ABSTRACT
The national statistical service in all developed countries provides the basic statistical information on wages and earnings in the various sectors of the national economy, although the details and the frequency of publication vary. The exchange rate has been included in this table because of its importance from the point of view of international trade. British exports -indeed, any country’s exports - compete in international markets on the basis of exchange rates. The usefulness of the international comparison of labour costs that follows is limited, however, from other angles too. It shows how much one hour of labour in manufacturing industry, or elsewhere, costs the employer. Total labour costs include, apart from wages for time worked, all additional costs to the employer. The combined effect of the differences in hourly wages and social charges is reflected in relative total hourly labour costs.
