Irish workers are increasingly productive despite working shorter hours than their counterparts in other countries, according to a new report by the International Labour Organisation.
The report noted that while American workers are the most productive they work significantly longer hours suggesting that Irish workers work more efficiently.
However, the employers group IBEC warned that the productivity statistics could be distorted by sectoral variations - for example, pharmaceuticals.
They also warned that the figures on falling working hours could reflect lower overtime since the end of the Celtic Tiger boom.
