BLS: Norway's Workers Most Productive

NORWAY HAS THE MOST productive labor force in the world, according to a study of 16 industrialized countries conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The study. Comparative Real Gross Domestic Product per Capita and per Employed Person 1960-2006, found that in 2006, Norway's workers

produced US$102,400 per employed person, with the United States ranked second with US$90,700 and Belgium third with US$86,000. When measured on a per-hour basis, Norway again led with US$72.70 per hour; Belgium ranked second with US$56.10 and the Netherlands third with US$52.10. The report notes that the figures are estimates and do not take into account the total number of hours worked and the differences in skill levels between different workers.