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2003
International Comparison of Labor Productivity (Analysis of
2001 data)
(November 14, 2003) |
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| Japan’s
Productivity is 19th among 30 OECD countries, and the lowest
among the 7 major industrialized nations for the fourth straight
year. |
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The
JPC-SED compiled its results of an international comparison
of labor productivity for 2001. In addition to the usual comparison
of OECD countries according to OECD data, this year’s
study also included a comparison of non-OECD countries using
data presented by the World Bank and other organizations.
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. This survey
also compared the competitiveness of the manufacturing industries,
which was previously attempted in 1999.
The major findings are as follows. |
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| 1. |
In comparison
with OECD countries, Japan’s labor productivity (value-added
per worker) in 2001 was 52,408 dollars. This was the 19th
highest value among 30 OECD countries and last among the seven
major industrialized countries for the fourth straight year.
Since Japan ranked 20th among the OECD countries last year,
it had moved up a rank, but this was primarily caused by the
influence of the rising yen on the PPP exchange rate. |
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| 2. |
Japan’s per
capita GDP converted using the PPPs for 2001 was 26,416 dollars.
This placed Japan in third place among the seven major industrialized
countries, as it was last year. In comparison with the 30
OECD countries, Japan ranked 14th. |
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| 3. |
A labor productivity-related
index was used to analyze Japan’s position among the
OECD countries. As a result, Japan’s weak growth potential
despite its large scale placed Japan on a par with Italy,
France, and Germany. |
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| 4. |
Outside of the
OECD countries, labor productivity standards were high in
Hong Kong and Israel. Their labor productivities hovered around
50,000 dollars. China, although it had shown remarkable economic
growth, was 55th among a total of 59 countries. As a whole,
it is still a low productivity nation. |
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| 5. |
In regard to the
labor productivity improvement rate, China had the highest
value among 60 countries, marking an average annual growth
of 8.6% between 1991 and 2001. Japan was 41st with a growth
of 1.0%. |
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| 6. |
In terms of competitiveness
of the manufacturing sector, Japan ranked second as it did
last year, but the difference with USA in first place had
somewhat expanded. |
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