HC Deb 17 December 1979 vol 976 cc102-3W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people registered as unemployed in October 1979; and what was the total number of vacancies registered during that same period.

Mr. Mayhew

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the levels of youth unemployment and the general levels of unemployment for each of the past 20 years.

Mr. Jim Lester

[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1979]: Following is the information for Great Britain at January and July in each of the years specified.

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED
Under 18 years of age All ages
January 1960 … 34,987 448,259
July 1960 … 14,430 281,707
January 1961 … 23,988 359,458
July 1961 … 12,988 249,456
January 1962 … 34,039 420,418
July 1962 … 27,091 380,098
January 1963 … 61,709 629,028
July 1963 … 35,867 435,989
January 1964 … 31,616 478,030
July 1964 … 23,855 312,197
January 1965 … 22,949 367,066
July 1965 … 22,015 274,965
January 1966 … 18,574 338,990
July 1966 … 16,889 258,233
January 1967 … 30,168 527,350
July 1967 … 27,403 470,227
January 1968 … 28,278 600,387
July 1968 … 24,371 499,688
January 1969 … 24,444 584,013
July 1969 … 28,679 486,586
January 1970 … 28,498 611,807
July 1970 … 31,185 527,896
January 1971 … 35,958 674,815
July 1971 … 49,480 719,005
January 1972 … 55,827 926,615
July 1972 … 56,919 775,117
January 1973 … 47,052 769,429
July 1973 … 27,047 535,368
January 1974* … .. 597,691
July 1974 … 33,365 542,483
January 1975* … .. 738,000
July 1975 … 105,017 944,382
January 1976 … 106,110 1,251,826
July 1976 … 286,360 1,402,470
January 1977 … 122,366 1,390,218
July 1977 … 312,704 1,553,466
January 1978 … 134,847 1,484,687
July 1978 … 296,361 1,512,487
January 1979 … 107,840 1,391,220
July 1979 … 258,735 1,392,021
The figures for July in recent years include considerable numbers of school leavers not present in the figures for January.
* Figures are not available for January 1974 because of the energy crisis or for January 1975 because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group.