HC Deb 25 April 1983 vol 41 cc220-1W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were unemployed in the United Kingdom in each January of the years 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983, respectively; and what were the respective percentage rates.

Mr. Gummer

The following table gives, for the United Kingdom, the figures for registered unemployed up to 1970 and the figures for unemployed claimants from 1975 at January in each of the years specified. It also gives the registration and claimants based figures at January 1971 but the difference between these two sets of statistics would not be of the same proportions at other dates. Estimates on a claimants basis are not available prior to January 1971.

January each year Registered unemployed
Number Percentage rate
1950 395,200 1.9
1955 316,300 1.4
1960 483,900 2.1
1965 399,000 1.7
1970 649,300 2.8
1971 714,400 3.1
Unemployed claimants
1971 682,800 3.0
1975 750,100 3.2
1980 1,373,700 5.7
1983 3,225,200 13.8