HC Deb 23 July 1984 vol 64 cc491-3W
Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, using information available from international sources, he will list in the Official Report for each member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for each year since 1975 (a) the average wage, (b) the change over the previous 12 months in real terms in the average wage, (c) the proportion of the

Average gross earnings per hour* of manual employees in non-agricultural activities (row A) and the increase in average gross earnings relative to consumer prices† (row B)
Country Units 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
Canadal‡ ¶ • Dollars A 203.34 228.03 249.95 265.35 288.32 317.39 355.68 390.79 n/a
Per cent. B 3.0 4.3 1.5 -2.6 0.5 -0.1 -0.4 -0.9 n/a
United States Dollars A 4.53 4.86 5.25 5.69 6.16 6.66 7.25 7.67 8.01
Per cent. B -2.1 1.4 1.5 0.7 -2.7 -4.8 -1.4 -0.3 1.2
Japan‡ ▪★ Yen A ║177,213 200,242 219,620 ║235,378 247,909 263,386 ║279,096 288,738 297,137
Per cent. B 2.3 n/a 1.5 3.2 n/a -1.6 1.0 n/a 1.0
Australia # Dollars A 4.05 4.61 5.11 5.46 5.93 6.70 ║7.61 8.91 n/a
Per cent. B -1.7 0.2 -1.3 -1.0 -0.4 2.5 3.5 n/a n/a
New Zealand• ** Dollars A 2.57 2.92 3.33 3.75 ║4.41 5.23 6.37 7.27 n/a
Per cent. B — -2.9 -0.3 0.6 3.5 n/a 5.5 -1.7 n/a
Austria▪ †† Schillings A 8,440 9,170 10,010 10,660 11,236 11,860 12,730 13,650 n/a
Per cent. B 3.3 1.2 3.5 2.8 1.7 0.8 0.5 1.7 n/a
Belguim‡‡ Francs A ║146.85 163.28 178.88 189.23 204.27 222.39 245.05 258.58 n/a
Per cent. B 2.6 n/a 2.3 1.3 3.3 2.1 2.4 -2.9 n/a
Luxembourg║║ Francs A 159.36 184.16 198.52 208.21 218.38 233.40 245.20 265.16 n/a
Per cent. B -0.6 5.2 1.0 1.8 0.3 0.5 -2.8 -1.1 n/a
Denmark¶¶ Kroner A 35.94 40.08 43.97 48.49 54.00 60.05 65.40 72.21 n/a
Per cent. B 8.5 2.3 -1.2 0.1 1.6 -1.0 -2.5 0.2 n/a
France†• Francs A ║11.88 13.74 15.51 17.37 19.46 22.60 26.07 29.50 n/a
Per cent. B 3.3 n/a 3.2 2.7 1.1 2.3 1.7 1.2 n/a
Federal Republic of Germany║║ ▪▪ DM A 9.85 10.49 11.27 11.88 12.55 13.41 14.19 14.89 15.41
Per cent. B 1.8 2.2 3.6 2.6 1.4 1.3 -0.1 -0.4 0.5
Iceland★★ Kronor A n/a 6.292 8.612 13.054 18.630 28.870 44.070 67.130 n/a
Per cent. B n/a n/a 4.9 5.2 -1.9 -2.3 1.2 0.8 n/a
Italy║║ ## Lira A║ 1,787 2,130 ║2,670 3,266 3,872 4,722 5,798 6,685 n/a
Per cent. B n/a 2.1 5.9 n/a 3.3 0.6 2.7 -1.0 n/a
Netherlands*** Guilders A 10.09 ║10.92 12.03 12.81 13.49 14.26 14.92 15.82 n/a
Per cent. B 4.3 -0.5 n/a 2.3 1.1 -0.8 -1.9 0.1 n/a
Portugal║║ Escudos A 32.20 39.50 46.80 52.90 63.90 79.90 n/a n/a n/a
Per cent. B 25.9 1.4 -4.4 -1.2 -3.9 11.9 n/a n/a n/a
Spain‡ Pesetas A 90 117 154 194 239 282 340 n/a n/a
Per cent. B 9.9 10.5 5.7 5.2 6.5 2.1 5.2 n/a n/a
Switzerland††† Francs A 10.76 10.93 11.16 11.48 11.83 12.51 13.21 14.13 n/a
Per cent. B 0.7 -0.1 0.8 1.8 -0.5 1.6 -0.9 1.3 n/a
Turkey‡ ‡‡‡ Lira A 85.55 115.30 146.53 207.93 294.31 426.96 n/a n/a n/a
Per cent. B 4.6 16.6 -0.8 -5.1 -9.7 -33.0 n/a n/a n/a
United Kingdom ¶¶¶ £ A 1.367 1.522 1.649 1.889 ║2.203 2.629 2.920 3.195 3.444
Per cent. B 0.7 -3.0 -5.0 6.2 -5.0 4.4 -0.8 2.4 2.7

Source: International Labour Office

Year Book of Labour Statistics 1983

Bulletin of Labour Statistics 1984–2

* Unless otherwise indicated. See notes for each country. Relates to men and women of all ages unless indicated. Figures may relate to annual averages or to a particular period during the year.

† The percentage increase in average gross earnings divided by the percentage increase in consumer prices. No figure is given if there is a significant change in the coverage of the earnings figures in particular years.

‡ All employees.

║ Change in coverage of series.

¶ Weekly earnings.

population on less than two thirds of the average wage and (d) the proportion of the population on more than twice the average wage.

Mr. Gummer

The following table sets out the available information published by the International Labour Office for average gross wages of manual employees in non-agricultural activities and for the change in average gross wages relative to the change in retail prices. Comparable information on the distribution of earnings required to calculate the proportions at(c) and (d) is not available.

• Includes forestry and logging.

■ Monthly earnings.

★Includes family allowances and mid-year and end-year bonuses.

# Includes forestry and logging, fishing and hunting. October up to and including 1981, November in 1982.

** Includes juveniles; full-time employees and half of part-time employees.

†† Excluding major division 6.

‡‡Excluding major divisions 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Prior to 1976 included major division 4.

║║ Excluding major divisions 6, 7, 8 and 9.

¶¶ Series covers mainly manufacturing and construction and parts of major divisions 4, 6, 7 and 8. Adults.

•• Excluding major divisions 2 and 4, the public sector and private domestic services.

■ ■Including family allowances paid directly by the employer.

★★ Excluding major divisions 2, 4, 8 and 9.

## Including the value of payments in kind.

*** Including juveniles.

††† Excluding overtime payments. Including horticulture and forestry. Excluding major divisions 2, 8 and 9.

‡‡‡ Includes agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing. Daily earnings.

¶¶¶Male adult employees. Excluding coal mining, commerce and major division 8.

n/a=Not available.

Divisions are based on the international standard industrial classification of all economic activities (ISIC—1968).