declined slightly, there was a small increase in the supply of labour over the period (5).
4.5
A number of indirect
developments in the
labour market
indicators of recent
confirm that there was
demand for labour
First, the
(6)
an increase in the
number of job vacancies reported to the Labour Department
in the third quarter of 1983 continued to increase
rapidly, by 41% compared with the same quarter last year.
Second, although the number of persons on the register of
the Local Employment Service (excluding those on the
Special Register and those seeking Model I pay scale jobs with the Government) in the third quarter was 16% higher
than in the same quarter last year, it was not large
relative
economically
population
Third, the number of labour
to
(7).
the
total
active
disputes
矍
/ arising
period
(%)
(5) The total labour force and the employed population according to
the definitions used for the General Household Survey:
Quarter ending
Labour force
(no.)
Rate of change on previous
Number of
persons employed
(no.)
Rate of change on previous
period
(8)
1982 Mar 2 483 300
2 401 900
Jun
2 485 300
-0.1
2 406 500
0.2
Sep
2 512 800
1.1
2 412 300
0.2
Dec
2 511 000
-0.1
2 407 700
-0.2
1983 Mar
2 497 800
-0.5
2 370 600
-1.5
Jun 2 533 500 Sept 2 534 300
1.4
2 421 900
2.2
0.0
2 429 400
0.3
Note : (+) Provisional estimates
(6) See footnote (5) above.
(7)
The average number of persons on the register of the Local Employment service was 12 610 in
in the third quarter of 1983, representing 0.5% of the labour force or 13.0% of the number of persons unemployed.
26