§ Miss MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) on 14 December 1987,Official Report, column 338, if he will list the area of buoyant labour demand where new claimants will be provided with information on available jobs.
§ Mr. LeeThis will be a matter for regional and local managers in the employment service to decide, based on the prevailing circumstances in their areas.
§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has fallen in the northern region since July 1986.
§ Mr. LeeOn 10 December 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the northern region, adjusted for seasonality and excluding school leavers, was 191,400, a fall of 34,500 since July 1986.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department takes to help reduce the problem of seasonal unemployment.
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§ Mr. LeeSeasonal fluctuations in unemployment have always occurred here and in other countries, reflecting seasonal patterns of demand. They occur even when unemployment is very low. Those affected usually remain unemployed for only short periods.
In tourism, one of the industries particularly affected by seasonal unemployment, it is Government policy, and that of the national tourist boards, to encourage year-round tourism through marketing and investment in tourism facilities.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Cornwall.
§ Mr. LeeOn 10 December 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in the county of Cornwall was 23,972.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present level of job vacancies in the Blackpool travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. LeeOn 4 December 1987 the number of unfilled vacancies at the jobcentres Blackpool central, Blackpool south, Thornton Clevelys, St. Annes, Kirkham and Fleetwood, which cover an area closely corresponding to the Blackpool travel-to-work area, was 864.
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§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in(a) employment levels and (b) unemployment levels of those aged under 25 years, 25 to 54 years, and 55 years and over (i) from mid-1979 to mid-1986 and (ii) from mid-1986.
§ Mr. LeeThe regularly published working population series does not separately identify those in employment by age. Also estimates by age from the monthly unemployment count for 1979 and 1986 are not comparable because of changes in coverage. The Labour force survey (LFS) provides information on a different basis.
LFS estimates of the percentage change in the number of persons in employment in Great Britain between spring 1979 and spring 1986, for the age groups requested, are as shown:
Age (Years) Change per cent. 16–24 +2.7 25–54 +2.0 55 and over -20.8 LFS estimates of the percentage change in the number of persons unemployed in Great Britain are not available for 1979 on a basis consistent with later years. The estimated percentage changes from spring 1981 to spring 1986 are as follows:
Age (Years) Change per cent.1 16–24 +2.92 25–54 +29.0 55 and over -12.3 296W
Table 1 Employees in employment: Percentage changes between June of each year in the categories listed in Table 1.3 of 'Employment Gazette' Great Britain Division Class or Group of SIC1 Change 1979–80 Change 1980–81 Change 1981–82 Change 1982–83 Change 1983–84 Change 1984–85 Change 1985–86 Change 1986–87 Change 1979–87 Production Industries 1.4 -3.9 -9.6 -5.5 -5.7 -2.4 -1.2 -2.9 -1.8 -28.9 Manufacturing Industries 2.4 -4.3 10.3 -5.7 -5.8 -2.1 -0.8 -2.3 -1.3 -28.7 Energy and Water Supply 1 0.7 -2.3 -4.2 -4.7 -5.0 -4.5 -8.6 -7.4 -31.0 Coal extraction and solid fuels 111 -0.4 -4.2 -5.0 -5.3 -8.8 -6.6 -16.5 -15.9 -48.7 Electricity 161 -0.6 -3.1 -4.8 -3.6 -3.1 -2.4 -1.2 -0.5 -17.8 Gas 162 1.1 0.0 -1.8 -3.5 -3.9 -4.0 -4.1 -4.5 -19.0 Other Mineral and Ore Extraction Etc 2 -5.9 -12.8 -5.6 -7.8 -2.3 0.1 -2.6 -0.9 -32.5 Metal Manufacturing 22 -10.0 -19.6 -10.0 -13.9 -9.5 -3.7 -7.4 -4.8 -56.9 Non-Metalic Mineral Products 24 -4.9 -12.1 3.4 -4.3 2.7 3.6 -1.0 1.2 -17.7 Chemical Industry 25 -3.5 -8.9 -4.1 -6.0 -0.6 0.6 -0.6 0.2 -21.1 Basic industrial chemicals 251 -3.1 -11.1 -7.6 -8.4 -1.0 1.2 -0.6 0.0 -27.3 Other chemical products and preparations 255–259/260 -3.8 -7.6 -1.8 -4.5 -0.3 0.3 -0.5 0.3 -17.0 Metal Goods, Engineering and Vehicles 3 -3.2 -10.6 -6.5 -6.7 -3.2 -1.7 -3.7 -2.6 -32.6 Metal Goods nes 31 -4.3 -15.2 -6.1 -10.5 -3.7 -3.5 -5.5 -1.9 -41.2 Mechanical Engineering Industrial plant and 32 -2.7 -10.4 -6.3 -8.9 -2.3 -0.3 -3.3 -1.9 -31.3 steelwork 320 -7.5 -12.5 -3.9 -7.6 8.0 -3.1 -6.7 -1.3 -30.8 Mining and construction machinery etc Other machinery and 325 -4.4 -13.0 -8.6 -6.2 -5.4 -4.1 -2.2 -3.0 -38.6 mechanical equipment 328 -2.1 -10.0 -6.1 -9.4 -2.8 1.1 -2.7 -1.4 -29.4 Office Machinery, Data Processing Equipment 33 4.8 -0.7 3.4 2.3 3.3 9.1 -0.5 3.6 28.1 Electrical and Electronic Engineering 34 -2.1 -8.6 -6.9 -3.4 -0.8 -2.2 -4.1 -2.4 -27.0
1 Estimated change in the number unemployed on the definition adopted in the Department of Employment's estimates of the Great Britain labour force. 2 The 1981 LFS estimate for 16 to 24-years-olds is on a slightly different basis from later years and the estimated change since 1981 is therefore less reliable than for the older age groups. Figures on this basis are not yet available for 1987. However, the percentage changes in claimant unemployed in Great Britain from July 1986 to October 1987, for the age groups requested, are as shown:
Age (Years) Change per cent. 16–24 -22.6 25–54 -14.1 55 and over -9.8 These claimant unemployed figures are affected by seasonal influences.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been(a) the annual percentage change since 1979 in the total (i) employed and (ii) unemployed, and (b) the aggregate percentage change since 1979 to the latest available date in the total (i) employed and (ii) unemployed, in each of the categories of employment listed in tables 1.2 and 1.3 of the Employment Gazette.
§ Mr. Lee[holding answer 22 January 1988]: The available information is as follows:
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Great Britain Division Class or Group of SIC1 Change 1979–80 Change 1980–81 Change 1981–82 Change 1982–83 Change 1983–84 Change 1984–85 Change 1985–86 Change 1986–87 Change 1979–87 Wires, cables, batteries and other electrical equipment 341/342/343 -3.2 -9.6 -7.6 -6.9 -3.8 -1.3 -5.7 -4.6 -35.7 Telecommunication equipment 344 2.0 -3.7 -4.5 -2.4 -2.7 -2.8 -4.5 -1.8 -18.9 Other electronic and electrical equipment 345–348 -4.2 -11.7 -8.3 0.0 4.7 -2.5 -1.9 -0.8 -22.9 Motor Vehicles and Parts 35 -6.3 -16.8 -12.9 -6.0 -6.1 -4.2 -5.3 -4.6 -48.2 Motor vehicles and engines 351 -6.2 -16.7 -14.3 0.3 -5.6 -1.2 -4.4 -7.1 .44.5 Bodies, trailers, caravans and parts 352/353 -6.3 16.8 -12.1 -9.4 -6.4 -6.1 -5.8 -3.0 -50.2 Other Transport Equipment 36 -3.0 -4.4 -3.4 -5.5 -9.0 -3.9 -3.6 -5.9 -32.8 Aerospace equipment 364 1.3 -2.8 -4.1 -3.2 -1.5 -1.1 -1.2 -2.2 -14.0 Ship and other transport equipment 361–363/365 -7.1 -6.0 -2.8 -8.0 -17.3 -7.5 -6.9 -11.4 -50.7 Instrument Engineering 37 -3.0 -9.3 -3.3 -6.3 0.0 0.9 1.1 -2.1 -20.4 Other Manufacturing Industries 4 -5.0 -8.9 -4.7 -3.9 -0.9 -0.1 -0.6 0.0 -22.0 Food, Drink and Tobacco 41/42 -1.1 -5.8 -4.0 -6.1 -2.7 -1.6 -3.7 -1.3 -23.6 Meat and meat products, organic oils and fats 411/412 0.5 -4.3 -4.5 -2.7 -4.3 -0.2 -1.6 -0.9 -16.8 Alcoholic and soft drinks manufacture 424/428 0.7 -7.4 -4.2 -8.4 -0.6 -4.3 .4.9 -2.1 -27.6 All other food, drink and tobacco manufacture 413–423/429 -2.0 -5.7 -3.8 -6.3 -3.0 -1.2 -3.9 -1.2 24.1 Textiles 43 -12.6 -15.9 -6.2 -6.8 -2.2 -0.3 0.7 -5.1 -40.1 Footwear and Clothing 45 -8.6 -12.9 -6.1 -3.2 2.1 1.0 0-6 -1.6 -26.2 Timber and Wooden Furniture 46 -5.1 -8.0 -7.4 1.2 0.1 -0.4 2.6 0.7 -15.7 Paper, Printing and Publishing Pulp, paper, board and 47 -0.8 -5.1 -2.9 -2.8 -0.9 0.7 -1.2 2.5 -10.3 derived products 471/472 -5.5 -12.8 -7.0 -7.3 -3.4 -0.5 .0.8 4.4 -29.3 Printing and publishing 475 1.9 -1.1 -1.0 -0.9 0.1 1.2 -1.3 1.7 0.5 Rubber and Plastics 48 -5.3 -11.2 -4.5 -2.2 3.5 1.5 2.8 4.2 -11.6 Other Manufacturing 49 -10.9 -10.5 -3.1 -2.5 -4.6 0.6 3.8 3.7 -22.1 1 Standard Industrial Classification. 298W299W
Table 2 Employees in Employment: Percentage changes between June of each year in those categories listed in table 1.2 of 'Employment Gazette' which do not appear in table 1.3 Great Britain Division Class or Group of SIC Change 1979–80 Change 1980–81 Change 1981–82 Change 1982–83 Change 1983–84 Change 1984–85 Change 1985–86 Change 1986–87 Change 1979–87 All industries and services (0–9)* All employees -0.8 -4.8 -2.2 -1.6 0.8 1.3 0.4 1.3 -5.6 Production and construction industries (1–5) All employees -3.3 -9.4 -5.6 -5.2 -2.2 -1.2 -2.9 -1.3 -27.4 Service industries (6–9) All employees 0.9 -1.8 -0.2 0-4 2.5 2.6 2.2 2.6 9.5 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01–03) -1.9 -2.6 -1.5 -2.4 -3.0 0.3 -3.4 -3.2 -16.4 Coal, oil and natural gas extraction and processing (11–14) 0.3 -3.1 -4.7 -5.2 -7.1 -6.2 -15.1 -14.3 -44.4 Electricity, gas, other energy and water supply (15–17) 1.1 -1.4 -3.7 -4.4 -2.7 -3.1 -2.9 -2.0 -17.6 Metal manufacturing, ore and other mineral extraction (21–24) -7.5 -15.3 -6.8 -8.9 -3.7 -0.2 -4.3 -1.6 -39.8 Office machinery, electrical engineering and instruments (33–34, 37) -1.7 -8.1 -5.5 -3.3 -0.3 -0.5 -3.1 -1.6 -21.8 Textiles, leather, footwear and clothing (43–45) -10.5 -14.2 -6.0 -5.0 -0.2 0.2 0.2 -3.1 -33.5 Timber, wooden furniture, rubber, plastics, etc. (46, 48–49) -6.3 -9.7 -5.4 -0.8 0.6 0.4 3.0 2.7 .15-2 Construction (50) 0.4 -8.6 -5.8 -2.2 -0.5 -1.4 -2.8 2.4 -17.5 Wholesale distribution and repairs (61–63, 67) 3.2 -3.0 0.3 0-8 2.8 1.2 1.4 2.8 9.6 Retail distribution (64–65) nil -3.9 -3.3 -1.0 2.4 1.6 1.2 0.3 -2.9 Hotels and catering (66) 3.0 -3.0 3.1 -1.0 4.8 5.1 2.3 2.3 17.6 Transport (71–77) -0.8 -5.9 -4.4 -3.2 -0.6 0-3 -0.8 0.2 -14.3 Postal services and telecommunications (79) 3.4 0.2 .0.2 -0.9 nil 0.5 0.7 2.8 6.5
Great Britain Division Class or Group of SIC Change 1979–80 Change 1980–81 Change 1981–82 Change 1982–83 Change 1983–84 Change 1984–85 Change 1985–86 Change 1986–87 Change 1979–87 Banking, finance, insurance (81–85) 2.9 2.6 3.4 4.3 5.0 5.9 5.8 6.0 42.2 Public administration etc. (91–92) -1.1 -4.2 -1.0 2.0 1.0 1.3 1.1 2.6 1.4 Education (93) -1.2 -1.7 -1.2 -0.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 3.0 2.5 Medical and other health services: veterinary services (95) -2.0 2.7 0.9 -0.9 0.4 1.2 0.3 -0.2 6.6 Other services (94, 96–98) -1.9 -0.3 1.8 0.8 6.7 6.0 4.2 3.9 27.6 As a result of the change to a claimant-based unemployment count, statistics of unemployment by industry have not been available since May 1982. Figures prior to 1982 are not available by the 1980 standard industrial classification (SIC) definitions as given in tables 1.2 and 1.3 of the Employment Gazette.