HC Deb 12 April 1973 vol 854 cc350-2W
Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the size of the working population for each year since 1960, the percentage of that population in em-

Total working population(thousands) Percentage in employment Percentage unemployed
(1) (2) (3)
June 1960 … … … … … 24,526 98.8 1.3
June 1961 … … … … … 24,773 99.0 1.1
June 1962 … … … … … 25,046 98.5 1.6
June 1963 … … … … … 25,138 98.2 2.0
June 1964 … … … … … 25,268 98.7 1.4
June 1965 … … … … … 25,463 98.9 1.2
June 1966 … … … … … 25,584 99.0 1.1
June 1967 … … … … … 25,402 98.2 2.0
June 1968 … … … … … 25,253 98.0 2.2
June 1969 … … … … … 25,236 98.1 2.1
June 1970 … … … … … 25,082 97.9 2.3
June 1971 … … … … … 24,874 97.2 3.0
June 1972 … … … … … 24,782 96.9 3.4

The percentages in columns 2 and 3 do not add precisely to 100 because those in column 3 are expressed as percentages of employees and those in column 2 as percentages of the working population, which has a wider coverage including employees, employers and the self-employed and Her Majesty's Forces. The basis of the figures in column 3 is adopted because these rates are needed for local areas as well as the country as a whole and for local areas figures are available only for employees and not for the total working population. This was explained in paragraph 2.10 of Cmnd. 5157, "Unemployment Statistics".

Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those factors which have contributed towards a fall in the working population from 25,538,000 in September 1967 to 24,782,000 in June 1972.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Precise estimates about the factors associated with working population changes over this period are not available, but the following have contributed to the fall:

  1. (i) A large increase in the numbers of persons aged 15 to 24 remaining in full.time education.
  2. (ii) A substantial fall in the total population of men and women in the

ployment for each year, the percentage unemployment figure for each year, and in cases where the two percentages do not produce 100, if he will give the reasons for this.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

The required figures are given in the following table:

prime working age groups (25–64 for men and 25–59 for women).

(iii) A decline in the activity rates for older men.

These factors were partially offset by a continued rise in activity rates for married women.

Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the percentage of the male working population in employment at the latest available date compared with June 1970;

(2) what is the percentage of the female working population in employment at the latest available date compared with June 1970;

(3) what is the percentage of the working population in employment at the latest available date compared with June 1970.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

The required information is given below:

PERCENTAGE OF THE WORKING POPULATION IN EMPLOYMENT
Male Female Total
June 1970 … … 97.2 99.2 97.9
June 1972 … … 95.9 98.7 96.9

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