Germany industrial output per man-hour worked index
Germany industrial output per man-hour worked index stood at 94.9 in Aug 2026, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Industrial production, turnover and productivity table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1991 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Industrial production, turnover and productivity table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Productivity and wages | |||||||||||
| Output per man-hour worked (productivity) | 94.9 | 95.5 | 97.1 | 96.9 | 94.8 | 95 | 95.1 | 93.7 | 95.6 | 97.3 | |
| Gross wages and salaries per man-hour worked | 117.7 | 117.7 | 118.4 | 116.1 | 115.8 | 117.7 | 116.8 | 122.3 | 115.3 | 116.3 |
Understanding germany industrial output per man-hour worked index
Industrial efficiency measured against the exact duration of active labor defines this focused productivity indicator. The calculation takes the total physical volume of goods manufactured across the sector and divides it strictly by the aggregate hours actively logged by the workforce. By focusing on time rather than a simple headcount, this series entirely isolates the production process from administrative labor arrangements like short-time working schemes, part-time contracts, and shifting overtime patterns. Among the various productivity metrics, this specific hourly gauge isolates the true technological and operational effectiveness of the factory floor, revealing how much material value is created during each active hour of machine operation and manual assembly.
Analyzing seasonally and working-day adjusted period-on-period movements reveals immediate shifts in factory-level execution and operational bottlenecks. Because it strips out the statistical noise caused by fluctuating shift patterns, this metric serves as the preferred benchmark for assessing the direct impact of new industrial machinery or optimized supply chain logistics. During economic contractions, this hourly index generally remains much more stable than per-person alternatives, as both output and active hours tend to decline in tandem. Subsequent revisions to the dataset are routine, reflecting delayed administrative updates regarding actual hours tracked versus initially scheduled shifts. Periodic rebasing guarantees that the underlying production volumes accurately reflect the contemporary mix of high-tech and traditional manufacturing outputs.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this metric account for paid vacation days?
- No, the calculation relies strictly on hours actually worked on the job, excluding paid leave, holidays, and sick days.
- Does an increase in overtime impact this index?
- While overtime increases total output and total hours simultaneously, it only improves the index if the extra hours yield a proportionally higher volume of goods.
- Why is this considered a more precise measure of efficiency than output per employed person?
- It strips out the distorting effects of part-time schedules and temporary working time reductions by focusing exclusively on active labor time.