Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
ILC ILC Program Links

Table 3. Unit labor costs (ULC) in U.S. dollars and in national currency


Table 3. Unit labor costs (ULC) in U.S. dollars and in national currency
         Manufacturing, 19 countries, 1979-2011
         Average annual compound rates of change

Country               Indicator                1979-2011  1979-1990  1990-2000  2000-2007  2007-2011  2009-2010  2010-2011

United States         ULC in U.S. dollars         0.2        2.5       -0.4       -2.2       -0.7       -9.1        0.6
                          ULC in nat. cur.        0.2        2.5       -0.4       -2.2       -0.7       -9.1        0.6
                          Exchange rates          --         --         --         --         --         --         --

Australia             ULC in U.S. dollars         NA         NA        -1.3        8.4        7.9       16.1       15.8
                          ULC in nat. cur.        NA         NA         1.6        2.8        2.4        0.0        3.1
                          Exchange rates         -0.2       -3.2       -2.9        5.4        5.3       16.1       12.3

Belgium               ULC in U.S. dollars         1.2        0.6       -2.5        6.9        2.5       -8.4        4.0
                          ULC in nat. cur.        1.1        1.8        0.2        1.0        2.0       -3.7       -1.0
                          Exchange rates          0.0       -1.2       -2.6        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Canada                ULC in U.S. dollars         2.6        4.6       -2.7        7.6        2.0        4.4        4.5
                          ULC in nat. cur.        2.0        4.6       -0.3        2.7       -0.1       -5.8        0.3
                          Exchange rates          0.5        0.0       -2.4        4.8        2.1       10.8        4.2

Czech Republic        ULC in U.S. dollars         NA         NA         NA         7.5       -1.8       -9.0       -0.2
                          ULC in nat. cur.        NA         NA         NA        -1.8       -5.4       -8.8       -7.5
                          Exchange rates          NA         NA         NA         9.4        3.8       -0.2        7.9

Denmark               ULC in U.S. dollars         2.6        4.0       -2.1        8.0        1.5      -10.0        5.1
                          ULC in nat. cur.        2.6        5.5        0.5        2.1        1.1       -5.4        0.0
                          Exchange rates         -0.1       -1.5       -2.6        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Finland               ULC in U.S. dollars         0.9        5.9       -7.1        2.6        5.6      -13.9        7.9
                          ULC in nat. cur.        1.2        5.7       -2.2       -3.1        5.2       -9.6        2.7
                          Exchange rates         -0.3        0.2       -5.1        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

France                ULC in U.S. dollars         1.8        3.4       -2.9        5.9        2.1       -8.6        5.3
                          ULC in nat. cur.        2.1        5.8       -0.2        0.1        1.7       -3.9        0.3
                          Exchange rates         -0.3       -2.2       -2.6        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Germany               ULC in U.S. dollars         2.4        4.5       -1.4        3.5        4.2      -13.0        2.8
                          ULC in nat. cur.        1.6        3.3        1.4       -2.2        3.8       -8.6       -2.2
                          Exchange rates          0.8        1.1       -2.7        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Italy                 ULC in U.S. dollars         2.7        5.2       -3.7        8.1        3.5      -10.8        7.7
                          ULC in nat. cur.        4.4        8.8        1.9        2.1        3.1       -6.3        2.5
                          Exchange rates         -1.6       -3.3       -5.4        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Japan                 ULC in U.S. dollars         2.0        4.6        2.1       -5.6        9.2       -8.1       15.7
                          ULC in nat. cur.       -1.1        0.7       -0.9       -4.4       -1.0      -13.9        5.1
                          Exchange rates          3.2        3.8        3.0       -1.3       10.3        6.7       10.1

Korea, Republic of    ULC in U.S. dollars         1.1        4.1       -2.0        4.5       -5.0        9.6       -2.0
                          ULC in nat. cur.        3.7        7.9        2.6        1.6       -0.7       -0.6       -6.1
                          Exchange rates         -2.6       -3.4       -4.5        2.8       -4.3       10.3        4.4

Netherlands           ULC in U.S. dollars         1.3        1.7       -2.4        5.7        1.7      -11.4        3.1
                          ULC in nat. cur.        0.5        0.8        0.3       -0.1        1.3       -6.9       -1.9
                          Exchange rates          0.7        0.9       -2.7        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Norway                ULC in U.S. dollars         3.7        4.7       -0.1        8.5        2.5        2.1        9.9
                          ULC in nat. cur.        4.0        6.7        3.4        2.3        1.3       -1.9        1.8
                          Exchange rates         -0.3       -1.9       -3.4        6.0        1.1        4.1        7.9

Singapore             ULC in U.S. dollars         1.9        5.5       -1.0        0.8        1.5      -12.8        5.7
                          ULC in nat. cur.        0.2        3.7       -1.5       -1.1       -3.0      -18.3       -2.6
                          Exchange rates          1.7        1.7        0.5        2.0        4.6        6.7        8.5

Spain                 ULC in U.S. dollars         2.1        3.8       -3.0        8.3       -0.1       -9.6        1.3
                          ULC in nat. cur.        3.9        7.8        2.7        2.4       -0.5       -5.0       -3.6
                          Exchange rates         -1.8       -3.7       -5.5        5.8        0.4       -4.8        5.1

Sweden                ULC in U.S. dollars        -0.2        3.5       -6.3        2.1        2.0      -12.4       10.5
                          ULC in nat. cur.        1.1        6.6       -2.1       -2.3        1.0      -17.5       -0.5
                          Exchange rates         -1.3       -2.9       -4.3        4.5        1.0        6.2       11.1

Taiwan                ULC in U.S. dollars         1.2        8.3       -1.3       -4.5       -1.3       -5.0        9.2
                          ULC in nat. cur.        0.5        5.5        0.2       -3.8       -4.0       -9.4        1.8
                          Exchange rates          0.6        2.7       -1.5       -0.7        2.8        4.8        7.2

United Kingdom        ULC in U.S. dollars         1.8        4.4       -0.4        4.6       -4.3       -0.7        1.4
                          ULC in nat. cur.        2.7        6.1        1.3        0.6        1.1        0.7       -2.3
                          Exchange rates         -0.9       -1.6       -1.6        4.1       -5.4       -1.3        3.8

NOTE: Exchange rates are value of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
German data for years before 1991 pertain to the former West Germany.
NA=data not available.

Table of Contents

Last Modified Date: December 06, 2012