§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the size of the economically active population in Great Britain in 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975; what is the current forecast of its size by 1980 and 1985; and if he will 159W also give the figures available as a percentage of total population or estimated population.
§ Mr. BoothProjections of the size of the labour force for 1976, 1981 and 1986 were published in the Department of EmploymentGazette for December 1975 and are given below, together with figures on a comparable basis for 1961, 1966 and 1971 derived from data in the Census of Population which have been adjusted to allow for under-enumeration, to exclude foreign forces stationed in Great Britain and to include British forces stationed overseas.
The figures are as follows:
Great Britain Total labour force '000 Labour force as percentage of total population 1961 … 23,959 46 1966 … 25,342 48 1971 … 25,223 47 1976 (projected) … 25,186 46 1981 (projected) … 25,960 47 1986 (projected) … 26,808 48