The Japan Productivity Center (President, Mr. Tsuneaki Taniguchi) published 2010 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 report also compares sector-based labor productivity of major countries.
- Japan's labor productivity in 2009 was lower than the same figure of the previous year and 22nd among 33 OECD countries.
Japan's labor productivity in 2009 (value added nominal per worker) was US$65,896 (Yen 7,550,000 divided by purchasing power parity). It was 22nd among 33 OECD countries and the lowest among the 7 major industrialized countries. Japan's labor productivity decreased US$1,704 (2.5%) from 2008 and its rank dropped from 21st to 22nd. The country with highest labor productivity was Luxemburg (US$118,230 or Yen 13,550,000) followed by Norway (US$106,217 or Yen 12,170,000). The third country was the U.S. (US$98,773 or Yen 11,320,000).
- The labor productivity of Japan's manufacturing sector in 2009 was 70.6% of that of the U.S. and 6th among 22 major OECD countries.
The labor productivity of Japan's manufacturing sector (the average from 2005 to 2007, divided by purchasing power parity) was 70.6% of that of the U.S. It was 6th among 22 OECD countries from which such data was available. Among 7 major industrialized countries, Japan was 2nd only to the U.S.
- The labor productivity in service industry was particularly low in such sectors as retail (42.4% of the U.S.) and restaurant & hotel (37.8% of the U.S.)
The labor productivity of Japan's service industry in sectors as retail (42.4% of the U.S. and 17th among 21 major OECD countries in 2005 to 2007 average) and restaurant & hotel (37.8% of the U.S. and 15th among 21 major OECD countries) remained low at about 40% level of the U.S. Other sectors as transportation (48.4% of the U.S.) and business service (50.8% of the U.S.) were also around 50% of the U.S. and aside of sector as post & telecommunication (73.2% of the U.S.,) the overall productivity in the service industry lagged the U.S. considerably.
- The growth rate of the actual labor productivity in Japan decreased significantly after the financial crisis. The reduction was the largest among G7 countries.
The growth rate of the actual labor productivity in Japan after the financial crisis (2007 to 2009) was average of -2.22% and the 5th among 7 major industrialized countries and 24th among 33 OECD countries. The similar figure before the financial crisis (average of 2001 to 2007) was 1.79% (13th among 33 OECD countries) and slightly better than the U.S. (1.52% and 17th.) The growth rate of the actual labor productivity in Japan sank drastically as the result of financial crisis and the change of -4.01% between the two periods (pre-crisis and post-crisis) was the largest among 7 major industrialized countries.
- The labor productivity of BRICs countries: Russia was best at $31,627 and 51st. China was $10,605 and 85th
Based on the figures of the World Bank, Russia had the best labor productivity among BRICs countries with US$31,627, raking itself at 51st among 96 countries. Brazil's figure was US$21,513 with the rank of 66th. (India's productivity was not measurable due to lack of adequate data.) China was US$10,605 with the rank of 85th, but, the growth rate of the actual labor productivity during the period of 2006 to 2008 (average) was 11.1% (the 3rd among 93 countries,) indicating quite a rapid increase was continuing.
