Unemployed Persons (Hansard, 28 February 1978)

§ 25. Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the United Kingdom were out of work at the most recent count; and what was the comparable figure in the same month of 1974.

§ Mr. Golding
At 9th February 1,508,674 people were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom compared with 628,812 in February 1974.

§ 30. Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the number of men unemployed between 60 and 65 years of age; and what plans he has for reducing this unemployment.
157W

§ Mr. Golding
At 12th January, 134,833 men aged 60 to 64 were registered as unemployed in Great Britain. The services of the Employment Service Agency and the Training Services Agency are available to all job seekers regardless of age.

§ 33. Mr. Ovenden
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Booth
At 9th February, 1,445,863 people were registered as unemployed in Great Britain. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to similar Questions from the hon. Members from

Numbers unemployed Unemployment rates^*

January 1973 January 1978 January 1973 January 1978

Special Development areas 211,007 324,253 7.0 10.7

Development areas 324,611 532,393 6.0 9.7

Intermediate areas 159,819 278,428 3.6 6.2

Non-assisted areas 300,588 673,866 2.3 5.0

^* The rate expresses the numbers of unemployed as a percentage of employees, both employed and unemployed, rather than of the working population which includes the self-employed and the Armed Forces.

Under current definitions adult students who are registered for vacation employment are not included in the unemployment figures. The figures for January 1973, given in the above table, include about 15,600 adult students.

France Germany Italy Great Britain

1970–74 … … … 3.0 1.0 3.3^* 3.4

1975 … … … 4.3 3.7 3.2 4.7

1976 … … … 4.6 3.6 3.6 6.4

1977 … … … 5.2 3.5 3.3 7.0

^* 1972–74.

Note: Figures are calculated by applying annual adjustment factors to current published national data, and therefore should be viewed only as approximate indicators of unemployment under US concepts.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor.

	Numbers unemployed	Unemployment rates^*
	January 1973	January 1978	January 1973	January 1978
Special Development areas	211,007	324,253	7.0	10.7
Development areas	324,611	532,393	6.0	9.7
Intermediate areas	159,819	278,428	3.6	6.2
Non-assisted areas	300,588	673,866	2.3	5.0
^* The rate expresses the numbers of unemployed as a percentage of employees, both employed and unemployed, rather than of the working population which includes the self-employed and the Armed Forces.

				France	Germany	Italy	Great Britain
1970–74	…	…	…	3.0	1.0	3.3^*	3.4
1975	…	…	…	4.3	3.7	3.2	4.7
1976	…	…	…	4.6	3.6	3.6	6.4
1977	…	…	…	5.2	3.5	3.3	7.0
^* 1972–74.
Note: Figures are calculated by applying annual adjustment factors to current published national data, and therefore should be viewed only as approximate indicators of unemployment under US concepts.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor.