom had productivity increases of about
4 percent.  Of the countries for which data are available, the only economies with lower growth rates
than the United States were Japan, where productivity rose about 3 percent, Italy, about 3-1/2
percent, and Norway, only 1 percent.
 
        For the first time in several years, productivity growth was at least partially attributable to
increases in manufacturing output in each of the economies.  Manufacturing output growth of  6-1/2
percent placed the United States in about the middle of the range for the foreign economies.  Output
growth ranged from about 1 percent in Japan to 8-1/2 percent in Denmark and over 10 percent in Korea
and Sweden.  Canada and Taiwan, like the United States, had output growth rates between 6 and 7
percent.  Output growth in the other European economies ranged from 2-1/2 percent in Germany to about
5 percent in Italy and Norway.
                                                             - 3 -
 
***AT THIS POINT, PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART 1. PERCENT CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PER HOUR, 1994.
 
                                                             - 4 -
 
        The largest productivity increases generally were achieved in the countries that reduced labor
input the most (as measured by total hours worked). 1/   France, Germany, and the Netherlands each
recorded declines of 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 percent in total hours worked.  Japan, where labor input fell 2
percent, was the only other country where the productivity gain was partially attributable to a
reduction in labor hours.  The United States and Canada increased hours worked by about 2-1/2 percent,
and Norway posted a 4 percent increase.  However, the biggest increase in hours worked occurred in
Sweden where, following three consecutive years of labor input reductions of 4-1/2 percent or more,
labor input increased nearly 5-1/2 percent.  Most of the Swedish increase resulted from an increase in
average hours; employment rose only 1 percent.  Swedish productivity grew 5 percent on the strength of
a 10.7 percent increase in output.
 
Hourly compensation and unit labor costs
 
        Hourly compensation costs in manufacturing -- which include wages and salaries, supplements, and
employer payments for social security and other employer-financed benefit plans -- rose 1.7 percent in
the United States in 1994.  Three other countries -- Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands -- also had
hourly compensation increases under 2 percent.  The remaining countries had somewhat larger increases
of 2-1/2 to 5 percent.
 
        Modest increases in compensation costs, combined with large increases in output in many
economies, meant that unit labor costs either remained flat or fell in 10 of the 13 economies
studied. 2/  The U.S. decline of 2.3 percent was typical of this group of economies, but unit labor
costs in Denmark, France, and the Netherlands dropped by more than 4 percent.  At the opposite end of
the spectrum, Korea had an increase of 3-1/2 percent, and Taiwan and Norway each had unit labor cost
increases of around 2 percent.
 
Unit labor costs in U.S. dollars
 
        The currencies of all the European countries studied, except the Italian lira, appreciated
somewhat relative to the U.S. dollar in 1994 -- about 1 to 2 percent.  This contrasts with 1993, when
the relative values of the European currencies fell 5 to 25 percent.  Canada and Italy were the only
economies in the group whose currencies showed any significant decline in value relative to the U.S.
dollar over the year -- the Canadian dollar dropped 5-1/2 percent and the lira was down 2-1/2 percent.
As in each of the previous 3 years, the Japanese yen continued to appreciate strongly in 1994, up
8-1/2 percent relative to the dollar.  Between 1990 and 1994, the value of the yen rose 42 percent
against the U.S. dollar.  Dollar exchange rates against the currencies of Korea and Taiwan were
virtually unchanged in 1994.
 
        When measured in U.S. dollars to account for changes in relative currency values, unit labor
costs in 1994 fell 6-1/2 percent in Canada and about 4-1/2 percent in Italy, the two economies whose
currencies depreciated.  Despite appreciating currencies, Denmark, France, Germany, and the
 
  -----------------------------------------
   1/ The average hours series used for Denmark was discontinued at the end of 1993; therefore, average
      hours in 1994 have been held at the 1993 level.
   2/ As noted above, unit labor cost measures are compiled for Korea and Taiwan in addition to the 11
      countries for which productivity and hourly compensation measures are computed.
                                                             - 5 -
 
***At this point, printed copy has Chart 2. Percent change in manufacturing unit labor costs (U.S. dollar
   basis), 1994.
 
                                                             - 6 -
 
Netherlands all had declines in unit labor costs on a U.S. dollar basis.  The declines, in the range
of 1 to 3-1/2 percent, were similar in magnitude to the United States' drop of 2.3 percent.  Korea,
which had the largest increase in unit labor costs measured on a national currency basis and a flat
exchange rate over the year, had one of the largest increases in U.S.-dollar-based unit labor costs,
3-1/2 percent.  However, the strong yen made Japan -- where unit labor costs declined by 1 percent on
a national currency basis -- the economy with the largest increase in U.S.-dollar-based unit labor
costs, 7-1/2 percent.  The other four economies -- Taiwan, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom --
had small increases of about 1 to 2 percent.
 
 
***At this point, printed copy has Chart 3. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to 12
   competitors, 1979-94.
 
 
Trade-weighted unit labor costs
 
        The countries covered by the BLS comparative measures differ greatly in their relative importance
to U.S. trade in manufactured goods.  Therefore, BLS constructs two summary measures:  A "competitors"
index, which is the trade-weighted geometric average of the unit labor cost indexes for the other
economies; and a relative index, which is the ratio of the U.S. index to the "competitors" index.
Chart 3 shows U.S. relative unit labor cost indexes on both a national currency and U.S. dollar basis
over the 1979-94 period.  Because 1994 data are not available for Belgium, it has been excluded from
this analysis; however, Belgium accounts for only about 2 percent of the total trade in manufactured
goods between the 13 foreign economies and the United States.
 
        With this release, the trade weights have been updated from 1980 to 1989-91.  The effect is to
increase the weights assigned to Canada, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan with corresponding reductions in the
weights assigned to the European countries.  See the section on "Trade-Weighted Measures" in the
Technical Note.
 
        U.S. relative unit labor costs, expressed on a national currency basis (i.e., unadjusted for
exchange rate changes), fell gradually, with only minor interruptions, between 1979 and 1994.  The
overall decline amounted to almost 9 percentage points.  Adjusted for relative changes in currency
exchange rates, however, the pattern was quite different.  The U.S. dollar appreciated 36 percent on a
 
                                                             - 7 -
 
trade-weighted basis between 1979 and 1985, and U.S. relative unit labor costs rose more than 37
percent.  Between 1985 and 1988, the U.S. dollar depreciated 32 percent, and U.S. relative unit labor
costs fell 36 percent.  The trade-weighted value of the dollar rose moderately in 1989.  Since 1989,
the dollar has generally declined, but at a much slower rate than in the 1985-88 period.  The decline
since 1990 has been entirely attributable to the rise of the Japanese yen -- the U.S. dollar rose
relative to the Canadian dollar and the European currencies. 3/
 
        Overall, the dollar depreciated 34 percent between 1985 and 1994, and, by the end of the period,
it was down 10 percent from its 1979 level.  In 1994, U.S. relative unit labor costs, measured on a
U.S. dollar basis, were down 40 percent from their level in 1985 and 18 percent from their level in
1979.
 
        Compared with 1979 levels, U.S. unit labor costs in 1994 were down 35 percent relative to Japan,
which has a weight of 30 percent in the overall trade-weighted indexes; 5 percent relative to Canada,
which has a weight of 24 percent; and 5 percent relative to Europe, which has a weight of 35 percent.
 
        Charts 4 and 5 show U.S. unit labor cost indexes relative to Japan and Europe.
 
 
***At this point, the printed copy has Chart 4. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to
   Japan, 1979-94.
 
   ----------------------------------------------
   3/ Between 1990 and 1994, the dollar depreciated an average of 8-1/2 percent per year against the
      yen but appreciated 4 percent annually against the Canadian dollar and about 2-1/2 percent
      annually against the trade-weighted average for the European currencies.
 
                                                             - 8 -
 
***At this point, printed copy has Chart 5. U.S. manufacturing unit labor costs relative to
   Europe, 1979-94.
 
 
Recent exchange rate changes
 
                As of August 1995, the currencies of most of the economies studied had appreciated from their
1994 average levels relative to the dollar. The  value of the Japanese yen was 8 percent higher than
its 1994 average and had been over 20 percent higher in April, May, and June.  Individual European
exchange rate changes ranged from increases of 11 to 13 percent for Denmark, France, Germany, the
Netherlands, and Norway, 6-1/2 percent for Sweden, and 2 percent for the United Kingdom.  The only
European currency to remain about unchanged was the Italian lira.  The Canadian dollar was up 1
percent, the Korean won was up 5 percent, and the Taiwanese dollar was down 3 percent.
 
                                                             - 9 -
 
Note on U.S. output measures (NOTE: This section appears as a box on printed copy.)
 
The 1977-93 real manufacturing output data for the United States are the 1987 fixed-price-weighted
measures prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce for gross
product originating.  Comparable manufacturing output data currently are not available prior to 1977.
The 1993-94 percent change in manufacturing output is based on the trend shown by the industrial
production indexes published by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board for the durable and nondurable goods
sectors, weighted by their shares in gross product originating.
 
The U.S. real output measures normally constructed by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are based
on fixed price weights of a single year.  Fixed-weighted real output series have several advantages,
but, if there are major changes in relative prices over the period covered, the change in real output
becomes sensitive to the choice of price weights.  In general, use of fixed-weighted measures of
output results in an understatement of growth for periods before the price-base year and an
overstatement of growth for periods after the price-base year.  This issue is discussed in Robert P.
Parker, "Gross Product by Industry, 1977-90," Survey of Current Business, May 1993.
 
Until quite recently, this "bias" was considered small enough to ignore.  However, changes in the
composition of output and in relative prices, particularly the sharp decline in computer prices along
with rapid output increases in the 1980's, have made the output measures much more sensitive to the
choice of price weights.  Consequently, BEA is switching to chain-type annual-weighted indexes for its
featured measures of real output and prices.  See J. Steven Landefeld and Robert P. Parker, "Preview
of the Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts: BEA's New Featured Measures
of Output and Prices," Survey of Current Business, July 1995.
 
In late 1995 or early 1996, BLS will switch to an annually-weighted output index for its manufacturing
labor productivity and unit labor cost measures.  BLS is presently studying several sources of
manufacturing data that use such a method.  The use of annually-weighted output measures is
particularly important for manufacturing, because computers are made within that sector.  When this
change is made, it may be possible to provide data for years prior to 1977.  See Edwin Dean, Michael
Harper, and Phyllis Otto, "Improvements to the Quarterly Productivity Measures," forthcoming in the
October issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
 
Most of the foreign economies link fixed-weighted measures covering various periods, but some also
produce annual chain-weighted indexes.  The output measures used in this article are fixed weighted,
with the following exception: The measures for Norway for 1987-92 are based on relative prices of the
preceding year (the 1993 and 1994 measures are currently based on 1991 prices).
 
                                                             - 10 -
Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94
 
Average annual rates of change (1)
 
Country     1979-94     1979-85     1985-90     1990-94      1991        1992        1993        1994
or area
 
 
Output per hour
 
United States  2.5         2.0         2.7         3.0         2.3         2.1         3.6         4.0
 
Canada         1.8         2.4          .4         2.8          .7         4.2         2.3         4.0
Japan          4.3         4.6         5.4         2.4         5.2        - .2         1.9         2.9
Korea          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Taiwan         NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Belgium        NA          5.1         2.3         NA          3.0         4.0         4.1         NA
Denmark        1.7         2.1          .1         3.2         1.9         1.9         1.5         7.5
France         3.1         3.0         3.4         2.8        - .4         3.1          .9         7.6
 
Germany (2)    2.2         2.1         2.1         2.8         3.6        -1.2         1.5         7.3
Italy          4.0         5.0         2.6         4.1         3.2         5.0         4.6         3.6
Netherlands    3.1         4.4         1.9         2.6         1.0          .4         1.9         7.3
Norway         2.1         2.9         1.5         1.7        - .5         4.1         2.1         1.0
Sweden         2.9         3.0         1.7         4.2          .0         5.3         6.6         5.1
U.K.           4.0         4.1         3.8         4.3         3.7         4.8         4.5         4.1
 
                                                                        Continued on next page
                                                             - 11 -
 
Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
 
Average annual rates of change (1)
 
Country     1979-94     1979-85     1985-90     1990-94      1991        1992        1993        1994
or area
 
 
Output
 
United States  1.9          .7         2.8         2.7        -1.9         1.5         5.0         6.4
 
Canada         1.4         1.5         1.5         1.2        -6.9          .7         5.0         6.7
Japan          4.4         5.8         5.8          .6         6.3        -2.0        -2.5          .8
Korea          9.9         8.8        13.2         7.4         9.1         5.1         5.0        10.4
Taiwan         6.8         8.1         7.0         4.6         6.7         3.2         2.5         6.1
Belgium        NA          1.6         2.5         NA           .4          .1        -3.1         NA
Denmark        1.4         2.9        - .5         1.5        - .1         1.0        -3.1         8.5
France          .6        - .4         2.6        - .5        -1.8        - .1        -4.6         4.8
 
Germany (2)     .6          .2         2.3        -1.0         3.7        -2.3        -7.7         2.5
Italy          2.2         1.8         4.0          .7        - .2          .4        -2.6         5.3
Netherlands    1.8         1.8         3.1          .3          .5        - .6        -2.2         3.8
Norway          .2         1.0        -1.7         1.6        -3.3         3.2         1.7         5.0
Sweden         1.4         2.2         1.2          .4        -6.4        -3.4         1.6        10.7
U.K.            .6        -1.2         3.4        - .2        -5.4        - .6         1.3         4.1
 
 
Total hours
 
United States - .6        -1.2          .0        - .3        -4.1        - .6         1.4         2.3
 
Canada        - .4        - .9         1.1        -1.5        -7.5        -3.3         2.6         2.6
Japan           .1         1.1          .4        -1.8         1.0        -1.8        -4.3        -2.1
Korea          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Taiwan         NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Belgium        NA         -3.3          .2         NA         -2.6        -3.8        -6.9         NA
Denmark       - .3          .8        - .6        -1.6        -2.0        - .9        -4.5          .9
France        -2.4        -3.3        - .8        -3.2        -1.4        -3.2        -5.5        -2.6
 
Germany (2)   -1.6        -1.8          .3        -3.7          .1        -1.1        -9.1        -4.5
Italy         -1.7        -3.1         1.3        -3.3        -3.3        -4.4        -6.9         1.6
Netherlands   -1.2        -2.5         1.2        -2.2        - .6        -1.0        -4.1        -3.3
Norway        -1.8        -1.9        -3.1          .0        -2.8        - .8        - .4         3.9
Sweden        -1.5        - .8        - .5        -3.7        -6.4        -8.3        -4.7         5.3
U.K.          -3.3        -5.0        - .3        -4.3        -8.8        -5.2        -3.1          .0
 
                                                                        Continued on next page
                                                             - 12 -
Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
 
Average annual rates of change (1)
 
Country     1979-94     1979-85     1985-90     1990-94      1991        1992        1993        1994
or area
 
 
Employment
 
United States -0.9        -1.4        -0.1        -1.0        -3.5        -1.7         0.1         1.2
 
Canada        - .5        - .8         1.1        -2.1        -7.1        -3.5          .6         2.0
Japan           .7         1.2          .8          .1         3.2         1.3        -2.0        -2.2
Korea          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Taiwan         NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Belgium        NA         -2.7        - .5         NA         - .9        -3.8        -5.4         NA
Denmark       - .1         1.0        - .1        -1.6        -2.2        -1.2        -3.7          .9
France        -2.0        -2.3        - .9        -3.1        -1.6        -3.4        -4.7        -2.6
 
Germany (2)   - .8        -1.1         1.1        -2.9         1.4        -1.8        -5.9        -5.0
Italy         -1.9        -2.9          .3        -3.2        -2.2        -4.3        -5.1        -1.1
Netherlands   -1.0        -2.3         1.4        -2.1        - .3        - .8        -4.1        -3.3
Norway        -1.8        -1.8        -2.9        - .6        -3.3        -1.9        - .7         3.6
Sweden        -2.2        -1.2        - .8        -5.5        -6.2        -9.0        -7.3         1.0
U.K.          -3.0        -4.6        - .4        -3.9        -7.1        -5.2        -2.6        - .6
 
 
Average hours
 
United States  0.3         0.2         0.1         0.7        -0.6         1.2         1.3         1.1
 
Canada          .1        - .1          .0          .6        - .5          .2         2.0          .5
Japan         - .6          .0        - .3        -1.9        -2.1        -3.1        -2.3          .0
Korea          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Taiwan         NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Belgium        NA         - .6          .7         NA         -1.7        - .0        -1.6         NA
Denmark       - .3        - .3        - .5          .0          .3          .3        - .8          .0
France        - .4        -1.0          .1        - .1          .2          .2        - .8          .0
 
Germany (2)   - .8        - .7        - .9        - .9        -1.3          .7        -3.4          .6
Italy           .2        - .1         1.0        - .1        -1.1        - .1        -2.0         2.8
Netherlands   - .2        - .3        - .2        - .1        - .3        - .2          .0          .0
Norway          .0        - .1        - .3          .5          .5         1.1          .2          .3
Sweden          .8          .4          .3         1.9        - .2          .8         2.8         4.3
U.K.          - .3        - .5          .0        - .4        -1.8          .0        - .5          .6
 
                                                                        Continued on next page
                                                             - 13 -
Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
 
Average annual rates of change (1)
 
Country     1979-94     1979-85     1985-90     1990-94      1991        1992        1993        1994
or area
 
 
Hourly compensation(3):  National currency basis
 
United States  5.0         6.9         3.9         3.5         5.4         4.2         2.7         1.7
 
Canada         5.7         8.7         4.1         3.4         6.5         3.9          .3         3.0
Japan          4.5         4.7         4.7         4.1         5.8         4.2         4.5         1.9
Korea          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Taiwan         NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA          NA
Belgium        NA          7.8         3.9         NA          6.3         5.2         3.8         NA
Denmark        6.0         8.1         5.4         3.7         3.9         4.0         3.9         3.0
France         7.5        12.7         4.5         3.7         4.9         3.4         3.8         2.6
 
Germany (2)    5.6         5.9         4.9         5.9         6.7         5.3         7.4         4.1
Italy         10.6        16.7         6.9         6.4        10.6         7.4         6.7         1.1
Netherlands    3.7         4.9         2.1         4.0         4.7         5.2         4.6         1.4
Norway         7.4        10.0         8.1         2.9         5.6         2.6         1.0         2.7
Sweden         7.8         9.6         8.4         4.2         8.9         4.6        -1.5         5.0
U.K.           9.2        11.5         7.6         7.9        10.4        10.2         7.3         4.0
 
 
Unit labor costs:  National currency basis
 
United States  2.4         4.9         1.1         0.5         3.0         2.1        -0.8        -2.3
 
Canada         3.8         6.1         3.7          .6         5.7        - .3        -1.9        -1.0
Japan           .2          .1        - .7         1.6          .5         4.4         2.6        -1.0
Korea          6.1         9.2         6.0         1.8         4.7         1.0        -1.8         3.5
Taiwan         4.7         7.3         3.5         2.3         1.4         4.5          .9         2.2
Belgium        NA          5.9         5.2         NA          2.0         2.0         2.4         NA
Denmark        4.2         5.9         5.2          .5         2.0         2.0         2.4        -4.2
France         4.3         9.5         1.0          .9         5.3          .3         2.8        -4.7
 
Germany (2)    3.3         3.8         2.8         3.0         3.0         6.7         5.7        -3.0
Italy          6.3        11.1         4.2         2.2         7.1         2.3         1.9        -2.4
Netherlands     .6          .5          .2         1.3         3.6         4.8         2.6        -5.5
Norway         5.2         6.9         6.5         1.3         6.1        -1.4        -1.1         1.7
Sweden         4.7         6.4         6.6          .0         8.9        - .7        -7.6        - .1
U.K.           5.0         7.1         3.7         3.5         6.4         5.1         2.6        - .1
 
                                                                        Continued on next page
                                                             - 14 -
 
Table B.  Output per hour, hourly compensation, unit labor costs, and related measures
Manufacturing, 14 countries or areas, 1979-94--continued
 
Average annual rates of change (1)
 
Country     1979-94     1979-85     1985-90     1990-94      1991        1992        1993        1994
or area
 
 
Unit labor costs:  U.S. dollar basis
 
United States  2.4         4.9         1.1         0.5         3.0         2.1        -0.8        -2.3
 
Canada         2.8         3.4         7.1        -3.3         7.6        -5.4        -8.1        -6.5
Japan          5.4        -1.4         9.7        10.9         8.3        10.8        17.1         7.6
Korea          2.6        - .9        10.5        -1.4         1.1        -5.1        -4.5         3.4
Taiwan         6.8         5.5        12.0         2.7         2.0        11.2        -3.9         2.0
Belgium        NA         -8.8        13.9         NA           .9         7.6        -7.3         NA
Denmark        2.9        -5.8        17.2        - .1        -1.4         8.2        -4.7        -2.2
France         2.4        -3.4        11.6          .4         1.5         7.0        -4.0        -2.6
 
Germany (2)    4.1        -4.1        15.9         2.9          .2        13.5        - .2        -1.0
Italy          1.7        -3.3        14.3        -5.1         3.4         3.0       -20.2        -4.7
Netherlands    1.3        -7.6        12.9         1.3          .8        11.6        -2.9        -3.4
Norway         2.9        -2.1        13.5        -1.7         2.2         3.0       -13.5         2.3
Sweden          .7        -5.3        14.8        -6.4         6.6         3.2       -30.9         1.0
U.K.           2.7        -1.3        10.5        - .4         5.4         5.0       -12.7         1.9
 
 
Exchange rates (4)
 
United States  0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0
 
Canada        -1.0        -2.5         3.2        -3.9         1.8        -5.2        -6.3        -5.6
Japan          5.2        -1.5        10.5         9.1         7.7         6.2        14.1         8.7
Korea         -3.3        -9.3         4.2        -3.1        -3.5        -6.1        -2.7        - .1
Taiwan         2.1        -1.7         8.2          .4          .6         6.4        -4.8        - .2
Belgium       - .9       -11.1        12.2          .0        -2.3         6.4        -7.0         3.5
Denmark       -1.3       -11.0        11.4        - .7        -3.3         6.1        -6.9         2.0
France        -1.8       -11.7        10.5        - .5        -3.5         6.7        -6.6         2.2
 
Germany (2)     .8        -7.6        12.7        - .1        -2.7         6.4        -5.6         2.0
Italy         -4.3       -12.9         9.8        -7.1        -3.5          .7       -21.7        -2.4
Netherlands     .7        -8.0        12.7          .0        -2.7         6.4        -5.4         2.2
Norway        -2.2        -8.4         6.6        -3.0        -3.7         4.5       -12.5          .6
Sweden        -3.8       -11.0         7.8        -6.4        -2.1         3.9       -25.3         1.0
U.K.          -2.2        -7.9         6.6        -3.7        - .9        - .1       -15.0         2.0
 
(1)  Rates of change based on the compound            (3)  Adjusted to include employment taxes
     rate method.                                          that are not compensation to employees
                                                           but are labor costs to employers.
(2)  Data relate to the former West Germany.
                                                      (4) Value of foreign currency relative to
NA = Not available.                                        the U.S. dollar.
 
                                                             - 15 -
TECHNICAL NOTE
 
The Bureau of Labor Statistics constructs trend indexes of manufacturing labor productivity (output
per hour), hourly compensation costs, and unit labor costs from three basic aggregative measures---
output, total labor hours, and total compensation.  The hours and compensation measures refer to all
employed persons, including self-employed persons and unpaid family workers, in the United States,
Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, and to all employees (wage and salary earners) in
the other economies.  Hours refer to hours worked in all countries.  (The figures for Canada are the
official measures prepared by Statistics Canada.)
 
In general, the measures relate to total manufacturing as defined by the International Standard
Industrial Classification (ISIC).  However, the measures for France and Italy (beginning 1970) refer
to mining and manufacturing less energy-related products; the measures for Denmark include mining and
exclude manufacturing handicrafts from 1960 to 1966; and the measures for the Netherlands exclude
petroleum refining and include coal mining from 1969 to 1976.
 
Output:  In general, the output measures are value added in manufacturing (gross product originating)
in constant prices from the national accounts of each country.  However, output for Japan prior to
1970 and the Netherlands from 1969 to 1977 are indexes of industrial production.  The national
accounts measures for the United Kingdom are essentially identical to their indexes of industrial
production.  While methods of deriving national accounts measures differ substantially from country to
country, the use of different procedures does not, in itself, connote lack of comparability--rather,
it reflects differences among countries in the availability and reliability of underlying data series.
 
Country differences in the price-base years used to measure real output, and in the frequency and
method of changing price weights, also can lead to differences in real output growth rates.  See the
"Note on U.S. output measures" on page 9.
 
Labor Input:  The total hours measures are developed from statistics of manufacturing employment and
average hours.  The series used for France (from 1970 forward), Norway, and Sweden are official series
published with the national accounts.  Where official total hours series are not available, the
measures are developed by BLS using employment figures published with the national accounts, or other
comprehensive employment series, and estimates of annual hours worked.  For Germany, BLS uses
estimates of average hours worked developed by a research institute connected with the Ministry of
Labor for use with the national accounts employment figures.  For the other countries, BLS constructs
its own estimates of average hours.
 
For the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, the Bureau publishes only measures of unit labor costs and the
data on output and total compensation that underlie the computations of unit labor costs.  Total
hours, and consequently productivity, are not computed for Korea and Taiwan because BLS has not yet
developed adequate labor input series.
 
                                                             - 16 -
 
Compensation (labor cost):  The compensation measures are from the national accounts except those for
Belgium, which are developed by the Bureau using statistics on employment, average hours, and hourly
compensation.  Compensation includes employer expenditures for legally required insurance programs and
contractual and private benefit plans, in addition to all payments made in cash or in-kind directly to
employees.  For France and Sweden, compensation is increased to account for other significant taxes on
payroll or employment.  For the United Kingdom, compensation is reduced to account for subsidies.
Self-employed workers are included in the all-employed-persons measures by assuming that their hourly
compensation is equal to the average for wage and salary employees.
 
Current Indicators:  The measures for recent years may be based on current indicators of output (such
as industrial production indexes), employment, average hours, and hourly compensation until national
accounts and other statistics used for the long-term measures become available.
 
Trade-Weighted Measures:  The economies covered by the BLS measures differ greatly in their relative
importance to U.S. trade in manufactured products.  Therefore, BLS constructs trade-weighted measures
that take account of these differences.  This release updates the weights from 1980 to 1989-91.  The
former trade weights were derived by rescaling a series covering 21 economies that was developed by
the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  These weights were based on disaggregated 1980 trade data for
manufactured goods, and took account of both bilateral trade and the relative importance of "third
country" markets.  Since the structure of trade can change substantially over time, it was likely that
the 1980 weights no longer reflected current trade patterns among the countries studied.  The new
weights, for Canada, Japan, and the European countries were also obtained by rescaling a series of
weights developed by the IMF based on average trade flows over the 1989-1991 period.  The new IMF
weights were calculated using aggregate trade data for total manufacturing.
 
The new IMF weights do not include Korea and Taiwan.  These economies may be added to the IMF weights
later this year.  In the meantime, in order to include Korea and Taiwan in the BLS trade-weighted
measures, the 1989-91 weights for these two economies were estimated based on the change from 1980 to
1990 in the proportions of U.S. trade in manufactured goods accounted for by Korea and Taiwan relative
to the group of 13 competitor economies studied.  The resulting weights for Korea and Taiwan are, as
expected, substantially higher than their 1980 weights.
 
The following tabulation shows both the old and new rescaled weights for the 12 foreign economies for
which the 1994 unit labor cost measures are available:
 
            Old      New                       Old     New
Country    Weight   Weight    Country         Weight  Weight
 
Canada     19.43    24.43     Netherlands      2.77    2.17
Japan      25.63    29.50     Norway           0.59    0.46
Denmark     0.66     0.46     Sweden           2.10    1.83
France      8.41     5.69     United Kingdom  12.27    8.67
Germany    14.70    11.21     Korea            3.31    5.54
Italy       5.66     4.44     Taiwan           4.48    5.59
 
                                                             - 17 -
Level Comparisons:  The BLS measures are limited to trend comparisons.  BLS does not prepare level
comparisons of manufacturing productivity and unit labor costs because of data limitations and
technical problems in comparing the levels of manufacturing output among countries.  Each country
measures manufacturing output in its own currency units.  To compare outputs among countries, a common
unit of measure is needed.  Market exchange rates are not suitable as a basis for comparing output
levels.  What are needed are purchasing power parities (PPPs), which are the number of foreign
currency units required to buy goods and services equivalent to what can be bought with one unit of
U.S. currency.
 
PPPs are available for total gross domestic product (GDP) from the United Nations' International
Comparisons Project (UNICP).  However, these PPPs are derived from the expenditure side of the
national accounts (consumer, business, and government final expenditures for goods and services) and
not from the output side of the accounts (gross product originating by industry, or value added).
Therefore, they do not provide PPPs by industry.  The PPPs for total GDP are not suitable for each
component industry, such as manufacturing.
 
Some analysts have constructed "proxy PPPs" for manufacturing using selected expenditure items from
the UNICP.  However, since the prices used are based on consumer, business, and government final
expenditures, they have a number of shortcomings:  they are based on final sales values rather than
industry value added or gross output; they include indirect taxes, distribution margins, and
transportation costs; they include the prices of imports and exclude the prices of exports; and the
prices of intermediate products, such as steel, paper, and cement, are represented only marginally and
indirectly as inputs to the final products included among the selected expenditures.
 
A different approach has been used by researchers at the International Comparisons of Output and
Productivity project at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.  They develop PPPs (referred
to as unit value ratios or UVRs) based on ratios of producers' sales values per unit of output for
matched products from country censuses of manufactures.  This procedure also has shortcomings,
primarily because only a portion of manufactured products can be matched and the matched products may
not be adequately representative.  For many products, values are reported but not quantities; for some
products, there is no counterpoint in the other country; and other products can not be matched because
they represent a different mix of product varieties or because of large differences in qualities.  For
an article based on this approach, see Bart van Ark, "Manufacturing prices, productivity, and labor
costs in five economies," Monthly Labor Review, July 1995, pp. 56-72.
Table 1.  Output per hour in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     35.5      NA       NA      24.5     17.9     16.8     16.7     17.2     30.9     25.7     41.1
 
1955    NA     43.6     11.5      NA      26.7     22.6     25.1     23.4     21.5     36.0     28.2     44.3
 
1960    NA     51.6     18.5     26.2     32.4     29.6     37.1     29.3     27.3     46.4     36.0     50.3
1961    NA     54.4     21.0     26.5     34.3     31.5     39.0     31.6     28.8     48.0     37.9     50.3
1962    NA     58.2     22.0     27.9     36.0     33.6     41.7     35.0     29.6     48.0     40.8     51.5
1963    NA     60.3     23.8     28.9     37.2     35.4     43.5     36.0     30.7     50.5     43.2     54.2
1964    NA     63.2     27.0     30.8     40.2     38.2     47.2     36.3     33.4     53.3     46.9     57.8
1965    NA     66.1     28.1     32.3     42.2     40.9     50.1     40.5     35.5     56.5     50.4     59.5
1966    NA     67.6     30.8     34.5     44.3     44.3     52.1     44.0     37.7     58.9     52.6     61.4
1967    NA     68.9     34.9     36.5     47.6     47.0     55.3     46.2     40.4     61.1     57.1     64.3
1968    NA     74.0     39.0     39.7     51.9     52.0     59.9     49.8     45.1     64.8     62.3     68.9
1969    NA     77.9     44.7     43.4     54.0     55.3     64.2     51.6     49.4     70.8     67.2     70.6
 
1970    NA     76.9     50.3     47.9     57.2     58.6     66.4     54.9     54.4     73.0     68.9     72.1
1971    NA     82.4     53.4     50.7     61.1     62.0     68.9     56.0     57.3     75.9     71.9     75.6
1972    NA     86.4     59.2     56.5     66.0     64.9     73.2     60.6     62.3     80.3     75.5     80.6
1973    NA     91.9     64.4     62.5     72.7     69.4     77.9     65.1     69.2     85.4     81.1     86.2
1974    NA     93.3     65.9     65.9     75.1     71.0     80.7     69.3     75.0     89.2     84.5     87.4
1975    NA     90.1     68.7     68.6     82.6     73.5     84.0     67.1     73.3     88.1     85.8     86.0
1976    NA     96.4     73.7     75.6     85.7     78.0     90.1     76.3     81.6     90.9     87.2     89.6
1977   96.2   101.8     77.1     79.3     87.3     82.6     92.9     78.1     85.1     90.3     85.8     90.2
1978   96.3   102.9     81.3     84.1     88.5     86.3     96.1     83.0     90.7     91.9     88.2     91.2
1979   94.9   103.8     87.7     88.7     92.9     90.3    100.3     91.1     95.2     97.5     95.1     91.6
 
1980   92.9    99.9     91.1     86.9     98.0     90.8     98.5     95.5     96.1     96.3     96.6     91.0
1981   96.2   104.8     95.0     94.0     99.6     93.4    100.5     97.8     98.2     96.7     95.9     95.1
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  102.2   107.3    102.5    111.6    104.9    102.3    105.4    105.2    107.9    104.8    106.8    107.3
1984  103.5   116.3    107.9    117.5    104.3    103.9    109.0    115.7    118.5    112.2    111.8    112.4
1985  106.7   119.8    114.9    119.6    105.0    107.9    113.4    122.3    123.4    115.8    113.8    116.4
1986  109.5   117.9    113.0    121.4     98.9    109.7    114.2    123.7    125.3    114.7    115.7    120.6
1987  116.6   119.0    122.4    123.7     98.4    111.6    112.7    127.2    126.2    120.4    117.7    126.9
1988  119.2   119.5    129.6    128.6    102.1    119.3    116.7    130.0    128.9    119.5    118.6    133.5
1989  119.9   120.0    138.7    134.4    105.6    125.4    120.5    134.0    133.7    119.5    122.5    138.4
 
1990  122.1   122.0    149.1    134.1    105.5    127.6    125.6    139.3    135.4    124.5    124.0    140.1
1991  124.9   122.9    156.9    138.1    107.5    127.1    130.1    143.8    136.8    123.8    124.0    145.3
1992  127.5   128.0    156.6    143.6    109.6    131.1    128.5    151.0    137.4    128.9    130.6    152.3
1993  132.0   130.9    159.5    149.5    111.2    132.3    130.5    158.0    140.0    131.6    139.2    159.2
1994  137.4   136.2    164.2      NA     119.5    142.4    140.0    163.8    150.2    132.9    146.3    165.7
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 2.  Output per employed person in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     39.6      NA       NA      33.1     21.9     23.0     19.0     21.2     40.6     34.9     48.2
 
1955    NA     46.8     12.9      NA      35.4     27.3     34.4     27.2     26.7     47.3     38.0     52.6
 
1960    NA     55.1     21.5     32.9     40.8     35.8     45.9     34.4     34.2     58.6     46.0     58.5
1961    NA     57.8     24.0     33.2     41.9     38.2     47.3     36.8     34.5     59.8     47.9     57.8
1962    NA     62.5     24.7     35.0     44.4     40.6     49.4     39.5     35.3     59.5     51.2     58.5
1963    NA     65.0     26.5     36.3     45.1     42.8     50.7     40.8     36.5     62.4     53.7     61.5
1964    NA     68.4     29.9     38.5     49.2     45.8     55.1     41.2     39.3     66.2     57.6     66.1
1965    NA     71.6     30.6     39.8     51.5     48.6     58.2     44.4     41.6     68.6     61.5     67.1
1966    NA     72.7     33.7     42.2     53.1     52.8     59.8     48.7     44.1     71.7     64.0     68.1
1967    NA     73.8     38.2     44.0     56.3     55.5     61.8     51.9     47.0     73.6     68.3     70.7
1968    NA     79.3     42.6     47.9     60.1     59.6     67.7     56.0     51.5     76.2     73.1     76.4
1969    NA     83.2     48.2     51.8     61.7     64.9     72.6     57.6     55.6     81.4     77.5     78.3
 
1970    NA     81.5     53.6     55.6     63.3     68.0     74.5     60.2     60.1     83.3     79.2     78.7
1971    NA     86.8     56.0     58.0     67.3     71.3     75.8     59.7     62.7     85.7     82.5     80.6
1972    NA     91.0     61.7     63.2     71.2     73.8     79.6     64.1     67.3     89.5     84.3     85.1
1973    NA     96.4     66.7     68.1     74.2     77.8     84.1     69.7     73.2     94.6     88.9     92.3
1974    NA     97.3     65.3     70.1     78.2     78.5     85.4     71.6     76.9     97.5     91.7     90.5
1975    NA     92.9     66.6     69.0     83.3     78.9     86.7     68.1     73.8     95.9     91.3     88.8
1976    NA     99.3     73.5     77.4     86.8     83.9     95.5     77.5     82.0     96.3     91.6     93.3
1977   99.8   105.1     77.1     80.9     87.6     88.1     96.9     78.8     85.1     94.2     89.5     94.5
1978   99.9   106.5     81.7     85.6     87.8     91.3     99.0     83.6     89.9     93.7     89.6     95.2
1979   97.9   106.6     88.6     90.3     92.1     95.4    102.9     91.1     93.2     97.7     95.2     95.2
 
1980   94.6   102.2     92.0     87.1     97.8     95.9     99.8     95.7     94.6     97.0     95.6     91.5
1981   97.9   105.9     95.2     92.0     98.2     97.4    100.5     98.0     97.2     97.5     95.5     94.1
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  105.0   108.7    102.7    108.8    106.3    101.9    105.1    105.2    108.0    105.2    108.1    107.6
1984  107.9   119.1    109.1    113.9    105.4    103.6    108.7    115.7    117.0    112.5    115.2    113.7
1985  111.3   122.6    115.9    117.6    102.6    107.0    111.3    121.2    118.7    115.6    116.4    117.7
1986  114.1   120.6    113.3    119.5     98.8    108.9    111.2    125.7    120.0    114.4    117.8    121.7
1987  122.1   122.6    123.2    122.8     96.1    111.6    109.1    131.6    120.2    117.1    121.4    129.0
1988  126.3   123.5    131.8    129.8     99.8    119.7    112.8    139.3    123.8    117.2    122.1    136.4
1989  126.9   123.1    139.5    134.9    101.9    125.5    115.0    143.3    127.6    117.8    125.7    141.2
 
1990  128.3   125.0    147.9    136.2    100.6    127.1    118.1    145.3    129.2    122.5    128.8    141.8
1991  130.4   125.3    152.4    137.9    102.8    126.8    120.8    148.3    130.2    122.5    128.6    144.5
1992  134.7   130.8    147.5    143.4    105.1    131.1    120.1    155.6    130.5    128.9    136.5    151.5
1993  141.3   136.6    146.7    146.8    105.8    131.2    117.9    159.6    132.9    131.9    149.6    157.5
1994  148.7   142.8    151.1      NA     113.8    141.2    127.2    170.0    142.7    133.7    163.9    164.9
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 3.  Output in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     29.1      3.1      NA      29.8     20.9     17.8     12.4     22.6     37.9     34.8     61.0
 
1955    NA     37.7      6.9      NA      32.8     26.0     33.8     19.1     31.0     46.4     40.3     71.7
 
1960    NA     44.1     15.1     40.8     45.4     35.1     51.0     28.1     42.8     56.0     51.8     82.9
1961    NA     45.9     18.1     42.6     47.9     37.7     54.0     31.0     44.3     58.3     55.3     83.0
1962    NA     51.1     19.7     46.0     52.0     40.5     56.7     34.4     46.5     58.8     59.5     83.2
1963    NA     54.5     21.9     48.2     52.7     43.6     57.8     36.6     48.4     62.3     62.4     86.1
1964    NA     60.0     25.5     52.5     58.9     47.6     62.8     37.1     53.0     66.8     67.9     94.0
1965    NA     66.0     26.5     54.2     62.7     50.0     67.5     39.0     56.7     70.3     72.7     96.7
1966    NA     70.3     30.0     57.4     64.0     54.6     68.7     42.6     59.8     74.5     74.8     98.4
1967    NA     71.8     36.0     58.1     64.7     57.2     67.1     46.8     62.1     76.9     77.2     99.1
1968    NA     76.6     41.6     62.1     69.7     60.4     74.1     51.2     68.0     78.8     81.2    106.0
1969    NA     82.0     48.4     69.5     73.5     67.6     82.8     54.5     74.6     84.5     87.6    110.1
 
1970    NA     78.5     55.1     76.5     75.7     72.7     87.0     58.8     80.5     88.4     91.0    110.5
1971    NA     83.5     57.8     80.0     77.2     77.2     87.9     59.8     82.5     91.5     91.6    109.3
1972    NA     90.3     63.8     86.0     83.9     80.8     90.6     63.0     85.5     95.9     92.1    111.6
1973    NA    100.0     71.8     93.9     88.5     87.0     96.4     70.5     91.5    101.3     98.6    121.9
1974    NA    103.0     69.7     97.6     89.9     88.7     95.4     75.1     95.5    106.4    104.0    120.4
1975    NA     96.1     67.1     90.3     87.7     86.9     91.0     70.8     88.5    104.1    104.3    112.1
1976    NA    103.1     73.6     97.1     91.9     92.0     98.0     81.4     94.5    104.3    104.3    114.2
1977  104.3   106.9     76.4     97.4     92.3     96.2     99.8     84.4     95.5    102.2     98.3    116.4
1978  108.7   111.7     79.8     98.8     92.0     98.4    101.7     88.5     98.4     99.8     95.7    117.0
1979  109.3   115.9     86.5    101.4     97.3    101.3    106.9     97.9    100.9    102.7    101.8    116.8
 
1980  102.0   110.7     91.5     95.7    101.7    100.6    104.7    103.1    101.1    101.7    102.2    106.7
1981  105.0   114.8     95.7     95.6     98.4     99.0    103.6    101.1    101.2    100.7     99.1    100.1
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  103.2   106.5    104.3    106.3    106.7     99.9    101.5    100.8    103.2     99.3    105.8    102.1
1984  111.3   120.2    113.2    109.9    111.7     98.7    104.6    105.4    109.1    105.0    113.4    105.9
1985  114.0   127.0    121.2    111.8    115.3     99.1    108.4    108.9    112.1    108.8    115.9    108.9
1986  115.2   127.9    117.9    111.9    115.3     99.1    110.1    111.5    114.8    108.8    117.4    110.3
1987  123.5   134.1    126.5    112.2    110.6     98.9    108.1    116.3    116.4    110.8    120.1    115.5
1988  130.0   140.9    138.2    117.7    112.3    104.6    111.5    125.0    120.8    105.5    122.9    123.6
1989  131.2   142.1    149.3    124.9    113.6    110.3    115.4    129.7    126.3     99.0    124.5    129.1
 
1990  130.6   136.8    160.6    126.5    112.4    112.4    121.7    132.3    130.5     99.8    123.3    128.9
1991  128.2   127.5    170.8    126.9    112.3    110.4    126.2    132.1    131.1     96.5    115.4    121.9
1992  130.1   128.3    167.4    127.0    113.4    110.2    123.3    132.6    130.3     99.6    111.5    121.1
1993  136.6   134.7    163.2    123.1    109.9    105.2    113.8    129.2    127.4    101.3    113.2    122.7
1994  145.4   143.8    164.4      NA     119.2    110.2    116.7    136.0    132.2    106.4    125.3    127.7
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 4.  Total hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950   87.4    82.0      NA       NA     121.8    116.8    105.9     74.0    131.8    122.4    135.3    148.4
 
1955   96.6    86.5     59.9      NA     122.9    115.0    134.6     81.9    144.2    128.8    142.8    161.6
 
1960   94.1    85.5     81.7    156.2    140.0    118.5    137.2     96.2    156.8    120.9    143.7    164.9
1961   91.6    84.3     86.5    161.0    139.7    119.7    138.7     98.2    154.0    121.5    146.0    164.9
1962   95.4    87.9     89.4    165.0    144.3    120.5    135.8     98.1    156.8    122.6    145.8    161.7
1963   96.3    90.4     92.3    166.4    141.6    123.1    132.9    101.7    157.9    123.4    144.4    159.0
1964   98.4    95.0     94.5    170.7    146.3    124.5    133.2    102.0    158.9    125.2    144.8    162.8
1965  104.1    99.8     94.3    167.6    148.6    122.2    134.8     96.3    159.8    124.3    144.1    162.6
1966  110.8   103.9     97.5    166.1    144.4    123.3    131.7     96.8    158.4    126.5    142.1    160.2
1967  110.2   104.2    103.2    158.9    136.1    121.6    121.2    101.4    153.8    125.9    135.3    154.0
1968  111.8   103.6    106.5    156.4    134.3    116.2    123.5    102.7    150.7    121.6    130.3    153.8
1969  113.1   105.3    108.2    160.0    136.1    122.3    128.9    105.5    151.0    119.3    130.2    155.9
 
1970  106.5   102.1    109.6    159.9    132.3    123.9    131.1    107.0    148.1    121.1    132.0    153.3
1971  102.6   101.4    108.3    157.6    126.5    124.5    127.4    106.8    144.1    120.6    127.3    144.6
1972  107.2   104.5    107.8    152.1    127.0    124.6    123.8    104.0    137.2    119.4    122.0    138.5
1973  112.6   108.8    111.5    150.3    121.8    125.3    123.7    108.3    132.2    118.7    121.6    141.4
1974  110.2   110.3    105.7    148.0    119.7    125.0    118.2    108.4    127.3    119.3    123.0    137.8
1975   99.3   106.6     97.6    131.6    106.2    118.3    108.3    105.6    120.7    118.2    121.5    130.4
1976  104.0   106.9    100.0    128.5    107.3    118.0    108.7    106.7    115.8    114.8    119.7    127.5
1977  108.4   105.0     99.2    122.9    105.8    116.5    107.4    108.2    112.2    113.1    114.6    129.0
1978  112.9   108.6     98.2    117.4    104.0    114.1    105.8    106.6    108.5    108.6    108.5    128.3
1979  115.1   111.6     98.6    114.3    104.7    112.1    106.6    107.4    106.0    105.3    107.1    127.5
 
1980  109.8   110.8    100.5    110.1    103.7    110.8    106.3    108.0    105.3    105.5    105.9    117.3
1981  109.2   109.6    100.8    101.7     98.8    105.9    103.1    103.4    103.1    104.2    103.2    105.3
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  101.0    99.2    101.8     95.2    101.7     97.6     96.3     95.8     95.6     94.7     99.1     95.1
1984  107.6   103.3    104.9     93.6    107.1     95.0     96.0     91.1     92.0     93.5    101.5     94.2
1985  106.8   106.0    105.5     93.5    109.8     91.8     95.6     89.0     90.8     94.0    101.9     93.5
1986  105.2   108.5    104.3     92.2    116.6     90.3     96.4     90.1     91.7     94.8    101.5     91.5
1987  106.0   112.7    103.4     90.7    112.4     88.6     95.9     91.4     92.2     92.0    102.0     91.0
1988  109.0   117.9    106.7     91.5    110.0     87.7     95.6     96.1     93.7     88.3    103.6     92.6
1989  109.4   118.4    107.6     93.0    107.6     88.0     95.7     96.8     94.5     82.8    101.6     93.3
 
1990  107.0   112.2    107.7     94.3    106.6     88.1     96.9     95.0     96.3     80.2     99.4     92.0
1991  102.7   103.7    108.8     91.9    104.5     86.8     97.0     91.8     95.8     77.9     93.1     83.9
1992  102.0   100.3    106.9     88.4    103.5     84.1     96.0     87.8     94.9     77.3     85.4     79.5
1993  103.5   102.9    102.3     82.3     98.8     79.5     87.3     81.7     91.0     77.0     81.4     77.1
1994  105.8   105.6    100.1      NA      99.7     77.4     83.4     83.0     88.0     80.0     85.7     77.1
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 5.  Employment in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950   81.4    73.5      NA       NA      90.2     95.5     77.2     65.1    106.5     93.3     99.7    126.6
 
1955   89.8    80.5     53.6      NA      92.7     95.1     98.1     70.3    116.2     97.9    106.0    136.1
 
1960   89.3    80.1     70.3    124.3    111.3     98.1    111.0     81.7    125.1     95.6    112.6    141.7
1961   86.9    79.4     75.6    128.4    114.4     98.9    114.3     84.3    128.2     97.7    115.4    143.7
1962   89.6    81.8     79.7    131.4    117.2     99.8    114.8     86.9    131.5     98.8    116.2    142.3
1963   90.2    83.8     82.9    132.6    116.8    102.0    114.0     89.7    132.8    100.0    116.3    140.1
1964   91.5    87.7     85.4    136.4    119.7    103.9    114.0     90.0    134.9    100.8    117.9    142.2
1965   95.8    92.2     86.6    136.3    121.8    102.9    116.0     87.9    136.1    102.4    118.3    144.1
1966  101.7    96.6     89.1    136.1    120.6    103.4    114.8     87.4    135.7    103.9    116.8    144.5
1967  103.0    97.4     94.3    131.9    114.9    103.0    108.6     90.2    132.3    104.5    113.0    140.0
1968  104.6    96.6     97.5    129.7    116.0    101.2    109.4     91.4    132.0    103.3    111.1    138.7
1969  106.7    98.6    100.4    134.1    119.1    104.2    114.0     94.5    134.2    103.8    113.0    140.6
 
1970  102.6    96.3    102.8    137.7    119.6    106.9    116.7     97.6    134.1    106.1    114.9    140.3
1971   98.6    96.2    103.3    137.8    114.7    108.2    115.9    100.2    131.7    106.7    111.0    135.6
1972  101.3    99.2    103.3    136.0    117.7    109.5    113.8     98.3    127.1    107.2    109.3    131.2
1973  106.6   103.7    107.7    137.8    119.3    111.8    114.5    101.2    124.9    107.2    110.9    132.1
1974  106.2   105.8    106.6    139.3    115.0    113.0    111.8    104.9    124.1    109.2    113.3    133.0
1975   97.1   103.4    100.7    130.8    105.3    110.2    104.9    104.0    119.9    108.6    114.2    126.3
1976  100.7   103.9    100.2    125.5    105.9    109.6    102.6    105.1    115.3    108.3    113.8    122.4
1977  104.5   101.7     99.2    120.5    105.3    109.1    103.0    107.1    112.2    108.4    109.9    123.1
1978  108.8   105.0     97.8    115.4    104.8    107.8    102.7    105.8    109.5    106.5    106.8    122.9
1979  111.7   108.7     97.6    112.3    105.6    106.2    103.9    107.4    108.3    105.1    107.0    122.6
 
1980  107.8   108.4     99.5    109.9    103.9    104.9    104.9    107.8    106.9    104.8    106.9    116.7
1981  107.2   108.4    100.5    103.9    100.2    101.6    103.0    103.2    104.2    103.3    103.7    106.4
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983   98.3    98.0    101.6     97.6    100.4     98.0     96.7     95.8     95.5     94.4     97.9     94.9
1984  103.1   100.9    103.7     96.5    106.0     95.2     96.2     91.1     93.2     93.3     98.4     93.2
1985  102.4   103.6    104.6     95.1    112.4     92.6     97.4     89.8     94.4     94.1     99.6     92.5
1986  100.9   106.1    104.0     93.7    116.6     90.9     99.0     88.7     95.7     95.1     99.6     90.7
1987  101.1   109.3    102.7     91.4    115.1     88.7     99.0     88.4     96.8     94.6     98.9     89.5
1988  102.9   114.1    104.9     90.7    112.6     87.4     98.8     89.8     97.6     90.1    100.7     90.6
1989  103.4   115.4    107.0     92.6    111.5     87.9    100.3     90.5     99.0     84.0     99.0     91.5
 
1990  101.9   109.4    108.6     92.9    111.7     88.5    103.0     91.0    101.0     81.4     95.7     90.9
1991   98.3   101.7    112.1     92.0    109.2     87.0    104.5     89.0    100.7     78.8     89.8     84.4
1992   96.6    98.1    113.5     88.6    107.9     84.1    102.7     85.2     99.9     77.3     81.7     80.0
1993   96.7    98.7    111.2     83.8    103.8     80.2     96.6     80.9     95.8     76.8     75.7     77.9
1994   97.8   100.6    108.8      NA     104.8     78.1     91.7     80.0     92.6     79.6     76.5     77.4
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 6.  Average annual hours in manufacturing, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950  107.4   111.6      NA       NA     135.1    122.3    137.1    113.6    123.7    131.2    135.8    117.3
 
1955  107.5   107.5    111.8      NA     132.6    120.9    137.2    116.5    124.0    131.5    134.8    118.8
 
1960  105.3   106.8    116.3    125.6    125.9    120.7    123.6    117.7    125.3    126.4    127.6    116.3
1961  105.5   106.2    114.5    125.3    122.2    121.1    121.4    116.5    120.1    124.5    126.5    114.8
1962  106.5   107.4    112.2    125.6    123.1    120.7    118.4    112.8    119.2    124.1    125.5    113.6
1963  106.8   107.8    111.3    125.5    121.2    120.7    116.6    113.4    118.9    123.5    124.1    113.5
1964  107.5   108.3    110.7    125.1    122.2    119.9    116.8    113.4    117.8    124.3    122.8    114.4
1965  108.6   108.3    108.9    123.0    122.0    118.8    116.2    109.6    117.4    121.4    121.8    112.8
1966  109.0   107.5    109.4    122.0    119.8    119.3    114.7    110.8    116.7    121.7    121.7    110.9
1967  107.0   107.0    109.5    120.5    118.4    118.0    111.6    112.4    116.2    120.6    119.7    110.0
1968  106.8   107.2    109.2    120.5    115.7    114.8    112.9    112.4    114.2    117.7    117.2    110.9
1969  106.0   106.7    107.7    119.3    114.3    117.4    113.0    111.6    112.6    115.0    115.2    110.9
 
1970  103.8   106.0    106.6    116.2    110.7    115.9    112.3    109.6    110.5    114.1    115.0    109.2
1971  104.1   105.4    104.9    114.4    110.3    115.0    109.9    106.6    109.5    113.0    114.7    106.6
1972  105.8   105.4    104.3    111.8    107.9    113.8    108.8    105.8    107.9    111.4    111.6    105.6
1973  105.7   104.9    103.5    109.1    102.1    112.1    108.0    107.1    105.8    110.8    109.7    107.1
1974  103.7   104.2     99.2    106.3    104.1    110.6    105.8    103.3    102.5    109.3    108.5    103.6
1975  102.2   103.1     96.9    100.6    100.8    107.3    103.2    101.5    100.6    108.8    106.4    103.2
1976  103.3   102.9     99.8    102.4    101.3    107.7    106.0    101.5    100.5    106.0    105.1    104.1
1977  103.7   103.2    100.0    102.0    100.4    106.7    104.3    101.0    100.0    104.3    104.3    104.8
1978  103.7   103.5    100.4    101.7     99.2    105.8    103.0    100.8     99.0    101.9    101.6    104.4
1979  103.1   102.7    101.0    101.8     99.1    105.6    102.5    100.0     97.9    100.2    100.1    104.0
 
1980  101.8   102.3    101.0    100.2     99.8    105.6    101.3    100.3     98.5    100.7     99.0    100.5
1981  101.9   101.1    100.3     97.9     98.6    104.3    100.1    100.3     99.0    100.8     99.5     99.0
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  102.7   101.3    100.1     97.5    101.4     99.6     99.7    100.0    100.1    100.4    101.2    100.3
1984  104.3   102.4    101.1     96.9    101.1     99.8     99.7    100.0     98.7    100.2    103.1    101.1
1985  104.3   102.4    100.8     98.3     97.7     99.2     98.2     99.1     96.2     99.8    102.3    101.1
1986  104.2   102.3    100.2     98.4    100.0     99.3     97.4    101.6     95.8     99.7    101.8    100.9
1987  104.8   103.1    100.6     99.3     97.7     99.9     96.8    103.5     95.3     97.2    103.2    101.6
1988  105.9   103.3    101.7    100.9     97.7    100.3     96.7    107.1     96.0     98.1    102.9    102.2
1989  105.9   102.6    100.6    100.4     96.5    100.1     95.4    106.9     95.4     98.6    102.6    102.0
 
1990  105.1   102.5     99.2    101.6     95.4     99.6     94.1    104.3     95.4     98.4    103.8    101.3
1991  104.4   102.0     97.1     99.8     95.6     99.8     92.8    103.1     95.2     98.9    103.7     99.4
1992  105.7   102.2     94.2     99.8     96.0    100.0     93.5    103.0     95.0    100.0    104.5     99.4
1993  107.0   104.3     92.0     98.2     95.2     99.1     90.3    101.0     95.0    100.3    107.5     98.9
1994  108.2   104.9     92.0      NA      95.2     99.1     90.9    103.8     95.0    100.6    112.0     99.5
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 7.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*
 
1950    NA      9.0      NA       NA       4.2      2.9      5.6      2.1      4.4      4.6      4.2      3.7
 
1955    NA     12.7      4.8      NA       5.7      5.0      8.3      3.0      6.4      7.0      6.7      5.4
 
1960    NA     16.4      6.6      9.1      7.7      7.6     13.5      3.9      9.1      9.9      9.3      7.1
1961    NA     16.9      7.6      9.7      8.7      8.4     15.1      4.4     10.4     10.8     10.2      7.6
1962    NA     17.4      8.7     10.4      9.5      9.3     17.1      5.1     11.1     11.8     11.4      8.0
1963    NA     18.1      9.7     11.5     10.3     10.1     18.3      6.1     12.2     12.6     12.6      8.4
1964    NA     18.9     11.0     13.0     11.2     11.0     19.8      6.5     14.1     13.5     13.7      9.0
1965    NA     19.9     12.3     14.4     12.4     11.9     21.8      6.9     15.9     14.9     15.1      9.8
1966    NA     21.5     13.6     15.9     14.1     12.6     23.6      7.4     17.8     16.3     16.6     10.6
1967    NA     22.8     15.2     17.4     15.8     13.6     24.9      8.2     19.7     18.2     18.4     10.9
1968    NA     24.6     17.7     18.6     17.4     15.4     26.8      8.7     21.9     20.1     20.0     11.7
1969    NA     26.6     21.0     20.3     19.5     16.4     29.3      9.6     24.8     22.1     21.7     12.8
 
1970    NA     28.7     25.0     23.2     22.3     18.5     34.5     11.6     28.5     24.6     24.4     14.7
1971    NA     30.9     28.9     26.5     25.6     20.7     38.6     13.4     32.6     28.1     27.4     17.1
1972    NA     33.2     33.3     30.6     28.4     22.9     42.7     15.0     37.3     31.3     30.6     19.9
1973    NA     35.9     40.7     35.5     34.5     26.2     48.2     17.7     44.5     35.3     34.3     22.6
1974    NA     41.3     53.3     43.2     41.7     31.1     54.9     23.1     53.0     41.4     40.3     27.1
1975    NA     47.3     62.1     52.4     49.7     37.9     60.4     29.2     60.5     49.6     49.4     36.2
1976    NA     54.1     66.9     59.4     55.5     43.5     65.2     36.2     67.8     57.3     57.8     42.0
1977   62.8    59.9     73.8     66.3     61.4     49.5     71.2     42.9     73.6     64.2     63.2     47.3
1978   67.9    64.4     78.7     71.5     67.6     55.7     76.7     49.4     79.7     70.9     70.4     55.0
1979   74.4    71.0     83.7     77.9     75.6     63.1     82.3     59.8     85.6     74.7     76.0     65.1
 
1980   83.3    78.6     89.0     86.3     83.4     72.7     89.2     70.2     90.2     81.2     84.5     78.9
1981   91.5    90.4     95.3     95.9     91.9     84.2     94.9     84.8     93.9     90.3     93.2     91.0
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  102.7   106.1    102.7    106.0    106.9    110.3    105.0    117.0    104.4    110.3    110.2    106.8
1984  106.0   111.1    105.8    114.8    113.0    119.6    110.0    134.3    108.4    120.9    119.6    114.6
1985  111.3   116.8    110.1    122.0    120.6    129.6    116.3    150.9    114.1    132.2    131.8    125.1
1986  115.8   121.3    115.8    127.0    123.1    135.1    121.2    157.1    118.6    145.0    142.4    135.4
1987  118.4   125.0    118.6    130.0    134.6    140.0    126.9    166.0    122.4    165.6    151.9    149.8
1988  123.1   130.5    120.6    132.7    139.4    145.4    131.8    172.5    122.0    175.7    161.8    159.4
1989  127.9   135.4    128.2    139.7    147.3    153.2    138.2    189.5    123.1    183.9    179.0    174.7
 
1990  134.7   143.0    138.3    147.5    156.5    161.3    147.9    210.8    126.4    194.7    197.5    180.6
1991  141.9   152.3    146.2    156.8    162.6    169.1    157.8    233.1    132.3    205.6    215.1    199.4
1992  147.9   158.2    152.4    164.9    169.1    174.9    166.2    250.4    139.2    210.9    225.0    219.6
1993  152.0   158.7    159.3    171.2    175.7    181.5    178.5    267.1    145.6    212.9    221.6    235.6
1994  154.5   163.5    162.3      NA     181.0    186.2    185.8    270.0    147.7    218.7    232.8    245.0
 
NA:  Not Available
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
   costs to employers.
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 8.  Hourly compensation in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*
 
1950    NA     10.1      NA       NA       5.0      5.4      3.2      4.5      3.1      4.2      5.1      6.0
 
1955    NA     15.9      3.3      NA       6.9      9.5      4.8      6.5      4.5      6.3      8.1      8.5
 
1960    NA     20.9      4.5      8.4      9.3     10.2      7.9      8.6      6.4      8.9     11.3     11.5
1961    NA     20.6      5.3      8.9     10.5     11.3      9.1      9.5      7.6      9.7     12.4     12.3
1962    NA     20.1      6.0      9.6     11.5     12.5     10.4     11.2      8.2     10.7     13.9     12.9
1963    NA     20.7      6.7     10.5     12.5     13.6     11.1     13.2      9.1     11.4     15.2     13.4
1964    NA     21.6      7.5     11.9     13.5     14.8     12.1     14.1     10.5     12.2     16.7     14.3
1965    NA     22.8      8.5     13.3     14.9     16.0     13.2     15.1     11.8     13.5     18.4     15.7
1966    NA     24.7      9.3     14.6     17.0     16.9     14.3     16.0     13.1     14.7     20.2     16.9
1967    NA     26.1     10.5     16.0     18.9     18.2     15.2     17.7     14.6     16.4     22.4     17.2
1968    NA     28.2     12.2     17.0     19.4     20.5     16.3     18.9     16.2     18.1     24.3     16.0
1969    NA     30.4     14.6     18.6     21.7     20.9     18.1     20.6     18.3     20.0     26.4     17.5
 
1970    NA     33.9     17.4     21.3     24.8     22.0     22.9     25.1     21.1     22.2     29.5     20.2
1971    NA     37.7     20.7     25.0     28.9     24.7     27.0     29.4     25.0     25.8     33.7     23.8
1972    NA     41.3     27.3     31.8     34.1     29.8     32.5     34.9     31.0     30.7     40.4     28.5
1973    NA     44.3     37.4     41.8     47.7     38.8     44.2     41.2     42.7     39.7     49.4     31.7
1974    NA     52.2     45.6     50.9     57.2     42.4     51.6     48.1     52.7     48.5     57.1     36.3
1975    NA     57.3     52.1     65.4     72.3     58.3     59.7     60.5     64.1     61.4     75.0     46.0
1976    NA     67.7     56.2     70.5     76.6     59.9     62.9     59.0     68.5     67.7     83.4     43.3
1977   62.8    69.5     68.6     84.7     85.3     66.2     74.5     65.7     80.1     77.9     88.9     47.2
1978   67.9    69.8     94.0    104.2    102.5     81.5     92.8     78.8     98.5     87.3     98.0     60.4
1979   74.4    74.8     95.5    121.6    119.9     97.6    109.1     97.4    114.0     95.2    111.3     79.1
 
1980   83.3    83.0     98.3    135.4    123.7    113.4    119.3    111.1    121.4    106.2    125.5    105.0
1981   91.5    93.1    107.6    118.5    107.4    101.8    102.2    100.9    100.8    101.6    115.6    105.4
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  102.7   106.2    107.7     94.9     97.5     95.2     99.9    104.3     97.8     97.5     90.2     92.6
1984  106.0   105.9    111.0     91.0     91.0     90.1     93.9    103.5     90.3     95.7     90.9     87.6
1985  111.3   105.6    115.0     94.2     95.0     95.0     96.0    107.0     91.9     99.3     96.3     92.9
1986  115.8   107.8    171.2    130.2    126.9    128.3    135.6    142.7    129.4    126.5    125.6    113.7
1987  118.4   116.3    204.2    159.3    164.1    153.3    171.4    173.3    161.4    158.7    150.4    140.5
1988  123.1   130.9    234.4    165.1    172.6    160.5    182.1    179.3    164.8    173.9    165.7    162.4
1989  127.9   141.2    231.2    162.2    167.9    158.0    178.4    187.0    155.0    171.8    174.3    163.7
 
1990  134.7   151.3    237.5    202.0    211.0    194.8    222.2    238.1    185.4    201.0    209.5    184.3
1991  141.9   164.0    270.6    209.9    211.9    197.1    230.7    254.3    188.8    204.5    223.3    201.6
1992  147.9   161.6    299.4    234.8    233.7    217.4    258.4    275.1    211.5    219.1    242.7    221.9
1993  152.0   151.9    357.1    226.6    226.0    210.8    261.9    229.8    209.3    193.6    178.6    202.4
1994  154.5   147.7    395.5      NA     237.6    220.9    278.2    226.9    216.9    200.1    189.6    214.7
 
NA:  Not Available
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
   costs to employers.
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 9.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     25.3      NA       NA      17.0     16.0     33.3     12.5     25.7     14.8     16.4      9.1
 
1955    NA     29.2     41.4      NA      21.3     22.3     33.2     12.8     30.0     19.4     23.8     12.1
 
1960    NA     31.9     35.5     34.9     23.8     25.7     36.4     13.4     33.3     21.3     25.8     14.2
1961    NA     31.0     36.4     36.5     25.3     26.6     38.8     13.8     36.1     22.5     26.9     15.2
1962    NA     29.9     39.7     37.3     26.3     27.7     41.1     14.6     37.4     24.7     27.9     15.6
1963    NA     30.0     41.0     39.7     27.7     28.6     42.0     16.9     39.8     25.0     29.1     15.5
1964    NA     29.9     40.6     42.1     27.7     28.8     42.0     17.8     42.4     25.3     29.2     15.5
1965    NA     30.1     43.9     44.5     29.3     29.2     43.4     17.2     44.7     26.4     30.0     16.5
1966    NA     31.8     44.1     46.0     31.7     28.6     45.3     16.8     47.1     27.7     31.5     17.2
1967    NA     33.1     43.7     47.5     33.2     28.9     45.0     17.7     48.7     29.8     32.2     17.0
1968    NA     33.3     45.4     46.8     33.5     29.7     44.7     17.5     48.5     31.0     32.0     17.0
1969    NA     34.1     47.0     46.9     36.2     29.7     45.6     18.5     50.3     31.2     32.3     18.1
 
1970    NA     37.3     49.7     48.4     39.0     31.5     51.9     21.1     52.5     33.7     35.4     20.4
1971    NA     37.5     54.2     52.2     42.0     33.4     56.0     23.9     56.9     37.1     38.1     22.6
1972    NA     38.4     56.2     54.1     43.0     35.2     58.3     24.8     59.8     39.0     40.5     24.7
1973    NA     39.1     63.2     56.8     47.4     37.7     61.9     27.2     64.3     41.4     42.2     26.3
1974    NA     44.3     80.9     65.5     55.5     43.8     68.1     33.4     70.6     46.4     47.7     31.0
1975    NA     52.4     90.4     76.4     60.2     51.7     71.9     43.5     82.5     56.3     57.6     42.1
1976    NA     56.1     90.8     78.6     64.8     55.8     72.3     47.4     83.0     63.0     66.3     46.8
1977   65.3    58.8     95.7     83.6     70.3     59.9     76.7     54.9     86.5     71.1     73.6     52.4
1978   70.5    62.6     96.7     85.0     76.4     64.6     79.8     59.5     87.8     77.1     79.9     60.3
1979   78.4    68.4     95.4     87.8     81.4     69.9     82.1     65.6     89.9     76.6     79.9     71.1
 
1980   89.7    78.7     97.8     99.4     85.1     80.1     90.6     73.5     93.8     84.3     87.5     86.7
1981   95.1    86.3    100.4    102.0     92.2     90.1     94.4     86.8     95.6     93.5     97.2     95.8
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  100.5    98.9    100.2     95.0    101.9    107.9     99.7    111.2     96.8    105.2    103.2     99.5
1984  102.4    95.5     98.1     97.7    108.3    115.2    101.0    116.1     91.5    107.8    107.0    101.9
1985  104.2    97.6     95.8    102.0    114.9    120.2    102.6    123.4     92.5    114.2    115.8    107.5
1986  105.8   102.9    102.4    104.7    124.5    123.2    106.2    127.1     94.6    126.4    123.1    112.3
1987  101.6   105.0     96.8    105.1    136.8    125.5    112.6    130.5     97.0    137.5    129.0    118.0
1988  103.2   109.2     93.1    103.1    136.5    121.8    113.0    132.6     94.6    147.1    136.4    119.4
1989  106.7   112.8     92.4    103.9    139.5    122.2    114.6    141.4     92.1    154.0    146.1    126.2
 
1990  110.4   117.2     92.7    110.0    148.3    126.4    117.8    151.3     93.3    156.5    159.2    128.9
1991  113.7   123.9     93.2    113.5    151.2    133.0    121.3    162.1     96.7    166.1    173.4    137.2
1992  116.0   123.6     97.3    114.8    154.3    133.4    129.4    165.8    101.4    163.7    172.3    144.2
1993  115.1   121.2     99.8    114.5    158.0    137.2    136.8    169.0    104.0    161.8    159.3    148.0
1994  112.5   120.1     98.8      NA     151.4    130.8    132.7    164.9     98.3    164.5    159.2    147.8
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 10.  Unit labor costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollar basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     28.5      NA       NA      20.6     30.2     19.3     27.0     18.1     13.4     20.0     14.6
 
1955    NA     36.6     28.7      NA      25.8     41.9     19.2     27.7     21.0     17.5     28.9     19.3
 
1960    NA     40.6     24.6     32.0     28.8     34.4     21.2     29.3     23.6     19.3     31.4     22.8
1961    NA     37.8     25.1     33.5     30.5     35.7     23.5     30.0     26.6     20.3     32.8     24.4
1962    NA     34.6     27.4     34.3     31.8     37.1     25.0     31.9     27.7     22.3     34.0     25.1
1963    NA     34.3     28.2     36.4     33.5     38.4     25.6     36.8     29.5     22.6     35.3     24.8
1964    NA     34.2     28.0     38.8     33.4     38.7     25.6     38.7     31.4     22.8     35.7     24.8
1965    NA     34.4     30.2     41.0     35.4     39.2     26.4     37.2     33.1     23.8     36.6     26.3
1966    NA     36.5     30.3     42.2     38.3     38.2     27.5     36.4     34.7     25.0     38.3     27.6
1967    NA     37.9     30.0     43.8     39.7     38.7     27.4     38.3     36.1     26.9     39.2     26.7
1968    NA     38.1     31.4     42.9     37.3     39.4     27.2     37.9     35.8     28.0     38.9     23.3
1969    NA     39.1     32.6     42.8     40.1     37.7     28.2     39.9     37.1     28.2     39.2     24.8
 
1970    NA     44.1     34.6     44.6     43.4     37.5     34.6     45.7     38.8     30.4     42.9     28.0
1971    NA     45.8     38.8     49.3     47.3     39.9     39.1     52.4     43.6     34.0     46.9     31.5
1972    NA     47.9     46.2     56.3     51.6     46.0     44.4     57.6     49.8     38.2     53.5     35.3
1973    NA     48.2     58.1     67.0     65.7     55.9     56.8     63.2     61.8     46.5     61.0     36.8
1974    NA     55.9     69.1     77.2     76.2     59.7     64.0     69.5     70.3     54.3     67.6     41.5
1975    NA     63.6     75.9     95.3     87.6     79.4     71.1     90.2     87.4     69.7     87.3     53.5
1976    NA     70.2     76.3     93.3     89.5     76.9     69.8     77.4     84.0     74.6     95.7     48.4
1977   65.3    68.3     89.0    106.9     97.8     80.2     80.2     84.2     94.2     86.3    103.6     52.3
1978   70.5    67.8    115.6    123.8    115.7     94.4     96.6     94.9    108.6     95.0    111.1     66.2
1979   78.4    72.1    108.9    137.0    129.1    108.1    108.7    106.9    119.8     97.6    117.1     86.4
 
1980   89.7    83.1    107.9    155.8    126.2    124.9    121.1    116.3    126.3    110.2    130.0    115.4
1981   95.1    88.9    113.3    126.2    107.8    109.0    101.7    103.2    102.7    105.1    120.5    110.9
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  100.5    99.0    105.0     85.0     92.9     93.1     94.8     99.1     90.6     93.1     84.5     86.3
1984  102.4    91.0    102.9     77.5     87.3     86.7     86.2     89.5     76.2     85.3     81.3     77.9
1985  104.2    88.2    100.1     78.7     90.4     88.0     84.7     87.5     74.5     85.8     84.6     79.8
1986  105.8    91.4    151.5    107.3    128.3    117.0    118.8    115.4    103.3    110.3    108.5     94.3
1987  101.6    97.8    166.8    128.8    166.7    137.3    152.1    136.3    127.9    131.7    127.7    110.7
1988  103.2   109.5    180.9    128.4    169.0    134.5    156.1    137.9    127.8    145.5    139.7    121.6
1989  106.7   117.6    166.7    120.7    159.0    126.0    148.0    139.5    115.9    143.8    142.2    118.3
 
1990  110.4   124.0    159.3    150.6    200.0    152.7    176.9    170.9    136.9    161.5    168.9    131.6
1991  113.7   133.5    172.5    152.0    197.1    155.0    177.3    176.8    138.0    165.2    180.1    138.7
1992  116.0   126.2    191.2    163.5    213.3    165.8    201.2    182.1    154.0    170.1    185.8    145.7
1993  115.1   116.0    223.8    151.6    203.3    159.3    200.8    145.4    149.5    147.2    128.4    127.1
1994  112.5   108.5    240.8      NA     198.8    155.1    198.7    138.5    144.4    150.6    129.6    129.6
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 11.  Exchange rates, 12 countries, 1950-1994 (Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar)
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950  100.0   112.9     69.2      NA     120.9    188.0     57.9    216.8     70.1     90.5    121.5    160.2
 
1955  100.0   125.2     69.2      NA     120.8    187.9     57.7    216.6     70.1     90.4    121.5    159.7
 
1960  100.0   127.3     69.2     91.8    121.0    134.1     58.2    218.0     70.8     90.5    121.6    160.6
1961  100.0   121.9     69.0     91.8    120.8    134.1     60.5    218.0     73.6     90.4    121.6    160.3
1962  100.0   115.5     69.0     92.0    120.9    134.3     60.7    218.1     74.2     90.5    121.9    160.6
1963  100.0   114.4     68.9     91.8    120.9    134.2     60.9    217.8     74.2     90.3    121.1    160.2
1964  100.0   114.4     68.8     92.0    120.7    134.2     61.1    216.8     74.1     90.2    122.0    159.7
1965  100.0   114.5     68.9     92.2    120.7    134.2     60.8    216.7     74.2     90.3    121.8    159.9
1966  100.0   114.6     68.7     91.9    120.8    133.9     60.7    216.8     73.8     90.3    121.6    159.8
1967  100.0   114.4     68.8     92.1    119.5    133.7     60.9    216.9     74.2     90.3    121.7    157.3
1968  100.0   114.6     69.1     91.7    111.5    132.8     60.8    217.2     73.8     90.4    121.6    136.9
1969  100.0   114.6     69.5     91.3    111.0    127.0     61.9    215.8     73.7     90.4    121.5    136.7
 
1970  100.0   118.3     69.5     92.2    111.3    119.0     66.6    215.9     73.9     90.3    121.2    137.1
1971  100.0   122.2     71.7     94.3    112.7    119.4     69.8    219.0     76.5     91.7    123.1    139.8
1972  100.0   124.6     82.2    104.0    120.0    130.4     76.2    232.0     83.2     98.0    132.1    143.1
1973  100.0   123.4     91.9    117.9    138.5    148.3     91.7    232.8     96.1    112.4    144.3    140.2
1974  100.0   126.2     85.4    117.7    137.2    136.2     94.0    208.1     99.6    117.0    141.8    133.9
1975  100.0   121.3     83.9    124.8    145.5    153.7     98.9    207.5    105.9    123.8    151.7    127.1
1976  100.0   125.2     84.0    118.7    138.1    137.8     96.5    163.1    101.1    118.3    144.3    103.2
1977  100.0   116.2     93.0    127.8    139.0    133.9    104.6    153.4    108.9    121.3    140.6     99.8
1978  100.0   108.3    119.5    145.6    151.5    146.2    121.1    159.5    123.7    123.2    139.1    109.7
1979  100.0   105.4    114.2    156.1    158.6    154.6    132.5    162.9    133.2    127.5    146.6    121.4
 
1980  100.0   105.6    110.4    156.8    148.2    155.9    133.8    158.3    134.6    130.8    148.6    133.1
1981  100.0   103.0    112.9    123.6    116.9    121.0    107.7    118.9    107.4    112.4    124.0    115.8
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  100.0   100.2    104.8     89.5     91.2     86.3     95.1     89.1     93.6     88.4     81.9     86.7
1984  100.0    95.3    104.9     79.3     80.6     75.3     85.3     77.1     83.3     79.1     76.0     76.5
1985  100.0    90.4    104.4     77.2     78.7     73.3     82.5     70.9     80.5     75.1     73.0     74.2
1986  100.0    88.8    147.9    102.5    103.1     95.0    111.9     90.8    109.1     87.3     88.2     84.0
1987  100.0    93.1    172.2    122.5    121.9    109.4    135.0    104.4    131.9     95.8     99.0     93.8
1988  100.0   100.3    194.3    124.5    123.8    110.4    138.2    104.0    135.1     99.0    102.4    101.9
1989  100.0   104.2    180.4    116.2    114.0    103.1    129.1     98.7    125.9     93.4     97.3     93.7
 
1990  100.0   105.8    171.8    137.0    134.8    120.8    150.2    113.0    146.7    103.2    106.1    102.1
1991  100.0   107.7    185.1    133.9    130.3    116.5    146.2    109.1    142.7     99.5    103.8    101.1
1992  100.0   102.1    196.5    142.4    138.2    124.3    155.5    109.9    151.9    103.9    107.9    101.0
1993  100.0    95.7    224.2    132.4    128.6    116.1    146.8     86.0    143.8     90.9     80.6     85.9
1994  100.0    90.3    243.7    137.0    131.3    118.6    149.7     84.0    146.9     91.5     81.4     87.6
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 12.  Average annual compensation in manufacturing, national currency basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France*  Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden*  Kingdom*
 
1950    NA     10.0      NA       NA       5.6      3.5      7.7      2.4      5.5      6.0      5.7      4.4
 
1955    NA     13.7      5.3      NA       7.6      6.1     11.4      3.5      8.0      9.2      9.0      6.4
 
1960    NA     17.6      7.6     11.5      9.7      9.2     16.7      4.6     11.4     12.5     11.9      8.3
1961    NA     17.9      8.8     12.1     10.6     10.2     18.4      5.1     12.5     13.4     12.9      8.8
1962    NA     18.7      9.8     13.0     11.7     11.2     20.3      5.8     13.2     14.7     14.3      9.1
1963    NA     19.5     10.9     14.4     12.5     12.2     21.3      6.9     14.5     15.6     15.6      9.5
1964    NA     20.4     12.1     16.2     13.6     13.2     23.1      7.3     16.6     16.8     16.8     10.2
1965    NA     21.6     13.4     17.7     15.1     14.2     25.3      7.6     18.6     18.1     18.4     11.1
1966    NA     23.1     14.9     19.4     16.9     15.1     27.1      8.2     20.7     19.8     20.2     11.7
1967    NA     24.4     16.7     20.9     18.7     16.1     27.8      9.2     22.9     21.9     22.0     12.0
1968    NA     26.4     19.4     22.4     20.1     17.7     30.2      9.8     25.0     23.6     23.4     13.0
1969    NA     28.4     22.6     24.3     22.3     19.3     33.1     10.7     28.0     25.4     25.0     14.2
 
1970    NA     30.4     26.6     26.9     24.7     21.4     38.7     12.7     31.5     28.0     28.0     16.1
1971    NA     32.5     30.3     30.3     28.3     23.8     42.4     14.3     35.7     31.8     31.4     18.2
1972    NA     35.0     34.7     34.2     30.6     26.0     46.4     15.9     40.2     34.9     34.1     21.0
1973    NA     37.7     42.1     38.7     35.2     29.3     52.1     18.9     47.0     39.1     37.6     24.2
1974    NA     43.1     52.9     45.9     43.4     34.4     58.1     23.9     54.3     45.3     43.7     28.1
1975    NA     48.7     60.2     52.7     50.1     40.7     62.4     29.6     60.9     53.9     52.5     37.4
1976    NA     55.7     66.8     60.8     56.2     46.8     69.1     36.8     68.1     60.7     60.8     43.7
1977   65.1    61.8     73.8     67.6     61.6     52.8     74.3     43.3     73.6     67.0     65.9     49.6
1978   70.4    66.7     79.0     72.8     67.1     59.0     79.0     49.7     78.9     72.3     71.6     57.4
1979   76.7    72.9     84.6     79.3     74.9     66.6     84.4     59.8     83.8     74.8     76.0     67.7
 
1980   84.8    80.4     89.9     86.5     83.3     76.8     90.4     70.3     88.8     81.7     83.6     79.3
1981   93.2    91.4     95.6     93.9     90.5     87.8     94.9     85.0     92.9     91.1     92.8     90.2
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  105.5   107.4    102.8    103.4    108.4    109.9    104.7    117.0    104.6    110.7    111.5    107.1
1984  110.5   113.7    107.0    111.3    114.2    119.4    109.8    134.3    107.0    121.2    123.3    115.9
1985  116.0   119.6    111.0    120.0    117.8    128.5    114.2    149.6    109.8    132.0    134.8    126.6
1986  120.7   124.1    116.0    125.0    123.1    134.2    118.1    159.7    113.5    144.6    145.1    136.7
1987  124.1   128.8    119.3    129.0    131.5    140.0    122.9    171.8    116.6    161.1    156.7    152.2
1988  130.4   134.8    122.7    133.9    136.2    145.8    127.5    184.7    117.1    172.3    166.6    162.8
1989  135.4   138.9    128.9    140.2    142.2    153.3    131.9    202.6    117.5    181.4    183.7    178.2
 
1990  141.6   146.5    137.1    149.8    149.3    160.6    139.1    219.9    120.6    191.7    205.0    182.9
1991  148.2   155.3    142.1    156.5    155.5    168.7    146.5    240.4    125.9    203.4    223.0    198.2
1992  156.3   161.7    143.5    164.6    162.3    174.9    155.4    257.9    132.2    211.0    235.2    218.4
1993  162.6   165.6    146.4    168.2    167.2    180.0    161.2    269.7    138.2    213.5    238.2    233.1
1994  167.2   171.5    149.3      NA     172.3    184.6    168.9    280.2    140.2    220.0    260.8    243.8
 
NA:  Not Available
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
* Compensation adjusted to include changes in employment taxes that are not compensation to employees, but are labor
   costs to employers.
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 13.  Real hourly compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     39.4      NA       NA      31.9     23.0     15.7     22.4     20.3     31.4     29.7     36.3
 
1955    NA     49.5     23.2      NA      35.5     31.0     21.3     26.0     25.1     35.1     35.9     39.7
 
1960    NA     58.1     29.5     29.3     43.1     35.0     31.5     29.9     31.3     43.4     41.5     46.5
1961    NA     59.1     32.6     30.7     46.5     37.5     34.5     32.2     35.3     46.2     44.6     48.1
1962    NA     60.2     34.8     32.5     47.4     39.6     38.0     36.1     36.8     48.1     47.5     48.5
1963    NA     61.6     36.2     35.2     48.9     41.1     39.3     39.8     39.3     50.1     51.0     49.7
1964    NA     63.0     39.2     38.1     51.0     43.2     41.6     40.0     43.0     50.7     53.8     51.4
1965    NA     64.9     41.0     40.7     53.2     45.8     44.2     41.1     46.3     53.7     56.5     53.6
1966    NA     67.6     43.0     43.1     56.7     47.2     46.4     42.9     49.1     56.8     58.1     55.8
1967    NA     69.3     46.3     45.8     59.1     49.4     48.3     46.3     52.6     60.8     61.8     57.2
1968    NA     71.7     51.1     47.7     60.2     53.9     51.2     48.8     56.4     64.7     65.9     58.7
1969    NA     74.1     57.6     50.3     65.5     55.3     54.9     52.1     59.6     69.2     69.2     60.4
 
1970    NA     77.4     63.6     55.1     70.1     59.4     62.6     60.3     65.5     69.5     72.6     65.3
1971    NA     81.1     69.3     60.5     76.2     62.9     66.7     66.3     69.6     75.0     75.3     68.9
1972    NA     83.1     76.0     66.2     79.2     65.4     70.0     70.3     73.8     77.8     79.3     74.9
1973    NA     83.7     83.2     71.8     87.9     69.7     74.1     74.9     81.5     81.7     82.0     78.0
1974    NA     86.8     88.5     77.6     92.3     72.8     78.9     82.0     88.5     87.6     87.9     80.5
1975    NA     89.6     92.3     83.4    100.4     79.3     81.9     88.3     91.8     93.8     98.3     86.8
1976    NA     95.3     90.8     86.6    102.8     82.9     84.6     94.1     94.5     99.3    103.9     86.4
1977  100.0    97.7     92.6     90.3    102.3     86.1     89.4     93.3     96.2    102.1    101.2     83.8
1978  100.4    96.5     94.8     93.3    102.5     88.8     93.8     95.6    100.0    104.2    104.5     89.6
1979   98.9    97.5     97.2     97.2    104.5     90.9     97.0    100.0    103.1    104.8    105.6     93.4
 
1980   97.5    97.9     96.0    101.0    102.6     92.2     99.9     96.9    102.0    102.7    103.0     96.1
1981   97.1   100.2     97.9    104.2    101.2     94.2     99.9     98.7     99.5    100.6    101.5     99.6
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983   99.5   100.3    100.8     98.5    100.0    100.7    101.8    101.8    101.6    101.7     99.2    102.2
1984   98.4   100.6    101.6    100.3     99.4    101.6    104.1    105.6    102.2    105.0    100.1    104.2
1985   99.8   101.8    103.6    101.6    101.4    103.9    107.9    109.3    105.2    108.6    102.6    107.3
1986  102.0   101.6    108.2    104.4     99.8    105.4    112.7    107.2    109.1    111.1    106.2    112.3
1987  100.6   100.2    110.8    105.2    105.0    106.0    117.9    108.3    113.2    116.4    108.6    119.2
1988  100.4   100.5    111.9    106.1    104.0    107.2    121.1    107.2    112.0    116.1    110.6    120.9
1989   99.5    99.4    116.3    108.4    104.8    109.0    123.3    110.5    111.6    116.2    115.4    122.9
 
1990   99.5   100.1    121.7    110.6    108.6    111.2    128.6    115.9    112.0    118.2    114.4    116.1
1991  100.5   101.0    124.6    113.8    110.1    112.8    132.5    120.3    112.7    120.7    114.2    121.1
1992  101.7   103.3    127.7    116.9    112.1    114.0    134.2    122.6    114.5    120.9    117.1    128.6
1993  101.5   101.8    131.7    118.1    115.1    115.9    138.8    125.4    117.3    119.3    112.0    135.8
1994  100.6   104.7    133.3      NA     116.2    117.0    140.3    122.1    115.1    120.9    115.1    137.8
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 14.  Real average annual compensation in manufacturing, CPI basis, 12 countries, 1950-1994
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
      United                                                                 Nether-                    United
Year  States  Canada   Japan    Belgium  Denmark  France   Germany  Italy    lands    Norway   Sweden   Kingdom
 
1950    NA     43.9      NA       NA      43.0     28.2     21.6     25.4     25.1     41.2     40.3     42.6
 
1955    NA     53.2     25.9      NA      47.1     37.5     29.2     30.3     31.2     46.2     48.3     47.1
 
1960    NA     62.0     34.3     36.8     54.3     42.3     39.0     35.2     39.2     54.8     53.0     54.1
1961    NA     62.7     37.3     38.5     56.8     45.4     41.9     37.5     42.4     57.5     56.4     55.3
1962    NA     64.7     39.1     40.8     58.3     47.8     45.0     40.7     43.9     59.7     59.6     55.1
1963    NA     66.4     40.2     44.1     59.3     49.6     45.9     45.1     46.7     61.9     63.3     56.4
1964    NA     68.2     43.4     47.7     62.3     51.8     48.6     45.4     50.6     63.0     66.0     58.8
1965    NA     70.3     44.6     50.0     64.9     54.4     51.4     45.1     54.4     65.2     68.8     60.5
1966    NA     72.7     47.0     52.6     67.9     56.3     53.2     47.5     57.3     69.1     70.8     61.9
1967    NA     74.2     50.7     55.1     70.0     58.4     53.8     52.0     61.1     73.3     74.0     62.9
1968    NA     76.9     55.9     57.5     69.7     61.9     57.8     54.8     64.4     76.2     77.2     65.1
1969    NA     79.1     62.1     60.0     74.8     64.9     62.1     58.2     67.0     79.6     79.7     67.0
 
1970    NA     82.0     67.9     64.0     77.6     68.9     70.3     66.1     72.4     79.4     83.5     71.3
1971    NA     85.4     72.7     69.2     84.0     72.4     73.3     70.6     76.2     84.7     86.3     73.5
1972    NA     87.6     79.2     74.1     85.4     74.4     76.2     74.4     79.6     86.7     88.5     79.1
1973    NA     87.8     86.1     78.3     89.8     78.1     80.1     80.2     86.2     90.5     89.9     83.5
1974    NA     90.5     87.8     82.5     96.1     80.5     83.5     84.7     90.8     95.7     95.3     83.4
1975    NA     92.3     89.4     83.9    101.2     85.2     84.5     89.6     92.4    102.1    104.5     89.6
1976    NA     98.1     90.6     88.7    104.2     89.3     89.7     95.5     94.9    105.2    109.3     89.9
1977  103.7   100.9     92.6     92.1    102.8     91.9     93.2     94.3     96.2    106.5    105.6     87.9
1978  104.2    99.9     95.2     94.9    101.7     94.0     96.6     96.3     99.1    106.3    106.2     93.6
1979  102.0   100.1     98.2     98.9    103.6     96.0     99.5    100.0    100.9    104.9    105.7     97.1
 
1980   99.3   100.2     96.9    101.3    102.4     97.4    101.2     97.1    100.4    103.4    102.0     96.6
1981   98.9   101.3     98.2    102.0     99.7     98.2    100.0     98.9     98.4    101.4    101.0     98.6
1982  100.0   100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0
1983  102.2   101.6    101.0     96.0    101.4    100.3    101.4    101.8    101.8    102.1    100.4    102.5
1984  102.6   103.0    102.7     97.2    100.5    101.4    103.8    105.6    100.9    105.2    103.2    105.4
1985  104.1   104.2    104.5     99.9     99.0    103.0    105.9    108.3    101.2    108.4    104.9    108.5
1986  106.3   103.9    108.5    102.8     99.8    104.7    109.8    109.0    104.5    110.8    108.2    113.3
1987  105.4   103.3    111.4    104.5    102.5    105.9    114.1    112.1    107.8    113.2    112.0    121.1
1988  106.3   103.9    113.8    107.1    101.6    107.5    117.1    114.8    107.5    113.8    113.8    123.5
1989  105.3   102.0    117.0    108.8    101.2    109.1    117.7    118.1    106.5    114.6    118.4    125.4
 
1990  104.5   102.6    120.7    112.4    103.5    110.7    120.9    120.9    106.8    116.3    118.8    117.6
1991  105.0   103.0    121.0    113.6    105.3    112.6    123.0    124.1    107.3    119.4    118.4    120.4
1992  107.5   105.6    120.2    116.7    107.6    114.0    125.5    126.3    108.7    120.9    122.4    127.8
1993  108.6   106.2    121.1    116.0    109.5    114.9    125.4    126.7    111.3    119.6    120.3    134.3
1994  108.9   109.8    122.6      NA     110.6    116.0    127.5    126.7    109.3    121.6    128.9    137.1
 
NA:  Not Available
 
Note:  The data relate to employees (wage and salary earners) in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom,
and to all employed persons (employees and self-employed workers) in the other countries.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
Table 15.  Korea:  Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
 
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
                                             Unit Labor Costs
                                             National         U.S.
                                             currency        dollar        Exchange
  Year          Output        Compensation    basis          basis          rate*
 
  1970           19.5            3.0           15.5           36.6          235.4
  1971           23.1            3.8           16.5           34.7          210.6
  1972           26.4            4.8           18.2           33.9          186.1
  1973           34.1            7.4           21.6           39.6          183.5
  1974           40.0           10.6           26.4           47.8          180.8
  1975           44.0           13.6           31.0           46.8          151.1
  1976           55.6           21.4           38.5           58.2          151.1
  1977           64.1           28.8           44.9           67.8          151.1
  1978           78.3           41.8           53.3           80.5          151.1
  1979           86.3           56.0           64.9           98.0          151.1
  1980           84.9           69.9           82.4           99.1          120.4
  1981           93.5           88.6           94.8          101.8          107.4
  1982          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0
  1983          115.3          122.6          106.3          100.2           94.2
  1984          129.7          148.5          114.5          103.8           90.7
  1985          143.2          157.7          110.2           92.6           84.0
  1986          171.0          186.8          109.2           90.6           82.9
  1987          204.5          237.7          116.3          103.3           88.9
  1988          232.6          302.8          130.2          130.1           99.9
  1989          242.5          336.8          138.9          151.2          108.9
  1990          266.0          393.0          147.7          152.6          103.3
  1991          290.2          448.9          154.7          154.2           99.7
  1992          304.9          476.5          156.3          146.4           93.7
  1993          320.2          491.5          153.5          139.8           91.1
  1994          353.4          561.1          158.8          144.5           91.0
 
*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.
 
Table 16.  Taiwan:  Output and unit labor costs, all employees in manufacturing, 1970-1994
 
(Indexes:  1982=100)
 
                                             Unit Labor Costs
                                             National         U.S.
                                             currency        dollar        Exchange
  Year          Output        Compensation    basis          basis          rate*
 
  1970           27.0            8.1           29.9           29.3           97.8
  1971           32.9           10.3           31.5           30.8           97.8
  1972           39.7           12.6           31.8           31.1           97.8
  1973           46.6           17.2           36.9           37.7          102.3
  1974           44.1           24.5           55.6           57.3          103.0
  1975           46.0           26.0           56.6           58.2          103.0
  1976           56.4           33.0           58.5           60.2          103.0
  1977           63.6           38.8           61.0           62.8          103.0
  1978           76.8           47.1           61.4           64.9          105.6
  1979           82.8           57.8           69.8           75.7          108.5
  1980           91.0           73.4           80.7           87.6          108.6
  1981           97.9           91.7           93.6           99.4          106.2
  1982          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0          100.0
  1983          111.5          109.3           98.0           95.7           97.7
  1984          127.7          130.5          102.2          101.0           98.8
  1985          131.9          140.4          106.5          104.5           98.2
  1986          151.9          167.7          110.4          114.2          103.4
  1987          171.8          189.2          110.1          135.8          123.3
  1988          179.0          202.3          113.0          154.6          136.9
  1989          185.6          219.0          118.0          174.8          148.2
  1990          184.8          233.9          126.6          183.9          145.3
  1991          197.2          253.1          128.3          187.6          146.2
  1992          203.6          273.2          134.2          208.7          155.5
  1993          208.7          282.5          135.4          200.5          148.1
  1994          221.4          306.3          138.4          204.5          147.8
 
*Value of foreign currency relative to U.S. dollar.
 
Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1995.