Treasury written question – answered at on 27 January 2005.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the level of unemployment has been lower in any year since 1975 than the current level of unemployment.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Allen, dated
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about levels of unemployment since 1975. (211009)
Consistent series for unemployment since 1971, based on International Labour Organisation definitions, show that since 1975, unemployment has been lower than its current level of 1,400,000 on seven occasions. In date order, these were:
Three months ending | Level |
---|---|
January 1976 | 1,343,000 |
February 1976 | 1,363,000 |
March 1976 | 1,379,000 |
April 1976 | 1,392,000 |
August 2004 | 1,387,000 |
September 2004 | 1,380,000 |
October 2004 | 1,388,000 |
Based on the same source, the unemployment rate has been lower than its current level of 4.7 per cent. on only one occasion. This was in the three months ending September 2004, when the rate was 4.6 per cent.
These estimates are based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Estimates from 1992 are taken directly from the LFS, whilst figures prior to 1992 are modelled estimates consistent with the post-1992 LFS data. The LFS is a sample survey and, as with any statistical sample survey, results are subject to sampling variability.
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