 |
International
Comparison of Labor Productivity (2000)
(November 12, 2002) |
| |
| The
JPC-SED compiled its results of international comparisons
of labor productivity for 2000. In addition to comparisons
among OECD countries based on data obtained from the OECD,
it also conducted comparisons with non-OECD countries utilizing
figures from the World Bank data. Labor productivity was measured
using the conventional method of calculating GDP in dollars
using purchasing power parities (PPPs) and dividing it by
the labor force employed. |
| |
| The
major findings are as follows. |
 |
|
| 1. |
According to a
comparison of OECD countries, Japan’s labor productivity
ranked 20th among the 30 OECD countries, at $51,129 (7,980,000
yen) for 2000. This was the lowest figure among the G-7 industrialized
countries. Japan had remained at this ranking for three consecutive
years since 1998. |
| |
|
| 2. |
Per capita GDP
for 2000 in terms of the PPP was 25,968 dollars (4,050,000
yen), marking the third highest level among the G-7 industrialized
countries and 13th among the 30 OECD countries. |
| |
|
| 3. |
An examination
of per capita GDP, labor productivity, and changes in the
employment rate of the G-7 countries plus the Netherlands
revealed that improvements in labor productivity were not
consistent with improvements in the employment rate in most
of the countries. However, in the Netherlands, increases were
seen in both labor productivity and employment rate. |
| |
|
|
4.
|
In regard to the
level of Japan’s labor productivity compared to the G-7+2
countries, Japan was close to the OECD average and the UK,
but far behind the US. |
| |
|
| 5. |
Besides OECD countries,
Hong Kong and Israel had a high level of labor productivity,
at over 50,000 dollars. China ranked 50th among 56 countries
and was included among the low productivity countries although
it had seemingly shown remarkable progress in its economy. |
| |
|
| 6. |
In terms of the
growth rate of labor productivity, China ranked first among
49 countries, with an average yearly growth of 9.0% from 1990
to 2000. Japan, with a growth rate of 1.1%, ranked 32nd. |
|
|
|
|
