Productivity Around the World

I hope everyone took the day off yesterday – you deserve it. Especially when you consider the latest report from the International Labor Organization that finds the United States workforce was the most productive in the world in 2006.

The average dollar output per worker for 2006 was $63,885, approximately $44,000 more than the world average. “How did we do that?” you might ask. By working longer hours and utilizing the latest in technology.

Broken down by productivity per hour worked, Norway takes first place at $37.99 per hour, but the United States is not far behind at $35.63, very closely followed by France at $35.08. (And here we thought the French ate cheese and waxed philosophic all day!)

The biggest change in output per worker has been in East Asia, which in 1996 averaged $6,347, and rose to $12,591 last year.

What does all of this mean? That depends on who you ask. According to the International Labor Organization, it means concern for those 1.5 billion workers who are underemployed, and may not pass the poverty line. If you’re working in Southeast Asia, it means productivity is on the rise and China's workforce is growing stonger. If you’re working in Korea, you scowl knowing you work the “longest hours,” but productivity isn’t as high as that of Americans.

And if you’re working a minimum wage job here in the United States, it means you’re working harder for purchasing power that is at its lowest since 1955.

Now enough surfing the Internet. Get back to work!