HC Deb 05 February 1980 vol 978 cc121-2W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total work force is employed in manufacturing industry in (a) Great Britain, (b) the United States of America, (c) Japan and (d) each EEC country.

Mr. Jim Lester

The latest available information on a broadly comparable basis is given in the following table. It should be noted that comparisons of this type can be affected by differences in concepts and methods of compilation adopted in the different countries.

Employment in manufacturing* as a percentage of all civilian employment in 1977
Per cent.
Great Britain 31
United States of America 24
Japan 25
Belgium 28
Denmark 22
France 27
Germany (FR) 36
Irish Republic 21
Italy 27
Netherlands 22
Main source: OECD—Labour Force Statistics, 1966–1977.
Note: *Major Division 3 of the International Standard Industrial Classification.

A figure for Luxembourg is not available on the same basis.