HC Deb 04 April 1979 vol 965 cc803-4W
Mr. Michael Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to the Chancellor's answer, Official Report, 22 January, c. 40–1, concerning the average gross hourly earnings of manual workers in various countries, he will update the table to the latest available date.

Mr. Golding

Following are the latest available data. They relate to manual workers in manufacturing industries. Owing to differences in national definitions and methods of compilation, these figures are not strictly comparable. Also, comparisons are not meaningful unless account is taken of differences in taxation and social benefits and differences in internal purchasing power which are not reflected by market exchange rates.

AVERAGE GROSS HOURLY EARNINGS OF MANUAL WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
£ sterling*
April 1978 October 1978
United Kingdom 1.68 1.76
Germany (Federal Republic) 3.09 ..
Irish Republic 1.57† ..
United States 3.24 3.16
Canada 3.24‡ ..
Notes:
.. Not available.
*B ased on average market exchange rates for the relevant month.
† March 1978.
‡ Based on market exchange rates at 28 April 1978.

Sources:

International Labour Office: bulletin of labour statistics.

Ireland: industrial inquiries.