News release: “Manufacturing hourly compensation costs in the United States in 2009 were lower than in 12 European countries and Australia, but higher than in 20 other countries covered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. hourly compensation costs rose about 4 percent from the previous year to $33.53. The 8 countries with the highest costs in Europe were 30-60 percent higher than the U.S. level, but costs in Canada and Japan were about 10 percent lower than the United States.”