§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of those aged 60 to 65 are not in employment; how many people this represents; and how the percentage has changed over the past 10 years; and [HL510]
Flow many people aged 50 to 60 are not in employment; what percentage of the age group this represents; and how the percentage has changed over the past 10 years; and [HL511]
How many people aged 40 to 50 are not in employment; what percentage of the age group this represents; and how the percentage has changed over the past 10 years; and [HL512]
How many people aged 30 to 40 are not in employment; what percentage of the age group this represents; and how the percentage has changed over the past 10 years; and [HL,513]
How many people aged 20 to 30 are not in employment; what percentage of the age group this represents; and how the percentage has changed over the past 10 years. [HL527]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.
Percentage of household population1 not in employment, by age United Kingdom, spring 1989 and spring 1999, not seasonally adjusted Not in employment (000s) Not in employment (%) Age Spring 1989 Spring 1999 Spring 1989 Spring 1999 Change: spring 1989–spring 1999 20 and less than 30 2,226 1,957 24.3 25.8 1.5 30 and less than 40 1,685 1,873 21.7 20.2 -1.5 40 and less than 50 1,348 1,414 18.4 18.3 -0.2 50 and less than 60 1,915 2,128 31.9 30.2 -1.7 60 and less than 65 1,881 1,817 65.0 64.5 -0.5 1 Includes the population in private households, plus students in halls of residence and people in NHS accommodation. Source:
ONS, Labour Force Survey
150WALetter to Earl Russell from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr T Holt, dated 18 January 2000.
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Questions on people in various age groups who are not in employment.
The attached table shows estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is the main source of labour market data on individuals. It gives the number and proportion of the household population not in employment for 1989 and 1999 and the change over this period. The LFS household population only includes people in private households, plus students in halls of residence and people in NHS accommodation.
The total number of people not in employment includes those who are unemployed and those who are economically inactive. The ONS measure of unemployment, derived from the LFS, is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and counts as unemployed people who are: (a) without a paid job; (b) available to start work within the next two weeks and (c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.
People who are economically inactive are neither in employment nor ILO unemployed and include, for example, retired people and people looking after the family or home.