Young People (Hansard, 24 June 1986)

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
asked the Paymaster General, for January, April, July and October, each year from 1974 to the latest available date, how many (a) 16 to 17-yearolds, (b) 18 to 19-year-olds and (e) 20 to 24-year-olds (i) there were in total, (ii) were recorded as unemployed, (iii) were in education, (iv) were in full-time work or self-employment, (v) were in part-time work or self employment or (vi) were in other categories, showing in each case, where possible, males and females, separately.

§ Mr. Lang
The full range of information requested is not available. The available labour force survey estimates for the age groups 16 to 19 and 20 to 24 years are shown in table 1.
Information on the ages of registered (up to October 1982) or claimant (since October 1982) unemployed males and females in the United Kingdom is published regularly in Employment Gazette (currently table 2.7) and is available in the Library.
Estimates of the labour market status of those aged 116 to 17 in Great Britain, derived from Department of Employment, Manpower Services Commission and Department of Education and Science sources, are shown in table 2 for the years for which they are available.
115W

1979 1981 1983 1984 1985

Age Males Females Males Females Males Females Males Females Males Females

Others ¶ 27 486 35 492 68 531 63 525 77 550

Total 1,951 1,884 2,047 2,009 2,146 2,115 2,225 2,177 2,281 2,218

^* Includes those who did not state if they worked full or part-time; and those on a Government employment scheme or, in 1979 and 1981 only, who were self employed who were not asked if their work was full or part-time.

† The definition of full-time and part-time is based on the respondent's own assessment, not on the number of hours worked.

† Those without a job and looking for work in the reference week, or prevented from seeking work by temporary sickness or holiday, or waiting for the results of a job application or waiting to start a job they had already obtained.

|| Inactive students are those students not classified as in employment or unemployed. Those who reported doing paid work are classified as in employment. In 1979 and 1981 all students who said they were seeking work were classified as unemployed, but in later years those who said they were seeking work but not available to start a job because they had to complete their education were classified as inactive.

¶ Mainly for females looking after house or home, and sick and disabled. The figures for 1985 are preliminary estimates.

Table 2

Education/labour market status of young people in Great Britain aged 16 and 17 years^*: January each year

Thousands

1974 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986†

Total population 1,550 1,785 1,830 1,860 1,840 1,815 1,765 1,730

Full-time education‡ 470 600 655 700 735 685 675 665

YTS/YOP — 70 135 180 235 275 275 265

Claimant/registered unemployed|| 45 130 235 275 285 270 260 240

Other¶ 1,035 985 810 705 585 585 555 560

^* Ages as at 31 August of preceding year.

† Provisional.

‡ Excluding YTS/YOP.

|| Claimant unemployed for 1983–86: registered unemployed prior to 1983.

¶ Mainly those in employment outside YTS. Also includes some who are seeking work but not claiming benefit (for 1983–86) or not registered for employment (prior to 1983), some of whom are neither employed nor seeking work (e.g. because of domestic responsibilities) and net errors in the other estimates.

§ Mr. Stern
asked the Paymaster General how many additional young people have been employed as a result of the current requirement for an employer to notify the local careers office if he intends to employ a young person.

§ Mr. Trippier
The current requirement is for notification after employment has begun. It does not encourage employment of young people, is burdensome and little use appears to he made of the information where it is provided. The Government announced their intention to repeal the requirement in the White Paper "Building Businesses … Not Barriers".

	1979	1981	1983	1984	1985
Age	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Others ¶	27	486	35	492	68	531	63	525	77	550
Total	1,951	1,884	2,047	2,009	2,146	2,115	2,225	2,177	2,281	2,218
^* Includes those who did not state if they worked full or part-time; and those on a Government employment scheme or, in 1979 and 1981 only, who were self employed who were not asked if their work was full or part-time.
† The definition of full-time and part-time is based on the respondent's own assessment, not on the number of hours worked.
† Those without a job and looking for work in the reference week, or prevented from seeking work by temporary sickness or holiday, or waiting for the results of a job application or waiting to start a job they had already obtained.
\|\| Inactive students are those students not classified as in employment or unemployed. Those who reported doing paid work are classified as in employment. In 1979 and 1981 all students who said they were seeking work were classified as unemployed, but in later years those who said they were seeking work but not available to start a job because they had to complete their education were classified as inactive.
¶ Mainly for females looking after house or home, and sick and disabled. The figures for 1985 are preliminary estimates.

Table 2
Education/labour market status of young people in Great Britain aged 16 and 17 years^*: January each year
Thousands
	1974	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986†
Total population	1,550	1,785	1,830	1,860	1,840	1,815	1,765	1,730
Full-time education‡	470	600	655	700	735	685	675	665
YTS/YOP	—	70	135	180	235	275	275	265
Claimant/registered unemployed\|\|	45	130	235	275	285	270	260	240
Other¶	1,035	985	810	705	585	585	555	560
^* Ages as at 31 August of preceding year.
† Provisional.
‡ Excluding YTS/YOP.
\|\| Claimant unemployed for 1983–86: registered unemployed prior to 1983.
¶ Mainly those in employment outside YTS. Also includes some who are seeking work but not claiming benefit (for 1983–86) or not registered for employment (prior to 1983), some of whom are neither employed nor seeking work (e.g. because of domestic responsibilities) and net errors in the other estimates.