HC Deb 02 March 1976 vol 906 cc588-9W
Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, from international sources available to him, he will publish in the Official Report the present level of unemployment in OECD countries.

Mr. Booth

The latest available numbers and percentage rates of the unemployed in OECD countries are given below. The figures are not strictly comparable owing to different national concepts

UNEMPLOYMENT IN MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Month Number (Thousands) Percentage Rate
Belgium (2) (6) … … January … … … 229.2 8.7
Denmark (1) (6) … … December … … … 137.9 14.3
France (2) (4) … … January … … … 1,017.4 5.7*
Germany (2) (4) … … January … … … 1,351.0 5.9
Ireland (2) (4) (8) … … January … … … 113.2 10.1
Italy (3) (5) … … October … … … 699.0 3.5
Luxembourg … … November … … … 0.6
Netherlands (2) … … January … … … 238.7 5.8*
United Kingdom (2) (4). … … February … … … 1,304.4 5.6
Austria (2) (5) … … December … … … 177.0 3.1
Finland (3) (51 … … September … … … 50.0 2.2
Greece (2) … … September … … … 25.0 (7)
Norway (2) (5) … … December … … … 19.5 4.[...]
Spain (2) … … October … … … 274.0 (7)
Sweden (3) (5) … … January … … … 92.0 2.2
Switzerland (2) … … September … … … 12.4 (7)
Turkey (2) … … August … … … 113.6 (7)
Canada (3) (5) … … January … … … 800.0 8.0
United States (3) (5) … … January … … … 8,174.0 8.8
Australia (2) (5) … … December … … … 328.7 (7)
Japan (3) (5) … … November … … … 980.0 1.9
New Zealand (2) … … October … … … 3.3 (7)
Notes:
(1) Based on statistics of trade union benefit funds
(2) Employment office statistics.
(3) Labour force sample survey.
(4) Unemployed rate is calculated as a percentage of total employees.
(5) Unemployed rate is calculated as a percentage of the civilian labour force.
(6) Wholly unemployed receiving insurance benefits. Rate calculated as a percentage of total insured.
(7) Percentage rates not available
(8) Includes short-time workers.
(9)Unemployment statistics are not available for Iceland and Portugal.
* Percentage rate calculated by the Department of Employment.
Sources:
OECD Main Economic Indicators.
Department of Employment labour attache reports.
EEC Commission.
ILO Bulletin of labour statistics

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