LFS estimates were updated on 22nd Feb 2024 to incorporate updated population estimates for the period 2016 Q3 to 2023 Q3, based on the results of Census 2022. LFS results are updated in this way following each Census of Population. For further information see Background Notes.
The data in this publication does not reflect these updates. Please refer to the relevant tables on LFS Px-stat for updated LFS estimates.
The number of persons not in the labour force in Q1 2023 was 1,468,300 which was up 2.6% or 37,300 from a year earlier. See Table 7.1.
Persons aged 15 years or over are classified as not being in the Labour Force (Inactive) if they do not satisfy the ILO criteria for being classified as Employed or Unemployed – see Background Notes.
The Potential Additional Labour Force (PALF) is the sum of the two groups ‘Seeking work but not immediately available’ and ‘Available for work but not seeking work’. Persons in the PALF are not part of the standard labour force, which encompasses only Employed and Unemployed people, but they have a stronger attachment to the labour market than other persons not in the labour force.
The Potential Additional Labour Force for Q1 2023 was 78,500, which was made up of 64,600 persons Available but not seeking work and 13,900 persons Seeking but not immediately available for work. The total PALF 78,500 is down from 81,000 in Q1 2022 and 109,000 in Q1 2020. See Table 7.1.
| Q1 2021 | Q1 2022 | Q1 2023 | |
| Available for work but not seeking work | 194.7 | 68.3 | 64.6 |
| Seeking work but not immediately available | 16.1 | 12.7 | 13.9 |
Of those who stated that they wanted to work but were not seeking work or available for work in Q1 2023, 23.5% said this was due to education or training. This compares to 24.1% a year earlier and 21.2% in Q1 2021. Persons not seeking work due to own illness or disability accounted for 34.5% of the total in Q1 2023, down from 40.2% in Q1 2022 and up from 27.4% in Q1 2021.
| Q1 2020 | Q1 2021 | Q1 2022 | Q1 2023 | |
| Other reasons | 9.2 | 32.7 | 11.5 | 11 |
| Care responsibilities/personal family reasons | 28.8 | 18.8 | 24 | 31.1 |
| Own illness or disability | 32.2 | 27.4 | 40.2 | 34.5 |
| Education or training | 29.8 | 21.2 | 24.1 | 23.5 |
Additional data on Potential Labour Supply with explanatory notes are available in QLF30.
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