asked the Taoiseach what percentage increase in productivity there has been in the latest year for which figures are available, taking (a) 1950 and (b) 1955 to base 100, in respect of (1) manufacturing industry, (2) transportable goods industries and (3) national production of all kinds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase in Productivity.
2.
While no single measure can be regarded as a wholly appropriate indicator of "productivity", as a rough index the volume of output in either manufacturing or in transportable goods industries covered by the Census of Industrial Production may be related to the numbers of persons engaged. Similarly the expenditure on gross national product at constant prices may be related to the estimated total number of persons at work.
In the case of manufacturing industry the volume of output per person engaged in 1960 was 119.5 to base 1950=100 and 111.5 to base 1955 =100. For transportable goods industries the corresponding figures were, respectively, 120.5 and 111.8. The expenditure on gross national product at constant market prices per person at work in 1960 was 124.8 to base 1950 =100 and 108.6 to base 1955=100.
It must be borne in mind that the statistics I have given relate output to labour input only, but that many other factors influence "productivity", such as increased capitalisation and mechanisation, more efficient management, changes in the industrial structure, etc.