WWC snapshot of http://stats.bls.gov/intlcomp.htm taken on Sat Jun 10 19:48:40 1995
International Comparisons
The Bureau's comparative research in international economic data covers labor force and unemployment, hourly compensation costs, and various other economic indicators, in addition to productivity comparisons.
Current news release
Historical time series available via gopher
Productivity and Unit Labor Costs
This program develops comparisons of productivity and unit labor costs to assess U.S. economic performance relative to other countries.
Data available
- Indexes of output per hour, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs in manufacturing, including trade-weighted relative measures.
- Indexes of output per hour, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs in selected manufacturing industries.
- Relative trends and levels of real gross domestic product per capita and per employed person.
- Indexes of real hourly and weekly compensation.
Coverage
- All manufacturingù12 industrial countries from 1950 plus Korea and Taiwan (unit labor costs only) from 1970. Currently, U.S. data are only available from 1977.
- Selected manufacturing industriesùUnited States, Canada, Japan, France, and Germany, from 1960 or 1970. Currently, U.S. data are only available from 1977.
- Real gross domestic product per capita and per employed personù14 countries from 1950.
Source of data
- Foreign and international statistical publications.
Reference period
Forms of publication
- Bulletins as completed.
- Articles in Monthly Labor Reviewùannually for all manufacturing measures; occasionally for other measures.
- Selected data published in Monthly Labor Review, Handbook of Labor Statistics, Economic Report of the President, and the Statistical Abstract.
- Annual news releaseùall-manufacturing measures.
- Data files on diskette and tape.
Uses
- Comparison of differences in labor productivity and labor cost trends between the United States and other countries.
- Analysis of international competitiveness and underlying conditions affecting U.S. balance of trade.
Major research in progress
- Development of comparisons of manufacturing multifactor (capital and labor) productivity.
Labor Force and Unemployment
- This program develops comparisons of labor force and unemployment among major industrial countries.
Data available
- Labor force, employment, and unemployment data for foreign countries, by selected characteristics, approximating U.S. concepts. Seven alternative comparative measures of unempolyment ranging from narrow to broader measures than the conventional rate.
Coverage
- Ten industrial countries, generally from 1959. Alternative unemployment measures for 1989 only.
Source of data
- Foreign and international statistical publications and unpublished data provided by foreign statistical offices.
Reference period
- Calendar year, plus monthly and quarterly estimates of unemployment rates.
Forms of publication
- Bulletins published on comparative data, factors affecting unemployment, and methods of measurement.
- Articles in Monthly Labor Review periodically for unemployment measures; as completed for special studies.
- Selected data published in Monthly Labor Review, Handbook of Labor Statistics, Economic Report of the President, and the Statistical Abstract of the United States.
- Data files on diskette and tape.
Uses
- Comparison of differences in U.S. and foreign labor force, employment, and unemployment.
- Analysis of causes of unemployment.
- Formulation of employment policies and progams.
Major research in progress
- Development of a historical data base of the alternative comparative measures of unemployment, from 1983.
- Analysis of employment and unemployment data for Mexico.
Hourly Compensation Costs
This program develops comparisons of compensation costs per hour worked for production workers in manufacturing industries.
Data available
- Level comparisons of total hourly compensation costs in manufacturing industries.
- Level comparisons of hourly direct pay and pay for time worked in total manufacturing.
- Information on the structure of compensation in manufacturing in selected countries.
- Trade-weighted average compensation costs for foreign economic groups.
Coverage
- Over 30 countries or areas of importance to U.S. trade and 39 component manufacturing industries.
Source of data
- Foreign and international statistical publications.
Reference period
- Calendar year, from 1975; from 1960 for total manufacturing for 10 industrial countries.
Forms of publication
- BLS reports.
- Articles in Monthly Labor Review.
- Selected data published in Handbook of Labor Statistics and Statistical Abstract of the United Stated.
- Data files on diskette and tape.
Uses
- Evaluate the competitive position of the United States in international trade.
- Compare differences in the structure of compensation costs.
Major research in progress
- Expand country coverage.
- Develop comparative measures of hours worked.
- Bulletin on sources and methods.
Other Economic Indicators
This program covers comparisons of consumer prices, indicators relating to the Family union membership, industrial disputes, and other economic indicators.
Data available
- Indexes and rates of change in consumer prices.
- Marriage and divorce rates, births to unmarried women, household composition, and single parent familes.
- Union membership and density rates (union membership as percent of total civilian wage and salary workers).
- Number of work stoppages, workers involved, and time lost from industrial disputes.
Coverage
Source of data
- Foreign and international statistical publications.
Reference period
- Annual, plus quarterly or monthly data for consumer prices.
- For Family statistics, selected years from 1960 onward.
- Union membership, selected years from 1955 forward.
- Industrial disputes, from 1955.
Forms of publication
- Data files on diskette or tapeùselected series.
- Selected data published in Handbook of Labor Statistics and the Statistical Abstract of the United States.
- Articles in the Monthly Labor Review on the Family and union membership.
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