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Christoph Schröder IW-Trends No. 2 24. June 2021 An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs: A Heavy Burden on German Industry

Since 2018 An international comparison reveals the high level of unit labour costs in German manufacturing. In 2020, German unit labour costs were 22 per cent higher than the average in the 27 comparator countries, and 18 per cent above the mean in the rest of the Eurozone.

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A Heavy Burden on German Industry
Christoph Schröder IW-Trends No. 2 24. June 2021

An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs: A Heavy Burden on German Industry

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

Since 2018 An international comparison reveals the high level of unit labour costs in German manufacturing. In 2020, German unit labour costs were 22 per cent higher than the average in the 27 comparator countries, and 18 per cent above the mean in the rest of the Eurozone.

Thus productivity, which in Germany was only slightly above average, by no means compensated for the disadvantage of high labour costs. From 1999 to 2020, unit labour costs in German industry increased by 13 per cent overall. This rise matched that in the rest of the euro area and was somewhat stronger than the average of the 27 comparator countries. The deterioration in Germany's unit labour cost position has been especially marked since 2018. The industrial recession of 2019 had already caused a 6 per cent rise in unit labour costs and the impact of the Corona pandemic in 2020 was no less severe. At the same time, productivity over these last two years has suffered a particularly noticeable decline. The long-term prospects for German industry’s relative unit labour cost position are affected by a range of highly diverse developments. Following a sharp deterioration in the 1990s, Germany made up considerable ground after the turn of the millennium. Once the sector had overcome the global financial crisis, however, its unit labour costs again rose more than in all other comparator countries and considerably more than in the rest of the Eurozone. In view of the major structural challenges posed by digitalisation and decarbonisation, German industry is faced with a need for expensive investments. If these are to be satisfactorily financed and employment secured, the sector’s cost competitiveness must be significantly improved.

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A Heavy Burden on German Industry
Christoph Schröder IW-Trends No. 2 24. June 2021

An International Comparison of Unit Labour Costs: A Heavy Burden on German Industry

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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Proliferation of works councils and the desire for interest representation
Oliver Stettes IW-Report No. 1 19. January 2025

Proliferation of works councils and the desire for interest representation

Works councils exist in 7 per cent of the German establishments with five and more employees. The coverage rate has fallen significantly in the long run. Non-existence of works councils is, however, not equivalent to a lack of participation by the employees.  ...

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Helena Bach / Carolin Denise Fulda IW-Trends No. 3 23. September 2024

Collectively Agreed Wages as an Instrument for Recruiting Skilled Labour?

Companies are increasingly focussing their attention on the recruitment of skilled workers and thus facing the growing challenge of making their job advertisements as attractive as possible.

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