CHAPTER 4: THE LABOUR SECTOR
General conditions
4.1
Against the background of a general slowdown in
economic activity and weak domestic
seasonally adjusted unemployment
rate
export performance, the
increased from 3.1% in
Although the rate in
December 1981 to 3.5% in March 1982.
June, at 3.4%, shows no increase, there are indications from
the monthly General Household survey that it has risen since
then.
4.2
On the supply side, the influence of illegal
immigration on the growth rate of the labour force continued
to diminish. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate
also
rate growth
of the
declined(1) As a result, the
•
/ supply
(1) Labour force participation rate is defined as the proportion of the total number of persons aged 15 and over represented by persons who are either aged 15 and over and working or aged 15 to 64 and unemployed but seeking work. In other words, this definition excludes all those who do not wish to work because of various reasons such as schooling or staying at home as housewives. The following figures are adjusted to the definitions used for the labour force survey:
Labour force participation rate (%)
Overall
Male
Female
1980
Mar
62.8
79.6
44.9
Sep
63.8
80.8
45.6
1981
Mar
55.8
82.5
49.5
Sep
65.9
82.4
48.5
Dec
35.0
31.5
47.8
1982
Mar
64.7
81.0
47.8
Jun
54.2
80.6
47.2
Starting from September 1981, the half-yearly labour force surveys have been replaced by a series of monthly general household surveys. The estimate for March 1981 was derived from the 1981 Population Census.
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