§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many new entrants aged 18–24 there were in the United Kingdom labour markets in 2001; and in each of the following years: 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996; and [HL5612]
When they last published figures on new entrants aged 18–24 to the United Kingdom labour market; and when they intend to publish such figures again. [HL5615]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter to Baroness Greengross from the National Statistician and Registrar General, Len Cook, dated July 2002.
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about new entrants to the United Kingdom labour market aged 18–24. (HL5612 and HL5615)
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of the economic status of people aged 18–24. These are published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release, which is available from the House of Commons Library. The latest release was published on 17 July 2002. The next edition will be published on 14 August 2002.
The attached table gives the estimates for 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted. This information is not available for the other years mentioned in your question.
It is not possible to distinguish which of the employed and unemployed 18–24 year olds shown in the table were "new entrants" to the labour market.
Labour market summary for people aged 18–24 United Kingdom Thousands, not seasonally adjusted In employment Unemployed Economically inactive March to May 19811 4,026 730 1,154 March to May 1986 4,366 912 1,213 March to May 1991 4,184 643 1,188 March to May 1996 3,283 536 1,261 March to May 2001 3,308 347 1,346 Source: ONS Labour Force Survey
1For years prior to 1984, the statistics for the unemployed and economically inactive populations were produced using a slightly different definition.