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Indicators of progress: Definitions, data, baseline and trends information
Milestone 15: Increasing the employment rates of groups, such as lone parents and ethnic minorities, that are relatively disadvantaged in the labour market
This milestone is measured by 4 separate indicators which are taken from the Spring quarter of the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The indicators are defined as the proportion of working age people from specific groups in Scotland who are in employment. The four categories are
a) lone parents - a single working aged adult household with dependent children, and no non-dependent children. Dependent children are defined as those aged 0-15 or aged 16-18 in full-time education.
b) people from ethnic minorities,
c) people aged 50 or more, and
d) people with a disability which affects day to day activities, is work limiting or both.
Availability of data
Information at a Scottish level for ethnic minorities and people aged 50 or more is available from 1992. Data for people with a disability is available from 1998 and for lone parents, is available from 1996.
Employment of disadvantaged groups in the labour market
Chart 15a: Percentage of working age people in employment
Source: Labour Force Survey: Office for National Statistics
Notes: The baseline for people with a disability is 1998, and for the other categories is 1997.
Any conclusions regarding these indicators needs to be drawn in the light of the small sample sizes from which this information is drawn.
The broad conclusions are:
a) Lone parents - evidence suggests that the percentage of working age lone parents in employment has continued to increase since the base year of 1997. The estimate of 56 percent for 2002 is an increase of 14 percentage points over base year, and 3 percentage points over 2001.
b) People from ethnic minority groups - The main conclusion is that the percentage of working age people from ethnic minority groups continues to fluctuate around 50 percent .
c) People aged 50 or more - The estimate of 64 percent for 2002 is an increase of 5 percentage points over the base year (1997). The main conclusion is that this indicator remains at just over 60 percent.
d) People with a disability which affects day to day activity, is work limiting or both - The evidence shows the employment rate for this group remains fairly constant. The estimate of 37 percent for 2002 is an increase of 1 percentage point over base year.
In comparison, the employment rate for all working age people has been fairly stable over the last decade. However there is some evidence to suggest there has been a slight increase since the late 1990's.
Urban and Rural analysis
Owing to sample sizes and the way in which data are held on the LFS database, rural/urban analyses are only possible for People aged 50 or more and People with a disability. The analyses are based on Local Authority level data.
Over the period 1999 to 2002 the percentage of people aged 50 or more living in Local Authorities defined as rural has remained fairly constant, from 70 percent in 1999 to 71 percent in 2002. There have been year on year changes over the period. The equivalent figures for those living in Local Authorities defined as urban record a small increase from 57 percent in 1999 to 60 percent in 2002.
Over the period 1999 to 2002 the percentage of people with a disability living in Local Authorities defined as rural has also remained fairly constant, recording a change from 45 percent in 1999 to 46 percent in 2002. There have been year on year changes within this period. The equivalent figures for those in urban Local Authorities are unchanged at 35 percent for 1999 and 2002.
Gender analysis
Owing to sample sizes, gender analyses are only possible for People aged 50 or more and People with a disability.
Over the period 1992 to 2002 employment rates for men aged 50 years or more are higher than those for females of the same age group. The gender gap was greatest in the base year (1997) when the employment rate for men aged 50 or more was 63 percent compared to 54 percent for women. In 2002, this gap has narrowed with the rates for men estimated to be 64 percent compared to 63 percent for women.
Over the period 1998 to 2002 employment rates for men with a disability are around 3 percentage points higher than those for females with a disability. In 1998, the employment rate for men with a disability was estimated at 37 percent while that for females with a disability was 34 percent. In 2002, the employment rate for men with a disability is 39 percent, compared with 36 percent for women.
Background data
The following comes from the LFS and is the information used in chart 15a.
Table 15b: Percentage of working age people in employment from relatively disadvantaged groups in the labour market
Year | All | Lone Parents | Ethnic Minorities | People aged 50 years or more | People with a disability |
1992 | 71 | - | 51 | 61 | - |
1993 | 69 | - | 54 | 59 | - |
1994 | 70 | - | 45 | 59 | - |
1995 | 71 | - | 46 | 59 | - |
1996 | 70 | 44 | 53 | 59 | - |
1997 | 70 | 42 | 47 | 59 | - |
1998 | 71 | 42 | 55 | 61 | 36 |
1999 | 71 | 48 | 44 | 61 | 38 |
2000 | 72 | 50 | 56 | 61 | 37 |
2001 | 73 | 53 | 49 | 65 | 40 |
2002 | 73 | 56 | 55 | 64 | 37 |
Source: Labour Force Survey (Spring Quarter): Office for National Statistics
Notes: The baseline for people with a disability is 1998, and for the other categories is 1997.
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