Working Population (Hansard, 2 February 1981)

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the size of the working population in the United Kingdom for each year since 1945 up to the latest year for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total population the working population make up in each year of the same period.

§ Mr. Peter Morrison
The available information relates to the middle of each year. The figures from 1945 to 1950(a) are for Great Britain; those for 1950(b) onwards for the United Kingdom. The methods of making employment estimates have changed on a number of occasions since 1945. In those years when the changes have led to discontinuities in the series, two sets of figures are given.
Following is the information:
10W
of the European Economic Community together with the current level in Norway; and if he will publish a table showing the comparable figures in the same month of each of the past 10 years for each nation.

§ Mr. Peter Morrison
The unemployment percentage rates for December each year are given below. There are differences in concepts and coverage. The figures for the European Community member States except for Greece are based on national data of numbers of people registered at public employment offices, expressed as a percentage of the civilian working population. The rates for for.way and Greece are the number of people registered at employment offices expressed as a precentage of total employees.

Working population (thousand) As a percentage of the total population

1945 21,649 45.3

1946 20,523 42.9

1947 20,367 42.2

(a)1948 20,274 41.6

(b)l948 22,780 46.8

1949 22,771 46.5

(a)1950 22,982 46.7

(b)1950 23,554 46.5

1951 23,809 47.1

1952 23,925 47.2

1954 24,293 47.6

1955 24,508 47.8

1956 24,730 48.1

1957 24,820 48.0

1958 24,684 47.6

1959(a) 24,768 47.5

1959(b) 24,180 46.4

1960 24,509 46.6

1961 24,744 46.7

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Working population (thousand) As a percentage of the total population

1962 25,038 46.9

1963 25,157 46.9

1964 25,299 46.8

1965 25,503 46.9

1966 25,636 46.9

1967 25,495 46.4

1968 25,383 46.0

1969 25,375 45.8

1970 25,308 45.6

1971 25,123 45.1

1972 25,195 45.1

1973 25,547 45.6

1974 25,601 45.7

1975 25,798 46.1

1976 26,097 46.6

1977 26,282 47.0

1978 26,316 47.1

1979 26,369 47.1

1980 26,278 46.9

	Working population (thousand)	As a percentage of the total population
1945	21,649	45.3
1946	20,523	42.9
1947	20,367	42.2
(a)1948	20,274	41.6
(b)l948	22,780	46.8
1949	22,771	46.5
(a)1950	22,982	46.7
(b)1950	23,554	46.5
1951	23,809	47.1
1952	23,925	47.2
1954	24,293	47.6
1955	24,508	47.8
1956	24,730	48.1
1957	24,820	48.0
1958	24,684	47.6
1959(a)	24,768	47.5
1959(b)	24,180	46.4
1960	24,509	46.6
1961	24,744	46.7

	Working population (thousand)	As a percentage of the total population
1962	25,038	46.9
1963	25,157	46.9
1964	25,299	46.8
1965	25,503	46.9
1966	25,636	46.9
1967	25,495	46.4
1968	25,383	46.0
1969	25,375	45.8
1970	25,308	45.6
1971	25,123	45.1
1972	25,195	45.1
1973	25,547	45.6
1974	25,601	45.7
1975	25,798	46.1
1976	26,097	46.6
1977	26,282	47.0
1978	26,316	47.1
1979	26,369	47.1
1980	26,278	46.9