HC Deb 07 July 1982 vol 27 cc135-6W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing for each country in the European Economic Community, in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and for Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria and Switzerland, the average percentage unemployment rate at the most recent available date.

Mr. Alison

Unemployment rates using national definitions, on a seasonally adjusted basis where available, are as follows. The figures are not comparable owing to differences in concepts, coverage and methods of compilation.

European Community Countries Percentage unemployment rate
Germany (1) 7.4e May
France (1) 10.6 (May)
Italy (2) (8)10.3 (May)
Netherlands (1) 11.9 (May)
Belgium (3) 16.7e (May)
Luxembourg (2) (8)1.1 (May)
United Kingdom (1) (4)12.2 (June)
Ireland (2) 12.2 (May)
Denmark (5) 9.7 (April)
Greece (1) 3.0e (May)
NATO Countries (not listed above)
United States of America (6) 9.5 (May)
Portugal (6) (8)7.9 (2nd half 1980)
Turkey (7) (8)10.8 (Average 1980)
Canada (6) 10.2 (May)
Iceland (2) (8)0.3 (Average 1980)
Norway (1) 2.0 (April)
Spain (1) 13.6 (January)
Other Countries (not listed above)
Sweden (1) 3.1 (May)

European Community Countries Percentage unemployment rate
Finland (6) 6.1 (March)
Austria (1) 3.8 (May)
Switzerland (1) (8)0.3 (April)

Notes:

(1) Numbers registered at employment offices, expressed as a percentage of total employees.

(2) Numbers registered as employment offices, expressed as a percentage of the civilian labour force.

(3) Insured unemployed, expressed as a percentage of the total insured population.

(4) United Kingdom rate excludes school leavers.

(5) Numbers registered at employment offices, expressed as a percentage of the total labour force.

(6) Labour force sample survey. Rates are calculated as a percentage of the civilian labour force.

(7) Unemployment rate published by OECD, expressed as a percentage of the civilian labour force.

(8) Not seasonally adjusted.

(e) The seasonally adjusted rate has been estimated.

Source:

OECD publications, "Main Economic Indicators" &c. Supplemented by Labour attaché reports &c.—except Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg (source SOEC) and Portugal and Iceland (source ILO).