§ Mr. Pikeasked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received about training and skill shortages in British industry.
§ Mr. TrippierI have not received any direct representations about training and skill shortages in British industry.
Current information on skill shortages indicates that overall there is no shortfall of skilled workers, although there are shortages of workers with particular skills, especially those associated with the application of new technology.
European Community Countries* Employees in Employment in Manufacturing Unemployment (Thousand) Country 1968 1973 1979 1983 1968 1973 1979 1983 February 1986 Germany 9,069 9,211 8,389 7,598 323 274 876 2,264 2,593 France †5,186 5,599 5,254 4,803 428 394 1,350 2,042 2,434 Italy NA NA 4,754 4,435 684 1,005 1,653 2,475 3,203 Netherlands NA NA 1,037 966 84 140 280 801 750 Belgium 1,077 1,088 888 773 110 107 341 590 521 Luxembourg NA 64 42 38 0 0 1 2 3 Ireland 193 208 228 208 60 62 80 193 239 Denmark NA ‡507 494 436 26 18 138 277 251 Greece NA NA 448 466 NA NA ║32 62 143 Spain 2,637 2,932 2,700 2,260 NA NA ║1,277 2,207 2,810 Portugal 647 739 865 ¶920 NA NA ║285 253 368 United Kingdom Total 8,242 7,861 7,259 5,608 601 596 1,296 3,105 3,382 Adjusted• NA 545 1,141 3,866 3,161 Sources: Eurostat "Population and Employment 1950–76"
"Employment and Unemployment" annual volumes, and "Unemployment" bulletin;
OECD "Labour Force Statistics 1963–83";
Her Majesty's Stationery Office "Employment Gazette".
* The figures are not fully comparable between countries, nor from year to year because of changes in coverage.
† Relates to 1969.
‡ Relates to 1974
║ Relates to 1980.
¶ Relates to 1982.
• For the United Kingdom, the adjusted series allows for discontinuities and is consistent with the current coverage of the unemployment count.