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International
Comparison of Labor Productivity (2000)
(November 15, 2000) |
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| This
report measures labor productivity for 1998 by calculating
the gross domestic product (GDP) in dollars using a purchasing
power parity of 164 yen to a dollar, and dividing it by the
labor force employed. Compared to labor productivity figures for
various countries measured using the same method, the added-value
per worker (labor productivity) in Japan was 46,357 dollars
(7,600,000 yen) in 1998, ranking 20th among 29 OECD countries.
Japan ranked 18th in 1997, and 15th between 1989 and 1993,
which was the highest level Japan ever reached.
In terms of per capita GDP calculated using purchasing power
parity, Japan ranked 10th. The divergence between this figure and its 20th place for labor productivity is due to the high employment
rate in Japan. Japan has the highest employment rate among
the G-7 industrialized countries. Compared to other countries,
Japan has more employed workers, and in a sense they can be
said to be sharing their work. |
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| The
major findings are as follows. |
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| 1. |
In 1998, Luxembourg
had the highest labor productivity, followed by the US and
Belgium. |
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| 2. |
Japan’s labor
productivity was the lowest among the G-7 industrialized countries,
surpassed by the UK, which ranked below Japan in the previous
year. |
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| 3. |
With respect to
the labor productivity improvement rate, Poland ranked first
in 1998, with a 7.9% improvement rate over the previous year.
In terms of the yearly average labor productivity improvement
rate, Korea ranked first with 5.1%. |
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4.
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According to an
index of people’s prosperity, measured as per capita
GDP calculated by purchasing power parity, Japan was 10th
in the world in 1998, with 23,874 dollars (3,920,000 yen).
Japan marked its highest position in 1991, at 4th place. |
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| 5. |
According to a
comparison of the relative labor productivity of industrial sectors
assuming the manufacturing industry as 1, chemicals had the
highest productivity level, and textiles the lowest. |
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| 6. |
The real labor
productivity growth rate for the manufacturing sector in the
US was significantly higher than that in the other G-7 industrialized countries. |
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