WASHINGTON-"External, non-production costs add approximately 22% to unit labor costs of U.S. manufacturers (nearly $5 per hour worked) relative to their major foreign competitors, and are the primary competitive challenge facing manufacturers and their workers," says Jerry Jasinowski, president of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
The finding is part of a new study, "How Structural Costs Imposed on U.S. Manufacturers Harm Workers and Threaten Competitiveness," by economist Jeremy A. Leonard. Funded by Emerson (St. Louis), a manufacturer of industrial equipment, the study was released by the NAM and the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI.