HC Deb 23 June 1978 vol 952 cc362-3W
Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table comparing annual average rates of change in average earnings during the following periods: 1951 to 1964, 1964 to 1970, 1970 to 1974 and 1974 to the latest date for which information is available for all member States of the EEC, the USA and Japan.

Mr. Golding

Comparable international earnings statistics over the period requested are available primarily for manual workers in the manufacturing industries on an annual basis. Average percentage changes are given below, calculated between corresponding points in the beginning and end years. Information has been given for the latest available period which varies according to the country.

In making comparisons, account must be taken of differences in coverage and in methods of compilation used by the

ANNUAL AVERAGE PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF GROSS HOURLY EARNINGS OF MANUAL WORKERS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES (EXCEPT WHERE THE INDUSTRIAL COVERAGE IS STATED TO BE DIFFERENT)
Country … 1951–64 1964–70 1970–74 1974–77
United Kingdom(a)(b) … 6½ 8 14½ 15
Federal Republic of Germany(c) … [1951–56] 8 10½1 7½
6(d)
[1956–64]
9
France(a)(e) … 8 8½ 16 14½
Italy(f) … 7 9½ 18½ 24½(g)
Netherlands … 8 10 16 11½ (h)
Belgium … 4½ (b)(i) 8½ 17½ 13(j)
Luxembourg … 4(k) 7½ 14½ 12½ (j)
Ireland … 6 10½ 18½ 21
Denmark(a) … 7 11½ 15½ 15(h)
USA … 3½ 5 7 8½
Japan(l) … 8½ 13½ 19½ 14½

Sources:

International Labour Office "Year Book of Labour Statistics".

Eurostat "Hourly Earnings; Hours of Work".

Notes:

  1. (a) Adults only.
  2. (b) Males only.
  3. (c) Including family allowances paid by employers.
  4. (d) Including building and quarrying.
  5. (e) Wage rates (not earnings).
  6. (f) Including payments in kind.
  7. (g) One year period (1974–75).
  8. (h) Two year period (1974–76).
  9. (i) Based on daily (not hourly) earnings.
  10. (j) Two and a half year period (October 1974-April 1977).
  11. (k) Including mining, construction and services.
  12. (l) Based on monthly earnings of manual and non-manual workers; these include family allowances and bonuses paid by the employers.