2001 Revised International Comparisons of Manufacturing Productivity and Unit Labor Cost Trends — 2003-02-26

In 2001, output per hour in manufacturing declined in Canada, Japan, and the United States, according to revised data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Labor productivity was unchanged in Sweden, and it grew in the remaining nine economies for which comparable data are available. Korea and Taiwan recorded the largest productivity gains, while Canada and Japan recorded the largest declines. In all, the manufacturing productivity estimates were revised upward for five nations and downward for three and were unchanged for four. Data for the Netherlands for 2001 were reported for the first time. PRINTED COPY CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT Chart 1. Percent change in manufacturing output per hour, 2001 Unit labor costs in manufacturing, expressed in national currency units, increased in 12 of the 14 economies for which comparable data on unit labor costs are available for 2001.