Does high labour productivity compensate for a low employment rate?
Some countries have an abnormally low employment rate, which is significantly associated with low labour force skills. For the low employment rate not to lead to an abnormally low level of per capita GDP, it must be offset by high labour productivity. This is possible since: If companies face hiring difficulties, due to the low employability of the labour force, they will make an effort to be more efficient; A low employment rate is more common among the low-skilled, who have a low level of productivity, than among the skilled. A comparison of OECD countries shows that, on the contrary, a low employment rate (which is associated with low skills) is associated with low productivity (or productivity gains). Productivity does not compensate for a low employment rate.