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Written question asked by Chris Ruane (Labour) on Thursday, 24 October 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 October 2019. It was answered by Mims Davies (Conservative) on Friday, 1 November 2019 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Working Hours

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people that worked less than 15 hours a week in each (a) country and (b) region of the UK in each year since 2010.

Answer

The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to provide estimates for the usual weekly hours of work for people. The table below sets out data ONS publishes on those working fewer than 6 hours, and between 6 and 15 hours. Breakdowns for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and regional breakdowns, are not provided because of small sample sizes. Estimates are based on the number of people who report the numbers of hours worked.

Table: People working fewer than 6 hours, and 6 to 15 hours for April to June each year

fewer than 6 Hours

6 up to 15 hours

level (thousands)

% of total people in employment

level (thousands)

% of total people in employment

Apr-Jun 2010

417

1.5

2,011

7.1

Apr-Jun 2011

473

1.7

1,959

6.9

Apr-Jun 2012

469

1.6

2,034

7.1

Apr-Jun 2013

445

1.5

2,033

7.0

Apr-Jun 2014

463

1.6

2,034

6.9

Apr-Jun 2015

487

1.6

1,899

6.3

Apr-Jun 2016

474

1.5

2,058

6.7

Apr-Jun 2017

424

1.4

2,048

6.6

Apr-Jun 2018

426

1.4

2,043

6.5

Apr-Jun 2019

471

1.5

2,066

6.5

Source: Table HOUR02NSA, ONS, Labour Force Survey

At UK level people in full-time work have made up over three quarters of the overall increase in employment since 2010.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
4936
Session
2019-19
Subjects
Employment Working hours
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk