Japan Productivity Center for Socio-Economic Development (President, Mr. Tsuneaki Taniguchi) published 2008 International Comparison of Labor Productivity. The report compares the OECD and non-OECD countries based on the statistics of the OECD and the World Bank, respectively. This year's survey used the latest 2007 figures with regards to comparison of OECD countries. (The OECD's industry-based comparison, manufacturing comparison and comparison with World Bank figures are based on 2006 figures, however.)
- Japan's labor productivity in 2007 was the lowest among 7 industrialized countries and 20th among 30 OECD countries.
Japan's labor productivity in 2007 (value added nominal per worker) was US$66,820 (Yen 8,040,000 divided by purchasing power parity). It was 20th among 30 OECD countries and the lowest among the 7 major industrialized countries. Japan's labor productivity increased $2,751 (4.2%) from 2006 (US$ 64,070) and the rank improved from 21st to 20th. The country with highest labor productivity was Luxemburg (US$117,913 or Yen 14,190,000) followed by Norway (US$104,501 or Yen 12,570,000). The labor productivity of Japan was 71% of the U.S., the ratio that remains about the same since year 2000.
- The labor productivity of Japan's manufacturing sector in 2006 was 12th among 26 OECD countries.
The labor productivity of Japan's manufacturing sector in 2006 was US$77,897 (Yen 9,790,000,) the 12th among 26 OECD countries from which such data was available. As compared to 2005, it came down four notches from 8th to 12th. Among major industrialized countries, Japan was 3rd after the U.S. and France. In percentage terms, Japan was 82% of the U.S.
- The labor productivity in service industry slumps in Japan and in G7 countries
The growth rate of actual labor productivity of Japan's service industry remains stuck at annual average of 0.3% for the 16 year period of 1991 to 2006. (The same rate in manufacturing in Japan was 3.2%.) The same rate in G7 countries were equally unimpressive annual average of 0.0% to -0.4%.
- Japan's growth rate of actual labor productivity from 2001 was 1.80% (annual average) and 2nd among 7 major industrialized countries
Japan's annual growth rate of actual labor productivity since 2001 (2001 to 2007) was 1.80% on average, showing rapid improvement. The U.S.'s figure for the same period was 1.67% but UK's figure was impressive 2.02%, putting the country's growth rate at the top of 7 major industrialized countries.
- The labor productivity of BRICs countries: Russia was best at 51st, Brazil was 65th, and China was 85th
Based on the figures of the World Bank, Russia had the best labor productivity among BRICs countries with $27,144, raking itself at 51st. Brazil's figure was $18,970 with the rank of 65th. China was $7,974 with the rank of 85th. (India's productivity was not measurable due to unavailability of data.) Brunei, whose productivity was not calculated up till now due to unavailability of data, recorded highest productivity. As for the actual annual growth rate of labor productivity between 2000 to 2006 (calculated with 2006 purchasing power parity data of the World Bank,) China was 3rd with 8.71%, Russia was 14th with 5.24%, Brazil (2001 to 2006) remained at -0.02%.
