§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment using labour force survey data what has been the size of the total civilian labour force each year since 1979, what have been the numbers employed and the numbers unemployed each year and what has been the change each year both in numbers and in percentage terms.
§ Mr. LeeEstimates of the civilian labour force are not directly available from the labour force survey (LFS).
Available estimates from the LFS of the economically active (that is, those in employment plus the unemployed) aged 16 and over in Great Britain, for LFS years since 1979, are as shown in the table.
826W
Economically active persons aged 16 and over—Great Britain, Spring estimates Thousands and Per cent. Economically Active Year In employment Unemployed 1979 25,643 24,214 1,429 1981 26,089 26,606 2,483 Change 1979–81 446 2,392 1,054 Percentage 1.7 9.9 73.8 1983 25,797 22,944 2,853 Change 1981–83 - 291 -3,662 -371 Percentage -1.1 -13.8 -14.9 1984 26,304 23,387 2,916 Change 1983–84 506 443 63 Percentage 2.0 1.9 2.2 1985 26,553 23,739 2,814
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 20 February 1989]: The available information is given in the table. Comparable information for lecturers and researchers in higher education, or for part-time recruits is not available centrally.
Economically Active Year In employment Unemployed Change 1984–85 249 352 -103 Percentage 0.9 1.5 -3.5 1986 26,649 23,829 2,820 Change 1985–86 96 90 2— Percentage 0.4 0.4 2— 1987 27,031 24,247 2,784 Change 1986–87 382 418 -36 Percentage 1.4 1.8 -1.3 1 Great Britain labour force definition. 2 Change not statistically significant. Source:Labour Force Surveys.