With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 12 and 14 together.
Prior to 1975, accurate data on female participation rates disaggregated by age-cohort could be derived only from the full Census of Population. As this is normally taken every five years, annual figures are simply crude interpolations of the quinquennial data.
Due to the cancellation of the 1976 census by the previous Government, it is not possible to derive annual estimates which are strictly comparable with the 1971 census data. Estimates of current participation rates are based on the 1975 Community Labour Force Survey.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a table showing female participation rates differentiated by age-group for 1971 and 1975. The data for 1971 are based on the Census of Population returns. I stress that the results of the labour force survey are not directly comparable with the census data because of definitional problems and the sample nature of the survey.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the NESC report, "Population and Employment Projections 1986" which contains a range of labour force projections differentiated by sex and age group. The range incorporates alternative assumptions regarding female participation rates, namely, that:
(1) the 1975 participation rate remains stable in the period to 1986, and,
(2) the 1971-75 trend, adjusted for an expected slower trend rate for married women, will continue in the period to 1986.
The results of the 1975 Community sample survey showed that in 1975, 170,400 women aged 25 or over described themselves as "at work" or "unemployed, having lost or given up previous job". For the purposes of economic and social planning, it is assumed that female participation rates since 1975 have moved in line with the adjusted 1971-75 trend. On this basis, the number of women aged 25 years and over who are currently at work or seeking work is estimated at about 172,000. This estimate and related assumptions may have to be revised in the light of the results of the 1977 Community Labour Force Survey expected in 1978.
If female participation rates continue to move in line with the adjusted 1971-75 trend in the period to 1986, then the figure for that year corresponding to the 1975 estimate would be about 181,000.
Labour force participation rates (per cent) among women aged 25 and over, 1971 and 1975
Age-group
|
1971
|
1975
|
25-29
|
34.6
|
38.4
|
30-34
|
21.6
|
23.7
|
35-39
|
18.9
|
18.5
|
40-44
|
19.3
|
22.1
|
45-49
|
20.1
|
22.6
|
50-54
|
21.5
|
23.0
|
55-59
|
21.8
|
21.1
|
60-64
|
20.7
|
18.4
|
65-69
|
11.3
|
10.4
|
70+
|
|
3.9
|
NOTE: (i) the data for 1971 are derived from the Census of Population returns while the 1975 figures are those published in the Community Labour Force Survey 1975. Because of the partial coverage of the sample survey, the latter figures are subject to sampling errors. For this reason and for reasons related to fundamental differences, both conceptual and definitional, between the two sources, the census data cannot be directly compared with the sample survey figures.
(ii) the data for 1975 shown above differ marginally from those in the report published by the Central Statistics Office on the survey as the latter extends not only to persons resident in private households but also to persons usually resident in institutions.