how is unemployment measured

Question 1

what is unemployment/who

Answer 1

-cosnists of those of a working age who are willing/able to work, actively seeking work but don’t have a job

Question 1

labour force survey
what is it
who
how to work out unemployment rate

Answer 1

massive survey, carried out by office for national statistics (ONS), uk 40k surveyed

measures: unemployed, employed, economically inactive (not willing)

how to measure: unemployed/economically active x 100

Question 2

claimant count: what and issues

Answer 2

-measure of total number claiming unemployment benefits

issues: difficult to compare between countries, not everyone will/can claim, subject to fraud

Question 3

issues of labour force survey

Answer 3

-sampling errors: small sample 40k, error +-3%
-cost, very expensive
-discouraged workers: hidden unemployment, seeking work but dropout
-inactive groups: early retired, reliant on spouses income
-under-employed: counted as fully employed (1 hour/week)