By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter

South Korea ranked fourth in labor productivity in 2006 among the 30 OECD countries as it gained 4.6 percent in efficiency from 2005 but was below the average of the Western well-to-do countries club in quality of life.

The relatively strong productivity came at the expense of workers' quality of life. Koreans topped the OECD list for the number of working hours as they worked an average of 2,357 hours that year, according to the OECD Fact Book 2008, which compared various indices of member countries.

Overall, the country's economic and financial indicators were in good shape but the quality of life for its people remained below the OECD average.

Korea's gross domestic product came in 10th at $1.1 trillion in 2006, while its per capita gross domestic product (GDP) ranked 23rd with $23,038, compared with the OECD average of $31,468.

The world's 13th largest economy attracted $36.4 billion in foreign direct investment, up substantially from $6.3 billion the previous year _ its ranking rose to 8th from 19th over the one-year period.

Nearly 64 percent of the economically active Korean population aged between 15 and 64 had jobs in 2006, compared to the OECD average of 66.1 percent. The proportion of the self-employed to the total workforce came to 32.8 percent, taking the fourth spot.

A large number of self-employed people indicate the economy is more vulnerable to short-term economic cycles as small businesses are more vulnerable to negative factors.

Due mainly to the rapidly declining birthrates, population growth came in 19th place in 2006 at a rate of 0.33 percent, lower than the OECD average of 0.6 percent. It had the lowest birthrate at 1.08 children per woman of childbearing age.

The average life expectancy for both men and women stood at 78.5 years, compared with the OECD average of 78.6 years, while the per capita medical and health expenditure ranked 26th with an average of $1,149.

Korea emitted a total of 449 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2006, a main culprit for global warming, higher than the OECD average of 430.3 million tons. The country ranked third in private and public education spending as it spent 7.2 percent of its GDP on various education expenses, 1.5 percentage points higher than the OECD average.

The nation toped the OECD list with 94 percent of local households having access to the Internet.

leehs@koreatimes.co.kr