HC Deb 09 March 1978 vol 945 cc730-2W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the unemployment rates for the United States of America, Canada, Japan, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom as follows (a) the average for 1970–1973, (b) quarterly from 1974 to 1976 and (c) in each month from January 1977 to the present.

Mr. Golding

The available unemployment rates are given below. These are not directly comparable owing to differences in the concept of unemployment. coverage and method of compilation.

UNEMPLOYMENT PERCENTAGE RATES (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)—NATIONAL DEFINITIONS
USA(1) Canada(1)(3) Japan(1) France(2)(5) Germany(2) Italy(l)(6) United Kingdom(2)
1970–1973 … … … … … 5.3 5.7(3) 1.3(4) 2.1 1.3(4) 3.4 3.1
1974—
1st quarter … … … … … 5.5 (3) 1.6 2.6 2.6 3.1 2.7
2nd quarter … … … … … 5.1 (3) 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.5 2.4
3rd quarter … … … … … 5.5 4.9 1.3 2.6 2.3 2.8 2.7
4th quarter … … … … … 6.1 5.6 1.5 3.9 3.6 3.1 2.8(7)
1975—
1st quarter … … … … … 9.1 7.7 2.1 4.3 5.0 3.1 3.3
2nd quarter … … … … … 8.7 6.9 1.8 4.2 4.5 3.4 3.6
3rd quarter … … … … … 8.3 6.5 1.7 4.7 4.5 3.3 4.6
4th quarter … … … … … 7.8 6.7 1.9 5.8 4.9 3.5 5.0
1976—
1st quarter … … … … … 8.5 7.9 2.4 5.4 5.7 3.5 5.4
2nd quarter … … … … … 7.4 7.0 2.0 4.7 4.3 3.5 5.4
3rd quarter … … … … … 7.6 6.8 1.9 4.8 4.0 3.8 6.2
4th quarter … … … … … 7.3 7.0 1.8 5.7 4.4 3.9 5.8(7)
1977—
January … … … … … 8.3 8.8 2.2 5.9 5.5 6.8 6.1
February … … … … … 8.5 9.1 2.3 5.8 5.3 6.0
March … … … … … 7.9 9.2 2.4 5.6 4.8 5.8
April … … … … … 6.9 8.8 1.9 5.5 4.6 6.6 5.8
May … … … … … 6.4 7.7 2.0 5.4 4.2 5.6
June … … … … … 7.5 7.5 20 5.3 4.1 6.1
July … … … … … 7.0 7.9 1.9 5.5 4.3 7.7 6.8
August … … … … … 6.8 7.5 1.9 5.9 4.3 6.9
September … … … … … 6.6 7.5 1.9 6.5 4.0 6.7
October … … … … … 6.3 7.3 1.8 6.6 4.2 7.4 6.4
November … … … … … 6.4 7.5 1.9 6.5 4.4 6.3
December … … … … … 7.0 8.3 2.0 6.3 4.8 6.2
(1) Labour force sample survey. Rates are calculated as percentages of total labour force. The quarterly data for Italy relate to the first month of the quarter.
(2) Registered unemployed. Rates are calculated as percentages of total employees.
(3) The Canadian unemployment figures have been revised and some earlier figures are not readily available. The 1970 rate has been given in place of 1970–73.
(4) 1973 rate only owing to a discontinuity from previous figures.
(5) DE estimates.
(6) A change in the Italian concept of unemployment in January 1977 prevents comparison with earlier years.
(7) Average of two months, in the absence of complete figures because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group.
Sources: OECD Main Economic Indicators, Statistical Office of the EEC. and Department of Employment labour attache reports.

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