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United Kingdom

United Kingdom Labor Stats

jaacosta47

Author: jaacosta47

The Labor Law in the United Kingdom is very flexible. All employees are entitled to an employment contract as basis of the legal employment relationship. Throughout the years, employees have been given many legal rights as a result of parliamentary acts and regulations which affect employment relationship. The contract prescribes the number of work hours’ holiday entitlement. Rules stipulate the maximum number of hours an individual should work weekly. Young people of 18 years should work a maximum of 40 hours a week or eight hours a day. Adults can work 48 hours a week.

Employers within the UK can select the legal system that will govern employment agreements. In case there is no choice of law specified in the employment agreement, the law of the country in which the employee is located will apply. Pursuant to the Employment Rights Act of 1996, all employees in the UK must receive within two months of employment, a written statement from their employers laying down terms and conditions of work. The principal legislation that bars discrimination and harassment is the Equality Act 2010. The law follows three major European Union Directives. It strictly forbids discrimination and harassment based on a broad array of protected characteristics.

The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 sets the minimum pay per hour for workers in the UK. The minimum wage rate depends on age bracket but employees over 21 years of age; the current minimum hourly wage rate is currently £6.19. The government is also set to publish consolidated and simplified National Minimum Wage Regulations in late April of 2013. The employee's standard number of working hours is specified in the employment contract. Adult employees may not be required to work more than 40 hours every week. On the other hand, employers are not mandated to pay workers for overtime for hours worked in excess of what is indicated in the legal agreement.

Definitions

  • Agricultural workers > Female: Proportion of employed females engaged in the agricultural sector. Employment by economic activity (%) (most recent year available between 1995 and 2001). Note: As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of labour statistics over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see ILO (2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; and 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002). The percentage shares of employment by economic activity may not sum to 100 because of rounding or the omission of activities not classified.
  • Agricultural workers > Male: Proportion of employed males engaged in the agricultural sector. Employment by economic activity (%) (most recent year available between 1995 and 2001). Note: As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of labour statistics over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see ILO (2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; and 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002). The percentage shares of employment by economic activity may not sum to 100 because of rounding or the omission of activities not classified.
  • Compensation of employees > Current LCU: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees.
  • Days off work: Number of days not worked for every 1000 salaried employees. Selected OECD countries only. Data for 2000.
  • Employment > Employment rates by gender > Employment rates > Men: Employment rates are calculated as the ratio of the employed to the working age population. To calculate this employment rate, the population of working age is divided into two groups: those who are employed and those who are not. Employment is generally measured through household labour force surveys and, according to the ILO Guidelines, employed persons are defined as those aged 15 or over who report that they have worked in gainful employment for at least one hour in the previous week. Those not in employment consist of persons who are out of work but seeking employment, students and all others who have excluded themselves from the labour force for one reason or another, such as incapacity or the need to look after young children or elderly relatives.

    Working age is generally defined as persons in the 15 to 64 age bracket although in some countries working age is defined as 16 to 64.
  • Employment > Employment share by sector > Agriculture > Men > Aged above 14: Percent employed in agriculture.
  • Employment > Employment share by sector > Industry > Men > Aged above 14: Percent employed in industry.
  • Employment > Percent of population are employees > Men: Number of male self-reported employees (formal or informal), expressed as a percentage of the total male employed population.
  • Employment > Percent of population are employees > Women: Number of female self-reported employees (formal or informal), expressed as a percentage of the total female employed population.
  • Employment > Self-employment > Self-employment rates > Total: Employment is generally measured through household labour force surveys and, according to the ILO Guidelines, employed persons are defined as those aged 15 or over who report that they have worked in gainful employment for at least one hour in the previous week.

    Self-employed persons include employers, own-account workers, members of producers’ co-operatives, and unpaid family workers. The last of these are unpaid in the sense that they do not have a formal contract to receive a fixed amount of income at regular intervals, but they share in the income generated by the enterprise; unpaid family workers are particularly important in farming and retail trade. Note that all persons who work in corporate enterprises, including company directors, are considered to be employees.

    The rates shown here are the percentages of the self-employed in total civilian employment i.e., total employment less military employees.
  • Employment > Self-employment > Self-employment rates > Women: Employment is generally measured through household labour force surveys and, according to the ILO Guidelines, employed persons are defined as those aged 15 or over who report that they have worked in gainful employment for at least one hour in the previous week.

    Self-employed persons include employers, own-account workers, members of producers’ co-operatives, and unpaid family workers. The last of these are unpaid in the sense that they do not have a formal contract to receive a fixed amount of income at regular intervals, but they share in the income generated by the enterprise; unpaid family workers are particularly important in farming and retail trade. Note that all persons who work in corporate enterprises, including company directors, are considered to be employees.

    The rates shown here are the percentages of the self-employed in total civilian employment i.e., total employment less military employees.
  • Employment rate > Adults: Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Ages 15 and older are generally considered the working-age population.
  • Employment rate > Men: Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Ages 15 and older are generally considered the working-age population.
  • Employment rate > Women: Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Ages 15 and older are generally considered the working-age population.
  • Employment rate > Young adults: Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.
  • Employment rate > Young men: Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.
  • Employment rate > Young women: Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.
  • Expense > Current LCU: Expense (current LCU). Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends.
  • Expense > Current LCU per capita: Expense (current LCU). Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Female decision makers: Female legislators, senior officials and managers (as % of total). Data refer to the latest year available during the period 1991-2000. Those for countries that have implemented the recent International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88) are not strictly comparable with those for countries using the previous classification (ISCO-68).
  • Female doctors: Female doctors as % of the total - 2000.
  • Female economic activity: Female economic activity rate (aged 15 and above) in 2000.
  • Female economic activity growth: The % change in the female economic activity rate (aged 15 and above) from 1990 to 2000.
  • Female professionals: Female professional and technical workers (as % of total)
  • Female retirement age: Women.

    China had range specified: 50-55

    Czech Republic had range specified: 59-63

    Denmark had range specified: 65-67

    Finland had range specified: 62-68

    Greece had range specified: 60-67

    Netherlands had range specified: 65-67

    Sweden had range specified: 61-67

    United States had range specified: 62-67

  • Firing cost > Weeks of wages: Firing cost is the cost of advance notice requirements, severance payments, and penalties due when terminating a redundant worker, expressed in weekly wages. One month is recorded as 4 1/3 weeks.
  • Force > Total: Total labor force comprises people who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector.
  • Force > Total > Per capita: Total labor force comprises people who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • GDP per person employed > Constant 1990 PPP $: GDP per person employed is gross domestic product (GDP) divided by total employment in the economy. Purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP is GDP converted to 1990 constant international dollars using PPP rates. An international dollar has the same purchasing power over GDP that a U.S. dollar has in the United States.
  • GNI > Constant LCU: GNI (constant LCU). GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in constant local currency.
  • GNI > Constant LCU per capita: GNI (constant LCU). GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in constant local currency. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • GNI > Current LCU: GNI (current LCU). GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in current local currency.
  • GNI > Current US$: GNI (current US$). GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • GNI > Current US$ per capita: GNI (current US$). GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • GNI per capita > Constant 2000 US$: GNI per capita (constant 2000 US$). GNI per capita is gross national income divided by midyear population. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in constant 2005 U.S. dollars.
  • GNI per capita > Constant LCU: GNI per capita (constant LCU). GNI per capita is gross national income divided by midyear population. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad. Data are in constant local currency.
  • Hours worked: Number of hours worked in 2003; average of all people in employment. Note that different nations use very different practices and definitions in this data field, so comparisons such as this table are tentative at best.
  • Hours worked > Standard workweek: Standard workweek (hours).
  • Industrial workers > Female: Proportion of employed females engaged in the industrial sector. Employment by economic activity (%) (most recent year available between 1995 and 2001). Note: As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of labour statistics over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see ILO (2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; and 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002). The percentage shares of employment by economic activity may not sum to 100 because of rounding or the omission of activities not classified.
  • Industrial workers > Male: Proportion of employed males engaged in the industrial sector. Employment by economic activity (%) (most recent year available between 1995 and 2001). Note: As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of labour statistics over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see ILO (2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; and 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002). The percentage shares of employment by economic activity may not sum to 100 because of rounding or the omission of activities not classified.
  • Labor force: The total labor force figure
  • Labor force > By occupation: Component parts of the labor force by occupation.
  • Labor force > By occupation > Agriculture: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.
  • Labor force > By occupation > Industry: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.
  • Labor force > By occupation > Services: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.
  • Labor force > Per capita: The total labor force figure Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Labor force > Total: Total labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who meet the International Labour Organisation definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector."
  • Labor force participation > Employment to population ratio > Both sexes: Percentage of unemployed people out of total population able to work. Workers not able to work due to labor disputes, sickness and childcare do not count towards the percentage. 
  • Labor force participation > Employment to population ratio > Men: Percentage of unemployed men out of total male population able to work. Men not able to work due to labor disputes, sickness and childcare do not count towards the percentage.
  • Labor force participation > Employment to population ratio > Women: Percentage of unemployed women out of total female population able to work. Women not able to work due to labor disputes, sickness and childcare do not count towards the percentage.
  • Labor force participation rate > Employment-population ratio, men: Employment-to-population ratio, men, percentage.
  • Labor force participation rate > Employment-population ratio, women: Employment-to-population ratio, women, percentage.
  • Labor force per 1000: The total labor force figure. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Labor force, total: Labor force, total. Total labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector.
  • Labor force, total per 1000: Labor force, total. Total labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Long term unemployment: Long term unemployment as a % of labour force, 2000. Long term implies 12 months or longer.
  • Male retirement age: Men.

    Denmark had range specified: 65-67

    Finland had range specified: 62-68

    Netherlands had range specified: 65-67

    Sweden had range specified: 61-67

    United States had range specified: 62-67

  • Net income from abroad > Current US$: Net income from abroad (current US$). Net income includes the net labor income and net property and entrepreneurial income components of the SNA. Labor income covers compensation of employees paid to nonresident workers. Property and entrepreneurial income covers investment income from the ownership of foreign financial claims (interest, dividends, rent, etc.) and nonfinancial property income (patents, copyrights, etc.). Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • Part time employment rate > Men > Aged above 14: Percent of males over the age of 14 years who work less than 30 hours a week (either as employees or self-employed) as a percentage of all males in employment.
  • Rigidity of employment index: The rigidity of employment index measures the regulation of employment, specifically the hiring and firing of workers and the rigidity of working hours. This index is the average of three subindexes: a difficulty of hiring index, a rigidity of hours index, and a difficulty of firing index. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating more rigid regulations.
  • Rigidity of employment index > 0=less rigid to 100=more rigid: The rigidity of employment index measures the regulation of employment, specifically the hiring and firing of workers and the rigidity of working hours. This index is the average of three subindexes: a difficulty of hiring index, a rigidity of hours index, and a difficulty of firing index. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating more rigid regulations."
  • Salaries and benefits > Hourly minimum wage: Hourly minimum wage at international USD (this means that discrepancies in purchasing power have been compensated for).
  • Salaries and benefits > Minimum wage: Minimum wage.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Salaries and benefits > Monthly minimum wage: Monthly minimum wage ( EUR ).
  • Self employed > One-person and family businesses > Men: Proportion of own-account and contributing family workers in total employment, men, percentage.
  • Self employed > One-person and family businesses > Women: Proportion of own-account and contributing family workers in total employment, women, percentage.
  • Service workers > Female: Proportion of employed females engaged in the service sector. Employment by economic activity (%) (most recent year available between 1995 and 2001). Note: As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of labour statistics over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see ILO (2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; and 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002). The percentage shares of employment by economic activity may not sum to 100 because of rounding or the omission of activities not classified.
  • Service workers > Male: Proportion of employed males engaged in the service sector. Employment by economic activity (%) (most recent year available between 1995 and 2001). Note: As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of labour statistics over time and across countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see ILO (2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; and 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002). The percentage shares of employment by economic activity may not sum to 100 because of rounding or the omission of activities not classified.
  • Strikes: Strikes five-year average in days not worked per 1000 employees (1996-2000)
  • Trade union membership: Union members as % of all employees. Figures are for 2000.
  • Unemployment: Unemployed as proportion of the total labour force. Data for 2000-2002.
  • Unemployment > Long-term unemployment rate: Long-term unemployment refers to the number of people with continuous periods of unemployment extending for a year or longer, expressed as a percentage of the total unemployed."
  • Unemployment > Regional unemployment > National unemployment rate: Unemployed persons are defined as those who report that they are without work, that they are available for work and that they have taken active steps to find work in the last four weeks preceding the survey. The ILO Guidelines specify what actions count as active steps to find work and these include answering vacancy notices, visiting factories, construction sites and other places of work, and placing advertisements in the press as well as registering with labour offices.

    The unemployment rate is defined as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force, where the latter consists of unemployed and employed persons.

    When unemployment is high, some persons become discouraged and stop looking for work. They are then excluded from the labour force so that the unemployment rate may fall, or stop rising, even though there has been no underlying improvement in the labour market.

    The Gini index offers an accurate picture of regional disparities. It looks not only at the regions with the highest and the lowest rates of unemployment but also at the differences among all regions. The index ranges between 0 and 1: the higher its value, the larger the regional disparities. Regional disparities tend to be underestimated when the size of regions is large.

    The youth unemployment rate is defined as the ratio between the unemployed person aged between 15 and 24 and the labour force in the same age group.
  • Unemployment > Unemployment rates > Unemployment rates > Total: Unemployed persons are defined as those who report that they are without work, that they are available for work and that they have taken active steps to find work in the last four weeks. The ILO Guidelines specify what actions count as active steps to find work and these include answering vacancy notices, visiting factories, construction sites and other places of work, and placing advertisements in the press as well as registering with labour offices.

    The unemployment rate is defined as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force, where the latter consists of the unemployed plus those in employment, which are defined as persons who have worked for one hour or more in the last week.

    When unemployment is high, some persons become discouraged and stop looking for work. They are then excluded from the labour force so that the unemployment rate may fall, or stop rising, even though there has been no underlying improvement in the labour market.
  • Unemployment > Youth unemployment, both sexes: Percentage of population aged 15-24 that is unemployed. 
  • Unemployment gender ratio: Female unemployment rate as a % of the male unemployment rate.
  • Unemployment rate: The percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
  • Work Time > More than 40 hours: Percentage of persons in employment working more than 40 hours/week. Data is for 2000.
  • Workers' remittances and compensation of employees > Paid > US$ > Per capita: Workers' remittances and compensation of employees comprise current transfers by migrant workers and wages and salaries earned by nonresident workers. WorkersÂ’ remittances are classified as current private transfers from migrant workers who are residents of the host country to recipients in their country of origin. They include only transfers made by workers who have been living in the host country for more than a year, irrespective of their immigration status. Compensation of employees is the income of migrants who have lived in the host country for less than a year. MigrantsÂ’ transfers are defined as the net worth of migrants who are expected to remain in the host country for more than one year that is transferred from one country to another at the time of migration. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Workers' remittances and compensation of employees > Paid > US$ per capita: Workers' remittances and compensation of employees comprise current transfers by migrant workers and wages and salaries earned by nonresident workers. WorkersÂ’ remittances are classified as current private transfers from migrant workers who are residents of the host country to recipients in their country of origin. They include only transfers made by workers who have been living in the host country for more than a year, irrespective of their immigration status. Compensation of employees is the income of migrants who have lived in the host country for less than a year. MigrantsÂ’ transfers are defined as the net worth of migrants who are expected to remain in the host country for more than one year that is transferred from one country to another at the time of migration. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Working mothers: Working proportion of mothers with children under 6 years old 2001
STAT AMOUNT DATE RANK HISTORY
Agricultural workers > Female 1% 2010 73th out of 77
Agricultural workers > Male 2% 2010 76th out of 78
Compensation of employees > Current LCU 74329000000 2005
Days off work 21 days 2000 14th out of 20
Employment > Employment rates by gender > Employment rates > Men 78.44% 2009 11th out of 30
Employment > Employment share by sector > Agriculture > Men > Aged above 14 1.9% 2005 66th out of 71
Employment > Employment share by sector > Industry > Men > Aged above 14 33% 2005 32nd out of 71
Employment > Percent of population are employees > Men 82.4% 2005 24th out of 65
Employment > Percent of population are employees > Women 92.2% 2005 13th out of 65
Employment > Self-employment > Self-employment rates > Total 13.8% 2009 13th out of 30
Employment > Self-employment > Self-employment rates > Women 8.18% 2009 20th out of 29
Employment rate > Adults 56.3 2008 94th out of 165
Employment rate > Men 63.1 2008 118th out of 164
Employment rate > Women 49.9 2008 67th out of 164
Employment rate > Young adults 55.8 2008 30th out of 165
Employment rate > Young men 56.6 2008 45th out of 164
Employment rate > Young women 55 2008 21st out of 164
Expense > Current LCU 671.66 billion 2011 37th out of 104
Expense > Current LCU per capita 10,703.34 2011 64th out of 104
Female decision makers 33% 2000 20th out of 67
Female doctors 34.5% 2000 8th out of 18
Female economic activity 52.8% 2000 79th out of 156
Female economic activity growth 5% 2000 65th out of 156
Female professionals 45% 2002 51st out of 68
Female retirement age 60 2011 16th out of 31
Firing cost > Weeks of wages 22.1 weeks of wages 2006 122nd out of 163
Force > Total 30.64 million 2005 17th out of 181
Force > Total > Per capita 0.509 per capita 2005 29th out of 181
GDP per person employed > Constant 1990 PPP $ $51,697.00 2008 8th out of 115
GNI > Constant LCU 1.31 trillion 2012 47th out of 106
GNI > Constant LCU per capita 20,722.73 2012 70th out of 106
GNI > Current LCU 1.56 trillion 2012 71st out of 176
GNI > Current US$ $2.46 trillion 2012 7th out of 176
GNI > Current US$ per capita $38,975.52 2012 18th out of 176
GNI per capita > Constant 2000 US$ $37,677.83 2012 14th out of 104
GNI per capita > Constant LCU 20,722.73 2012 69th out of 106
Hours worked 1,673 hours 2003 5th out of 9
Hours worked > Standard workweek 38.2 hours 2014 176th out of 183
Industrial workers > Female 12% 2010 50th out of 79
Industrial workers > Male 36% 2010 22nd out of 79
Labor force 31.45 million 2010 18th out of 116
Labor force > By occupation agriculture 1.5%, industry 19.1%, services 79.5% 2004
Labor force > By occupation > Agriculture 1.4% 2006 27th out of 28
Labor force > By occupation > Industry 18.2% 2006 16th out of 24
Labor force > By occupation > Services 80.4% 2006 1st out of 25
Labor force > Per capita 508.26 per 1,000 people 2007 43th out of 163
Labor force > Total 31.49 million 2008 18th out of 175
Labor force participation > Employment to population ratio > Both sexes 58.1% 2011 36th out of 79
Labor force participation > Employment to population ratio > Men 63.8% 2011 39th out of 76
Labor force participation > Employment to population ratio > Women 52.7% 2011 23th out of 76
Labor force participation rate > Employment-population ratio, men 63.8% 2011 39th out of 76
Labor force participation rate > Employment-population ratio, women 52.7% 2011 23th out of 76
Labor force per 1000 505.05 2010 32nd out of 114
Labor force, total 32.38 million 2012 19th out of 182
Labor force, total per 1000 512.08 2012 41st out of 182
Long term unemployment 1.5% 2000 15th out of 27
Male retirement age 65 2011 6th out of 31
Net income from abroad > Current US$ $-7,458,135,860.98 2012 138th out of 163
Parental leave > Paid maternity leave 6 weeks (90%) 20 weeks at a fixed amount (as of March 2006 = £108.85) 2006
Parental leave > Paid paternity leave 2 weeks at a fixed amount (as of March 2006 = £108.85) 2006
Part time employment rate > Men > Aged above 14 10% 2005 8th out of 28
Rigidity of employment index 14 2006 146th out of 165
Rigidity of employment index > 0=less rigid to 100=more rigid 10 2009 141st out of 172
Salaries and benefits > Hourly minimum wage $7.81 2013 8th out of 37
Salaries and benefits > Minimum wage \u00a3 6.31 per hour (aged 21 and older), \u00a35.03 per hour (aged 18\u201320) or \u00a33.72 per hour (under 18 and finished compulsory education). 2014
Salaries and benefits > Monthly minimum wage 1,293.22 EUR 2013 8th out of 38
Self employed > One-person and family businesses > Men 14.9% 2011 25th out of 50
Self employed > One-person and family businesses > Women 7.9% 2011 30th out of 50
Service workers > Female 87% 2010 6th out of 79
Service workers > Male 61% 2010 17th out of 79
Strikes 22 2000 16th out of 27
Trade union membership 29% 2000 10th out of 18
Unemployment 5.3% 2002 9th out of 18
Unemployment > Long-term unemployment rate 25.5 2008 23th out of 35
Unemployment > Regional unemployment > National unemployment rate 5.38% 2009 16th out of 30
Unemployment > Unemployment rates > Unemployment rates > Total 5.3% 2009 15th out of 30
Unemployment > Youth unemployment, both sexes 20% 2011 31st out of 72
Unemployment gender ratio 79% 2001 29th out of 30
Unemployment rate 7.9% 2010 47th out of 91
Work Time > More than 40 hours 49.8% 2000 9th out of 18
Workers' remittances and compensation of employees > Paid > US$ > Per capita 51,256.51$ per 1,000 people 2005 48th out of 148
Workers' remittances and compensation of employees > Paid > US$ per capita 51.26$ 2005 47th out of 146
Working mothers 55% 2001 12th out of 23

SOURCES: ILO (International Labour Organization). 2002. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2001-2002. February 2002; World Development Indicators database; OECD; OECD Country statistical profiles 2009; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; International Labour Organisation, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files. World Bank World Development Indicators.; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files. World Bank World Development Indicators. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; calculated on the basis of occupational data from ILO (International Labour Organization). 2002. Laboursta Database. February 2002; OECD Health Data 2002 (CD ROM) available year for Australia, Japan = 1998; Denmark = 1995; 1980 figures for Canada and France are interpolated; calculated on the basis of data on the economically active population and total population from ILO (International Labour Organization). 2002. Estimates and Projections of the Economically Active Population, 1950-2010, 4th ed., rev. 2. Database. Geneva; Wikipedia: Retirement age (Retirement age); World Bank national accounts data; World Bank national accounts data. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: List of minimum wages by country (Countries) ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013" . State.gov . Retrieved 2014-03-04 .); CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; International Labour Organisation, using World Bank population estimates.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division Original html; United Nations Statistics Division Original html; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.; International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). 2001. Employment Outlook. Paris; Wikipedia: Parental leave; http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=GenderStat&f=inID%3a109, Part-time employment rate; World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Wikipedia: List of minimum wages by country (Countries); Wikipedia: List of sovereign states in Europe by minimum wage (Minimum wages by country); United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; OECD; Figures are from the OECD. The figures are from EIRO for France, Ireland and Italy; OECD Historical Statistics; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; calculated on the basis of data on male and female unemployment rates from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). 2001. Employment Outlook 2001. Paris; ILO, Key Indicators; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.

Citation

NationMaster
  • United Kingdom ranked second for labor force, total amongst European Union in 2012.
  • United Kingdom ranked third for GNI > current US$ amongst Europe in 2012.

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The Labor Law in the United Kingdom is very flexible. All employees are entitled to an employment contract as basis of the legal employment relationship. Throughout the years, employees have been given many legal rights as a result of parliamentary acts and regulations which affect employment relationship. The contract prescribes the number of work hours’ holiday entitlement. Rules stipulate the maximum number of hours an individual should work weekly. Young people of 18 years should work a maximum of 40 hours a week or eight hours a day. Adults can work 48 hours a week.

Employers within the UK can select the legal system that will govern employment agreements. In case there is no choice of law specified in the employment agreement, the law of the country in which the employee is located will apply. Pursuant to the Employment Rights Act of 1996, all employees in the UK must receive within two months of employment, a written statement from their employers laying down terms and conditions of work. The principal legislation that bars discrimination and harassment is the Equality Act 2010. The law follows three major European Union Directives. It strictly forbids discrimination and harassment based on a broad array of protected characteristics.

The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 sets the minimum pay per hour for workers in the UK. The minimum wage rate depends on age bracket but employees over 21 years of age; the current minimum hourly wage rate is currently £6.19. The government is also set to publish consolidated and simplified National Minimum Wage Regulations in late April of 2013. The employee's standard number of working hours is specified in the employment contract. Adult employees may not be required to work more than 40 hours every week. On the other hand, employers are not mandated to pay workers for overtime for hours worked in excess of what is indicated in the legal agreement.

Posted on 19 May 2014

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jaacosta47

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