§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many and what proportion of people between the age of 50 and state pension age were 551W not in work in each year since 1997, broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement; [172531]
(2) how many and what proportion of people were in work immediately before reaching state pension age in each year since 1997, broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement; [172534]
(3) what percentage of people between the age of 50 and state pension age were long-term unemployed in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [172535]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr Holmes dated 13 May 2004:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about employment and unemployment. I am replying in his absence. (172531, 172534, 172535)
The attached tables provide the information requested for the three months ending in February each year from 1997 to 2004. Table 1 shows the numbers of people in employment by gender at an age one year less than the State retirement age. Table 2 shows the numbers of people by gender, aged between 50 and State retirement age, who were not in employment. Table 3 shows the numbers of people by gender, aged between 50 and State retirement age, who were unemployed for. 12 months or longer.
All estimates are taken from the ONS Labour Force Survey. As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability.
Table 1: Numbers and proportion of people in employment immediately prior to State retirement age, United Kingdom, three
months ending February each year from 1997 to 2004
Thousand, percentage Men aged 64 and women aged 59
Men aged 64 Women aged 59 Number Percentage1> Number Percentage1 Number Percentage1 1997 235 414 102 38.0 132 44.5 1998 209 38.4 90 36.7 118 39.8 1999 226 41.1 92 36.6 134 44.9 2000 218 39.9 95 34.6 123 45.3 2001 250 42.0 103 36.1 147 47.5 2002 258 43.7 102 39.2 157 47.2 2003 274 43.5 106 36.7 168 49.3 2004 318 50.1 123 45.1 195 53.9 1As a percentage of population in the relevant age and gender group. Source: ONS-Labour Force Survey 552W
Table 2: Numbers and proportion of people not in employment1 aged between 50 and State retirement age, United Kingdom, three
months ending February each year from 1997 to 2004
Thousand, percentage Men aged 50–64and women aged 50–59
Men aged 50–64 Women aged 50–59 Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 1997 2,836 35.8 1,527 33.1 1,309 39.5 1998 2,855 34.9 1,532 32.3 1,323 38.5 1999 2,833 33.7 1,520 31.3 1,313 37.1 2000 2,896 33.8 1,578 31.9 1,318 36.5 2001 2,842 32.7 1,526 30.4 1,316 35.7 2002 2,849 32.3 1,533 30.3 1,316 35.1 2003 2,777 31.2 1,491 29.2 1,286 34.0 2004 2,715 30.3 1,448 28.1 1,268 33.3 1 Not in employment refers to people who are either unemployed or economically inactive. 2 As a percentage of population in the relevant age and gender group. Source: ONS-Labour Force Survey.
Table 3: Numbers and proportion of people who are long-term unemployed1 aged between 50 and State retirement age, United
Kingdom, three months ending February each year from 1997 to
2004
Thousand, percentage Men aged 50–64and women aged 50–59
Men aged 50–64 Women aged 50–59 Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 1997 183 2.3 142 3.1 41 1.2 1998 133 16 102 2.1 31 0.9 1999 127 1.5 97 2.0 30 0.8 2000 104 1.2 86 1.7 18 0.5 2001 95 1.1 79 1.6 16 0.4 2002 83 0.9 63 1.2 20 0.5 2003 81 0.9 62 1.2 19 0.5 2004 71 0.8 53 1.0 18 0.5 1 Long-term unemployment refers to people who are unemployed for over 12 months. 2 As a percentage of population in the relevant age and gender group. Source: ONS-Labour Force Survey.