HC Deb 17 June 1975 vol 893 cc409-10W
Mr. William Shelton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish from international sources avail-

RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE U.S.A., JAPAN AND THE COUNTRIES IN EFTA AND IN THE EEC
1975 later information where available
Note January 1974 January 1975 (month in brackets)
(Per cent.)
United Kingdom 2 (i) 2.7 3.3 3.7 (May)
U.S.A 1 5.6 9.0 9.1 (March)
Japan 1 1.4 2.0 2.1 (February)
Belgium 2 (ii) 4.1 5.7 6.2 (April)
Denmark 3 4.8 13.9 12.2 (March)
France 2 2.8 4.6 4.5 (March)
Germany Federal Republic of 2 (iii) 2.8 5.1 4.7 (April)
Ireland 2 (vii) 7.9 11.6 12.3 (February)
Italy 1 (iv) 3.0 3.1 —
Luxembourg Not available
Netherlands 2 3.7 4.8 4.8 (April)
Finland 1 (v) 2.4 2.2 —
Iceland Not available
Norway 2 1.1 1.2 —
Sweden 1 (vi) 2.9 1.9 1.5 (March)
Switzerland Not available
Portugal Not available
Austria 2 2.7 2.8 2.2 (March)
Explanatory Notes:
1. Labour Force Sample Surveys.
2. Employment office statistics of registered unemployed.
3. Unemployment among insured members of trade union funds.
(i) Excludes persons temporarily laid off.
(ii) Wholly unemployed receiving insurance benefits.
(iii) Includes Berlin.
(iv) Figures relate to fourth quarter of 1973 and 1974 respectively.
(v) Persons aged 15 to 74 years.
(vi) Persons aged 16 to 74 years.
(vii) Excludes agriculture, fishing and private domestic services.
Sources:
United Kingdom—Department of Employment.
U.S.A., Japan, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Finland, Sweden and Austria—Main Economic Indicators (OECD).
France and later information for Belgium, Germany and Netherlands—Press Release, EEC Commission.
Norway and earlier information for Belgium, Germany and Netherlands—Bulletin of Labour Statistics, International Labour Office.

able to him and on as comparable a basis as possible, indicating major difference in calculation where necessary, estimates of the level of unemployment as a percentage of the working population, in January 1974, January 1975, and the latest month for which figures are now available, for the United States of America, Japan and the countries in EFTA and in the EEC.

Mr. Booth

The attached table gives the information which is available. It is regretted that the rates for Luxembourg, Iceland, Switzerland and Portugal are not available from international sources. It should be noted that the official percentage figures published in some countries are calculated in relation to total wage and salary earners rather than working population.