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Foreign Workers

Volume 472: debated on Tuesday 26 February 2008

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many foreign workers in the United Kingdom were aged (a) 16 to 21, (b) 22 to 30, (c) 31 to 40, (d) 41 to 50, (e) 51 to 60 and (f) over 61 years in the most recent period for which figures are available. (188462)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell dated 26 February 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many foreign workers in the UK were aged (a) 16 to 21, (b) 22 to 30, (c) 31 to 40, (d) 41 to 50, (e) 51 to 60 and (f) over 61 years in the most recent period for which figures are available. (188462)

The attached table gives the number of people in the categories requested for the three month period ending December 2007.

The data for analysing migrant workers comes from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The National Statistics method for estimating the number of migrant workers employed in the UK is based on the number of people at a given time who were born abroad and in employment. This question has been answered on this basis.

The LFS estimates at this detailed level are consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003, whereas data in the Labour Market First Release is based on more up to date figures.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Foreign born population in employment by age group, three months ending December 2007, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted

Thousand

Total

3,496

16-21

142

22-30

897

31-40

1,016

41-50

812

51-60

490

61 and over

139

Note:

It should be noted that the estimates:

exclude certain people who have been resident in the UK for less than six months.

exclude students in halls of residence who do not have a UK resident parent.

exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. Hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc).

are grossed to population estimates that only include migrants staying 12 months or more.

are grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003

which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates as used in the Labour Market Statistics.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of foreign workers worked in each English region in the latest period for which figures are available. (188463)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 26 February 2008:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the percentage of foreign workers who worked in each English region in the latest period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (188463)

The attached table gives the number of people in the categories requested for the three month period ending December 2007.

The data for analysing migrant workers comes from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The National Statistics method for estimating the number of migrant workers employed in the UK is based on the number of people at a given time who were born abroad, are of working age (16-64 for men, 16-59 for women) and in employment. This question has been answered on this basis.

The LFS estimates at this detailed level are consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003, whereas those in the Labour Market Statistics First Release are based on more up-to-date population figures.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Working age1 foreign born population in employment by English government office regions: Three months ending December 2007, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted

Thousands

Percentage2

England

3,124

100

North East

46

2

North West

225

7

Yorkshire and Humberside

174

6

East Midlands

182

6

West Midlands

221

7

Eastern

310

10

London

1,287

41

South East

475

15

South West

203

7

1 Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59.

2 Number of foreign born of working age in employment in each region as a percentage of foreign born of working age in employment in the whole of England.

Note:

It should be noted that the estimates:

exclude certain people who have been resident in the UK for less than six months;

exclude students in halls of residence who do not have a UK resident parent;

exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.);

are grossed to population estimates that only include migrants staying 12 months or more;

are grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003;

which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates as used in the Labour Market Statistics.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey