International Comparisons.

CANADA; AUSTRALIA; JAPAN; EUROPE

This paper presents labor statistics data approximating U.S. concepts for the U.S. Canada, Australia, Japan and six European countries. The labor force statistics published by other countries are not, in most cases, comparable to U.S. concepts. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), adjusted the figures for selected countries, for all known major definitional differences, to the extent that data to prepare adjustments are made available. Data for the U.S. relate to the population 16 years of age and older. In the labor force participation rates and employment-population ratios, the denominator is the civilian noninstitutionalized working age population, except that the institutionalized working age population is included in Japan and Germany. In some countries, persons on layoff are classified as employed due to their strong job attachment. Canada and European countries classify passive jobseekers as unemployed. BLS constructed the comparative indexes from three basic aggregate measures--output, total labor hours, and total compensation. However, the output series for Japan prior to 1970 is an index of industrial production, and the national accounts measures for Great Britain are essentially identical to their indexes of industrial production.