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An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • IW-Trends No. 4 ·
  • 14 January 2019

An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs

In 2017, unit labour costs in Germany’s manufacturing industry remained high in comparison with the foreign competition. On average, unit labour costs in the comparator countries were 8 per cent below the German level.
An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • IW-Trends No. 4 ·
  • 17 January 2018

An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs

In 2016 unit labour costs in German manufacturing continued high, with figures for the comparator countries averaging 12 per cent below the German level. At 6 percent, the Eurozone’s cost advantage over Germany was only half as high.
Unit labour costs shape international trade
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • Interactive Graphic ·
  • 12 April 2017

Export performance: Unit labour costs shape international trade

Even Germany, as an export nation, has to compete for shares on its sales markets. The cost for businesses to manufacture goods plays a vital role in this process. This interactive graphic reveals the following: when unit labour costs increase in comparison to the competition, export performance generally declines.
No Excessive Wage Restraint in Germany
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • IW-Trends No. 4 ·
  • 19 January 2017

An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs

Unit labour costs in German manufacturing are still high. In 2015 average unit labour costs in selected countries were 11 per cent below the German level, while the Eurozone, with costs only 4 per cent lower than in Germany, had a more moderate advantage.
Unit labour costs shape international trade
  • Export performance ·
  • Press Release No. 67 ·
  • 18 October 2016

Unit labour costs shape international trade

Even Germany, as an export nation, has to compete for shares on its sales markets. The cost for businesses to manufacture goods plays a vital role in this process. An interactive graphic by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln) reveals the following: when unit labour costs increase in comparison to the competition, export performance generally declines.
An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • IW-Trends No. 4 ·
  • 30 December 2015

An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs

Germany's Competitiveness Erodes
An International Comparison of Productivity and Unit Labour Costs in Manufacturing Industry
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • IW-Trends No. 4 ·
  • 25 December 2014

An International Comparison of Productivity and Unit Labour Costs in Manufacturing Industry

In 2013 unit labour costs in German manufacturing industry increased by more than 3 per cent to a level 12 per cent higher than in the pre-crisis year of 2007. In the same year manufacturing in other...
An International Comparison of Industrial Productivity and Unit Labour Costs
  • Christoph Schröder ·
  • IW-Trends No. 4 ·
  • 25 December 2013

An International Comparison of Industrial Productivity and Unit Labour Costs

In 2012 unit labour costs in German industry increased by more than 4 per cent, making them 10 per cent higher than in 2007, the last year before the crisis. In 2012 foreign industry was 15 per cent...
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