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.
Last Modified Date: December 06, 2012
United States Department of Labor
