Employment
Level rises to 28.0 million at end 2002
People in employment, United Kingdom
UK employment levels increased by 268,000 in 2002 to 28.0 million in October-December 2002, a level that was then the highest on record. The growth has generally been in line with population growth over the last two years, if marginally faster in the final months of 2002.
As a result, the working-age employment rate increased slightly over the year from 74.4 per cent in October - December 2001 to 74.7 per cent in October - December 2002. The rate remains high compared with much of the pre-2000 period.
During 2002 there were increases in both the number of employees (240,000) and the self-employed (64,000). For the self-employed, this represented a continuation of the recovery seen in 2001 to 3.2 million at the end of 2002. Previously the numbers of self-employed had declined from around 3.3 million in 1996 to 3.1 million in October-December 2000.
The number of part-time workers has increased over the last 20 years, reflecting changing working patterns and moves to more flexible working. In 2002 the number of part-time workers increased by 142,000 to 7.1 million at the end of the year, having peaked at an all-time high of almost 7.2 million in August-October. The number of full-time workers increased by 126,000 during the year to 20.9 million.
The change in employment was similar for men and women – increasing by 138,000 for men and 129,000 for women. The effect on rates was also similar, with the male working age employment rate rising from 79.2 per cent to 79.5 per cent and the female rate from 69.2 per cent to 69.6 per cent.
Percentage of working age people in employment, United Kingdom
Although the overall employment rate increased slightly in 2002, there were falls among those aged 16 to 24. Employment rates for all other ages except post-retirement increased. The biggest increase was among those aged between 50 and retirement age, where the employment rate rose from 68.0 to 68.9 per cent.
Employment levels increased in all UK areas in 2002, except for the North East and the East of England. Employment rates, which allow for population changes, show a slightly different picture with four areas decreasing, and eight areas increasing.
The areas with the biggest decreases in employment rates in 2002 were the North East and East of England. The largest increases were experienced in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland where the working-age employment rates increased by 3.1, 1.9 and 1.3 percentage points respectively. The North East had the lowest employment rate in 2002 (67.5 per cent), while the South East had the highest (79.5 per cent).
Source: Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
Notes: Working age employment rate is the proportion of the working-age population who are in employment. The working age population comprises men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. The LFS definition of employment is anyone who does at least one hour’s paid work in the week prior to their LFS interview, or has a job from which they are temporarily away. Also included are people who do unpaid work in a family business and people on Government-supported training schemes.
The data in the chart are based on three-month moving averages.
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