Figures on the total agricultural labour force at June each year have been taken from DEFRA’s annual June survey of agriculture and horticulture (see notes 1 to 6) and are set out as follows.
Number (thousand) 1997 417.0 1998 415.0 1999 397.2 2000 374.0 2001 368.3 20015 386.7 20026 371.6 2003 354.4 2004 367.5 2005 364.9 2006 361.0 2007 353.1 2008 360.1 2009 363.0 1 Includes estimates for minor holdings. 2 Estimates have been made for non-respondents. 3 Figures exclude school children but include trainees employed under an official youth training scheme and paid at Agricultural Wages Board rates or above. 4 The figures presented here are not comparable with earlier years' results due to the introduction of new questions in 1998. 5 June 2001 results assuming register improvements had not taken place (comparable with June 2000). 6 June 2001 results including register improvement (not directly comparable with June 2000).
Changes in labour force estimates
In 1998, fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions on the June agricultural and horticultural census in England. It appears that this change in questions may have led to the recording of additional Labour who were not previously included in the returns.
We therefore advise caution when comparing the 1998 results with previous years. The June 2001 figures include estimates for holdings that have been converted from the temporary register. Further improvements to the register of agricultural holdings have also been made, mainly as a result of livestock tracing. As a result it is not possible to directly compare the June 2000 and June 2001 results. Furthermore, it is not possible to backdate the existing labour series as it is impossible to estimate how long the newly registered holdings have been in existence. However, the June 2001 results have also been calculated assuming the register changes had not taken place to provide comparable figures.