The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. Meacher
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he makes for each year since 1979 of (a) the total population of working age regardless of whether or not they were in work and (b) the percentage of the population which was not in work whether or not they were looking for work.
Mr. Needham
The information requested is as follows:
| Population of working age in Northern Ireland percentage not in employment 1979–19911 | ||
| Year | Population of working age (000s)2 | Percentage not in employment3 |
| 1979 | 859 | 35·5 |
| 1981 | 874 | 38·8 |
| 1983 | 888 | 41·5 |
| 1984 | 898 | 41·5 |
| 1985 | 906 | 41·8 |
| 1986 | 915 | 40·1 |
| 1987 | 923 | 40·6 |
| 1988 | 927 | 38·6 |
| 1989 | 932 | 37·2 |
| 1990 | 938 | 36·2 |
| 1 Population of working age figures are general registrar's office mid-year estimates. The percentage not in employment is based on estimates from the labour force survey. This surve was not conducted in 1980 and 1982. | ||
| 2 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59. | ||
| 3 Unemployed plus economically inactive as a percentage of population of working age. | ||