HC Deb 07 March 1983 vol 38 cc318-21W
Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the unemployment to vacancy ratio (a) within the north-west region and (b) nationally.

Mr. Alison

The following table gives the number of unemployed claimants at 10 February and the number of vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres and careers offices at 4 February in the north-west region and the United Kingdom.

Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of this and of possible duplication between the separate figures for jobcentres and careers offices, the two series cannot be added to provide satisfactory totals from which the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed could be calculated.

Unfilled vacancies
Unemployed claimants at jobcentres at careers offices
North-west 443,027 10,755 301
United Kingdom 3,199,412 109,782 5,464

Mr. James Lamond

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were unemployed in the Oldham travel-to-work area (a) in May 1979 and (b) at the latest possible date.

Mr. Alison

The following table gives, for the Oldham travel-to-work area, the number of registered unemployed (the old basis of the count) at May 1979 and the number of unemployed claimants (the new basis of the count) at February 1983. It also gives the numbers on both the old and the new bases at October 1982. The difference between the two October figures would not be applicable in other months.

Numbers
Registered unemployed
May 1979 3,633
October 1982 14,669
Unemployed claimants
October 1982 13,282
February 1983 13,545

Mr. Wardell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report, for January 1980 and January 1983, respectively, the unemployment figures for (a) England and (b) each county in England, separately, distinguishing males and females by age (i) under 18 years, (ii) 18 years, (iii) 19 years, (iv) 20 to 24 years, (v) 25 to 29 years, (vi) 30 to 34 years, (vii) 35 to 44 years, (viii) 45 to 49 years, (ix) 50 to 54 years, (x) 55 to 59 years, (xi) 60 to 64 years, (xii) 65 years and over and (xiii) the total for all ages disaggregating each of the age categories into categories of weekly duration of unemployment of (1) one week or less, (2) over one and

Changes in numbers unemployed aged:
Under 18 years 18 to 24 years 25 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 years and over
Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent Number Per cent
Registered unemployed
April 1979 to April 1980
Male +325 +72.2 +372 +13.0 +62 +2.5 -24 -1.4 +16 +1.0 -6 -0.3
Female +403 +96.4 +288 +16.5 +287 +45.8 +39 +13.0 +70 +22.4 +58 +39.2
Total +728 +83.9 +660 +14.3 +349 +11.1 +15 +0.7 +86 +4.6 +52 +2.4
April 1980 to April 1981
Male +79 +10.2 +1,809 +56.1 +1,849 +71.3 +979 +58.3 +803 +50.6 +750 +36.9
Female -170 -20.7 +607 +29.8 +324 +35.4 +86 +25.4 +131 +34.2 +53 +25.7
Total -91 -5.7 +2,416 +45.9 +2,173 +62.0 +1,065 +52.8 +934 +47.4 +803 +35.8
April 1981 to April 1982
Male +186 +21.8 +786 +15.6 +448 +10.1 +345 +13.0 +390 +16.3 +287 +10.3
Female +226 +34.7 +381 +14.4 +142 +11.5 +82 +19.3 +108 +21.0 +37 +14.3
Total +412 +27.4 +1,167 +15.2 +590 +10.4 +427 +13.9 +498 +17.1 +324 +10.6
April 1982 to October 1982
Male +312 +30.0 +616 +10.6 +323 +6.6 +233 +7.8 -23 -0.8 +246 +8.0
Female +312 +35.6 +483 +16.0 +149 +10.8 +99 +19.6 +48 +7.7 +26 +8.8
Total +624 +32.6 +1,099 +12.4 +472 +7.5 +332 +9.5 +25 +0.7 +272 +8.1

up to two weeks, (3) over two and up to four weeks, (4) over four and up to six weeks, (5) over six and up to eight weeks, (6) over eight and up to 13 weeks, (7) over 13 and up to 26 weeks, (8) over 26 and up to 39 weeks, (9) over 39 and up to 52 weeks, (10) over 52 and up to 65 weeks, (11) over 65 and up to 78 weeks, (12) over 78 and up to 104 weeks, (13) over 104 and up to 156 weeks, (14) over 156 weeks and (15) the totals.

Mr. Alison

I shall send copies of the table to the hon. Member, and place them in the Library.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures in the Official Report to show the latest percentage unemployment rate, non-seasonally adjusted, in (a) England, (b) Scotland,(c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Mr. Gummer

The following table gives the rates of unemployment for claimants at 10 February.

Percentage rate
England 13.1
Scotland 16.0
Wales 17.3
Northern Ireland 20.6

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how many people and what percentage total, male and female aged (a) 16 to 18 years, (b) 18 to 25 years, (c) 25 to 35 years, (d) 35 to 45 years, (e) 45 to 55 years and (f) above 55 years in each category unemployment has increased in the Hull travel-to-work area, each year from May 1979 to the nearest convenient date.

Mr. Alison

[pursuant to his reply, 3 March 1983, c. 214]: The following table gives, for the Hull travel-to-work area, the changes in unemployment since April 1979 in each of the age groups specified. Age analyses of the unemployed are made quarterly in January, April, July and October.

Under 18 years 18 to 24 years 25 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 years and over
Number. Per cent. Number Per cent. Number. Per cent. Number Per cent. Number. Per cent. Number Per cent.
Unemployed claimants
October 1982 to January 1983
Male -289 -20.0 + 375 +6.0 +294 +6.2 +247 + 8.2 +209 + 8.0 + 152 +4.6
Female -272 -21.5 +111 +3.4 +91 +7.0 +42 +8.8 +27 +4.8 +15 +5.1
Total -561 -20.7 +486 +5.1 +385 +6.4 +289 +8.2 +236 +7.4 +167 +4.6

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