The index reflects the level of the total compensation of employees in the economy. The changes in the next to last column show the percent change in the index from three months ago (or the previous quarter if the data are quarterly) and the last column shows the percent change from the same month (or quarter) last year.

The International Labor Comparisons (ILC) program provides international comparisons of hourly compensation costs; productivity and unit labor costs; labor force, employment and consumer prices. The comparisons relate primarily to the major industrial countries, but other countries are included in certain measures. The ILC program adjusts data to a common conceptual framework because direct comparisons of national statistics across countries can be misleading due to differing concepts and methods. ILC data are used to assess U.S. economic and labor market performance relative to that of other countries and to evaluate the competitive position of the United States in increasingly global markets. The ILC program was eliminated in 2013 under sequestration. For more information and data visit: https://www.bls.gov/ilc/

This statistic shows manufacturing labor costs per hour for select countries around the world for the years 2002, 2015 and 2019. In 2019, manufacturing labor costs in China were projected to rise to 4.8 U.S. dollars per hour, up from 60 cents in 2002.

Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Index data was reported at 153.807 2015=100 in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 141.759 2015=100 for 2021. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Index data is updated yearly, averaging 96.662 2015=100 from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2022, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 153.807 2015=100 in 2022 and a record low of 69.230 2015=100 in 2005. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: OECD Member: Annual.

CO: Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: USD Exchange Rate Adjusted: Index data was reported at 91.279 2015=100 in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 98.771 2015=100 for 2020. CO: Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: USD Exchange Rate Adjusted: Index data is updated yearly, averaging 98.771 2015=100 from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2021, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 108.194 2015=100 in 2018 and a record low of 91.279 2015=100 in 2021. CO: Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: USD Exchange Rate Adjusted: Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: OECD Member: Annual.

In 2018, manufacturing labor costs in China were estimated to be **** U.S. dollars per hour. This is compared to an estimated **** U.S. dollars per hour in Mexico, and **** U.S. dollars in Vietnam. Manufacturing jobs in the United States Many people in the United States believe manufacturing jobs to be the backbone of the U.S. economy, despite employment in the manufacturing sector decreasing since 1997, and the monthly change in manufacturing employment being highly variable. Although manufacturing added a value of about ** percent to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, employment in the United States has been moving away from manufacturing to other means of employment. A difference in earnings Part of this steering away from manufacturing could be due to a difference in labor costs. While hourly wages in Vietnam were less than * U.S. dollars in 2018, hourly wages in the U.S. manufacturing sector hovered around ** U.S. dollars in 2018. The labor costs in the U.S. could simply be too high for companies, who look to countries such as China, Mexico, and Vietnam for cheaper labor.

Labour Costs are the total expenditure borne by employers for the purpose of employing staff. They include employee compensation (including wages, salaries in cash and in kind, employers' social security contributions), vocational training costs, other expenditure such as recruitment costs, spending on working clothes and employment taxes regarded as labour costs minus any subsidies received.

This statistic displays the hourly labor rates in the construction industry worldwide for skilled workers in 2019, broken down by select country. During this period, the average hourly labor rates for these construction workers was between 46 and 81 U.S. dollars in Germany.

Colombia CO: Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Construction data was reported at 192.260 2015=100 in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 213.510 2015=100 for 2021. Colombia CO: Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Construction data is updated yearly, averaging 123.245 2015=100 from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2022, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 213.510 2015=100 in 2021 and a record low of 100.000 2015=100 in 2015. Colombia CO: Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Construction data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Colombia – Table CO.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual.

Public sector labour cost estimates for groups of administrative areas across the UK.

Global R&D Labour Costs for Internal R&D Personnel Share by Country (Million US Dollars PPP, Constant), 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Argentina AR: Competitiveness Indicator: Relative Unit Labour Costs: Overall Economy data was reported at 5.307 2015=100 in 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.650 2015=100 for 2024. Argentina AR: Competitiveness Indicator: Relative Unit Labour Costs: Overall Economy data is updated yearly, averaging 182.705 2015=100 from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2025, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,588.545 2015=100 in 1974 and a record low of 4.650 2015=100 in 2024. Argentina AR: Competitiveness Indicator: Relative Unit Labour Costs: Overall Economy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Argentina – Table AR.OECD.EO: Trade Statistics: Competitiveness Indicators In International Trade: Forecast: Non OECD Member: Annual. ULCDR - Indicator of competitiveness based on relative unit labour costs in total economyCompetitiveness-weighted relative unit labour costs for the overall economy in dollar terms. Competitiveness weights take into account the structure of competition in both export and import markets of the goods sector of 53 countries. An increase in the index indicates a real effective appreciation and a corresponding deterioration of the competitive position. Index, OECD reference year OECD calculation, see OECD Economic Outlook database documentation

Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Financial and Insurance Activities data was reported at 138.150 2015=100 in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 134.680 2015=100 for 2022. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Financial and Insurance Activities data is updated yearly, averaging 111.780 2015=100 from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2023, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 138.150 2015=100 in 2023 and a record low of 96.550 2015=100 in 2016. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Financial and Insurance Activities data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual.

Peru Unit Labour Costs: Index: Industry including Energy data was reported at 107.840 2015=100 in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 108.180 2015=100 for 2020. Peru Unit Labour Costs: Index: Industry including Energy data is updated yearly, averaging 100.460 2015=100 from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2021, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 108.180 2015=100 in 2020 and a record low of 89.130 2015=100 in 2007. Peru Unit Labour Costs: Index: Industry including Energy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: by Industry: Non OECD Member: Annual.

Japan JP: Unit Labour Cost data was reported at 1.157 Index, 2015 in 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.127 Index, 2015 for 2024. Japan JP: Unit Labour Cost data is updated yearly, averaging 1.046 Index, 2015 from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2025, with 66 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.209 Index, 2015 in 1994 and a record low of 0.195 Index, 2015 in 1960. Japan JP: Unit Labour Cost data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.OECD.EO: Hours Worked, Unit Labour Cost and Labour Compensation: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. ULC - Unit labour cost in total economyIndex, OECD reference year OECD calculation, see OECD Economic Outlook database documentation

Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: USD Exchange Rate Adjusted: Index data was reported at 120.765 2015=100 in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 110.666 2015=100 for 2021. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: USD Exchange Rate Adjusted: Index data is updated yearly, averaging 103.443 2015=100 from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2022, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 120.765 2015=100 in 2022 and a record low of 87.174 2015=100 in 2016. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: USD Exchange Rate Adjusted: Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: OECD Member: Annual.

Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Manufacturing data was reported at 228.270 2015=100 in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 204.460 2015=100 for 2022. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Manufacturing data is updated yearly, averaging 96.480 2015=100 from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2023, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 228.270 2015=100 in 2023 and a record low of 72.020 2015=100 in 2005. Mexico Unit Labour Costs: Employment Based: Index: Manufacturing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.OECD.PDB: Unit Labour Costs: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual.

Chile Labour Cost data was reported at 5,611.070 CLP in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,576.160 CLP for Mar 2019. Chile Labour Cost data is updated monthly, averaging 5,177.215 CLP from Jan 2016 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,611.070 CLP in Apr 2019 and a record low of 4,791.450 CLP in Feb 2016. Chile Labour Cost data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chile – Table CL.G031: Hourly Remuneration and Labour Cost.

Unit Labour Cost: USD data was reported at 175.600 Jun1994=100 in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 147.990 Jun1994=100 for Feb 2025. Unit Labour Cost: USD data is updated monthly, averaging 109.030 Jun1994=100 from Dec 1988 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 436 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 181.870 Jun1994=100 in Jul 2011 and a record low of 39.600 Jun1994=100 in Oct 2002. Unit Labour Cost: USD data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.GBD009: Unit Labour Cost.

South Korea Unit Labour Cost data was reported at 1.224 Index, 2015 in 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.204 Index, 2015 for 2024. South Korea Unit Labour Cost data is updated yearly, averaging 0.672 Index, 2015 from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2025, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.224 Index, 2015 in 2025 and a record low of 0.029 Index, 2015 in 1970. South Korea Unit Labour Cost data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.OECD.EO: Hours Worked, Unit Labour Cost and Labour Compensation: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. ULC - Unit labour cost in total economyIndex, OECD reference year OECD calculation, see OECD Economic Outlook database documentation