§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the percentage unemployment in each of the countries of the European Union excluding Finland, Austria and Sweden; and, still excluding Finland, Austria and Sweden, what was the numerical total of unemployed in the European Union as a whole in each year since 1990. [HL2818]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics who has been asked to reply.
Letter from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Mr. Tim Holt, dated 14 June 1999.
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on unemployment in selected countries of the European Union (EU).
The data are shown in the two attached tables. Table 1 shows the ILO unemployment rates for EU12 countries, that is all EU Member States except Finland, Austria and Sweden, for 1990 to 1998. Table 2 shows the level of ILO unemployment in EU12 as a whole for 1990 to 1997. Please note that the ILO unemployment rate for Ireland for 1998 is not yet available and therefore that the levels and rates of ILO unemployment for EU12 for 1998 cannot be calculated. The rates and levels refer to spring of each year and are not seasonally adjusted.
The Labour Force Survey is the recognised source of internationally comparable information on ILO unemployment in EU member states. This is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO definition of unemployment considers a person unemployed if he/she is (a) without a paid job; (b) available to start work within the next two weeks and (c) has either looked for work in the last four weeks or is waiting to start a job already obtained.
A line has been drawn between rates for 1991 and 1992. Several improvements to the survey were implemented in 1992, introducing a slight discontinuity in the series. Eurostat advise that since both series are based on ILO guidelines, the difference between the series should be minimal.
5WA
Table 2: Level of ILO unemployment in EU12 countries, 1990–97 Spring of each year, not seasonally adjusted Thousands EU12 1990 12,238 1991 13,328 1992 14,235 1993 16,380 1994 17,676 1995 16,822 1996 17,247 1997 17,121 Source:
Labour Force Survey, ONS and Eurostat.