HC Deb 23 May 1974 vol 874 c226W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the total number of employees in the private sector for each year since 1960.

Dr. Gilbert

The number of employees in employment in the private sector at June each year are estimated to be as follows:

(thousands)
1960 17,250
1961 17,543
1962 17,656
1963 17,670
1964 17,946
1965 18,185
1966 18,276
1967 17,670
1968 17,250
1969 17,191
1970 16,932
1971 16,475
1971* 16,087
1972* 16,044
* Figures from 1960 to 1971 have been derived from Department of Employment analyses of national insurance cards. In mid-1971 a census of employment was introduced, and is the main source for the footnoted figures.