After the first oil crisis in 1973 and during the 1980s, unemployment increased markedly in nearly all Western industrialized countries. However, this alone was an insufficient description of labour market trends, as there were substantial differences in employment performance among countries and regions. For example, after 1973 the number of people employed in the USA rose but decreased on average in the European community. Originally published in 1988, this book discusses and explains differences in employment trends between the USA, Japan and the former European Community member countries from 1973 to 1983. The empirical analysis focuses on differences between countries concerning growth rate and structure, real wage level and wage structure, labour market flexibility and the socio-economic framework. These differences are evaluated as possible causes of differing employment performance.