The G7 nations saw an increase in productivity per worker throughout 2010, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Released yesterday (September 20th), the publication - entitled International Comparisons of Productivity - First Estimates for 2010 - revealed the UK, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Canada and France all experienced a rise in GDP (gross domestic product) per worker and per hour worked between 2009 and 2010.

However, productivity in the UK was lower than the G7 average as a whole, while the gap between the US and Britain was at its widest since 1994.

According to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, in mid 2011 there were some 44 million unemployed people registered in the OECD area.

While this presented a decline from the levels recorded in the previous report, the figure was still 13 million higher than the period immediately prior to the global economic downturn in 2008.

Posted by Lee Thrace