Japan ranked 20th among the 36 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in labor productivity in 2017 at 47.50 dollars per hour, keeping the same ranking as the previous year, but marking the worst standing among the Group of Seven major economies, according to a report by the Tokyo-based Japan Productivity Center.
At the top of the OECD list was Ireland at 97.50 dollars of productivity created per hour, followed by Luxembourg and Norway. Among the G7, the United States was the most productive country at 72 dollars -- about 1.5 times higher than Japan -- but ranked 6th among all OECD members.
Labor productivity, a measure of worker output, is calculated using such national data as gross domestic product.
Observers say Japan's labor productivity tends to be relatively low as its economy is centered on service industries -- represented by small-sized enterprises and eating and drinking establishments -- that place priority on securing human resources.
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