HC Deb 15 January 1990 vol 165 cc63-4W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of employment in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the rest of the European Economic Community and (c) the countries covered by the European Free Trade Association.

Mr. Nicholls

The latest available information is shown in the table:

Employment in the European Community and the European Free Trade Association
Thousands
a. Civilian employment b. Civilian workforce Labour force3 Employment rate (a/b) per cent.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
1987
United Kingdom 24,747 27,739 89
Belgium 3,660 4,126 89
Denmark 2,609 2,765 94
France 20,988 23,519 89
Germany 25,456 27,864 91
Greece1 3,598 3,884 93
Ireland 1,074 1,306 82
Italy 20,584 23,416 88
Luxembourg2 164 167 99
Netherlands 5,251 5,830 90
Portugal 4,226 4,452 95
Spain 11,383 14,332 79
EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION
1987
Austria1 3,300 3,430 96
Finland 2,413 2,544 95
Iceland 129 129 100
Norway 2,090 2,135 98
a. Civilian employment b. Civilian workforce Labour force3 Employment rate (a/b) per cent.
Sweden1 4,337 4,421 98
Switzerland1 3,273 3,297 99
1 Figures are total employment and total labour force as no civilian employment and civilian labour force figures are available.
2 Figures shown are for 1986 which are the latest available.
3 Figures are civilian labour force except for United Kingdom which are civilian workforce.

SourceLabour Force Statistics 1967–1987 (OECD) except United Kingdom (ED)