Working population. Labor resources, economically active population and methods for calculating them What do labor resources depend on?

The country's labor resources are formed primarily from the working-age population.

Of the total number working age population(women - 16-54, men - 16-59 years old) amounted to 4447.0 thousand people in 1959; in 1979 – 5546.4; in 1989 – 5685.0; in 1999 – 5752.1; in 2000 – 5809.3; in 2001 – 5872.4; at the beginning of 2002 – 5918.0 thousand people. However, not all of the working age population is able to work. The exception is non-working war and labor invalids of groups 1 and 2; men 50–59 years old and women 45–54 years old receiving pensions on preferential terms.

Towards the working population of working age includes all persons 16–59 years old (16–54 for women) with the exception of non-working labor and war invalids of the 1st and 2nd groups, as well as men (50–59 years old) and women (45–54 years old) receiving pensions on preferential terms.

Working population- this is a set of persons, mainly of working age (16–54 for women, 16–59 for men), who, according to their psychophysiological data, are capable of participating in the labor process. The working-age population is a narrower concept compared to the concept " working age population" since the latter includes both able-bodied and disabled persons of working age.

As part of the working population based on gender distinguish predominantly female or male populations. In areas of predominance of industries with predominantly male labor, as a rule, there is an unemployed female working population (for example, the mining industry in Soligorsk). And vice versa, the predominance of female labor (at the Orsha flax mill) raises the problem of a shortage of male population. This problem is demographic and social at the same time, because it creates difficulties in creating and strengthening a family, leads to a decrease in marriage and birth rates, an increase in the divorce rate, and increases staff turnover, which reduces their qualifications.

By degree of economic activity distinguish between the economically active and economically inactive parts of the working population.

in our country, this is the part of the population that provides its labor for the production of goods and services. The economically active population includes the entire employed population, the unemployed and women on maternity and child care leave.

To the economically inactive population of working age include students and students, persons engaged in housekeeping, caring for children, sick relatives, and other persons not employed economic activity, as well as military personnel.

The share of the economically active population calculated for certain age groups is called labor activity of the population. The economically active population in the republic was: in 1990 - 5150.8 thousand people; in 1995 – 4524.2; in 1999 – 4542.0; in 2000 – 4537.0; in 2001 – 4537 thousand people; the economically inactive population was 1324.5 in 1995; in 2000 – 1467.6 thousand people; in 2001 – 1560 (Table 2).

table 2

Economically active population

By degree of employment The working-age population is divided into the working (or employed) able-bodied population and the non-working (unemployed) population. The employed population of the Republic of Belarus amounted to 4410 thousand people in 1995, and 4441 in 2000; in 2001 – 4435, which is 97.5%, respectively; 97.9%; 97.7% in relation to the economically active population. As a result, the main issue in labor resource management is the question of “what and how the employed population is employed.”

The number of unemployed in 1995 was 114.6 thousand people; in 1999 – 100.0; in 2000 – 96.0; in 2001 – 102 thousand people, which amounted to 2.5 percent of the economically active population; 2.2; 2.1 and 2.3%.

In other words, the economically active population is the part of the population employed in the country’s economy, including those employed in personal farming, i.e. the vast majority of the working population. In accordance with UN recommendations The economically active population includes not only actually working people, but also unemployed people looking for paid work.

Economically active population combines:

1) the entire working population of working age, with the exception of off-duty students serving in the Armed Forces;

2) persons who are beyond working age, but employed in social production;

3) persons employed in subsidiary, cooperative and household, personal farming.

In foreign publications the concept of economically active population is similar to the concept work force(labor force). In Russian literature, labor is a qualitative characteristic expressing the ability to work, a special kind of product.

Within the economically active population, labor statistics highlight the concept industrial population(as a set of people employed in industry and construction) and the agrarian (or agricultural) population. In accordance with this, there are concepts: industrial country (for example, Belarus); agricultural country (for example, Bulgaria).

Thus, the concept of the working-age population does not coincide with the concept labor resources, since the latter include not only the working and non-working able-bodied population, but also the working disabled population.

Table 3

Labor resources of the Republic of Belarus (thousand people)

At the same time, not only the able-bodied population is engaged in labor. In addition to the working population of working age, two groups of the population beyond working age are involved in work in our society: the working population under working age (up to 16 years) and the working population older than working age (men 60 years and older, women 55 years and older) . Persons of the last age groups (disabled by age, but employed) are included in the labor force.

Labor resources are the part of the country's population that, based on physical development, acquired education, and professional and qualification level, is capable of engaging in socially useful activities. Labor resources include the entire working population aged from 16 to 54 years - for women and from 16 to 59 years - for men, as well as persons older and younger than working age actually employed in the national economy (working pensioners and schoolchildren).

Labor force statistics are necessary in forming the basis for assessing, analyzing and implementing labor and socio-economic potentials in order to determine policies to increase the efficiency of the use of labor resources, develop tools for increasing employment, incomes, and developing a competitive labor market.

The tasks of labor resources statistics are to develop and improve a system of indicators, a methodology for their calculation and analysis in order to comprehensively study labor resources, identify patterns of their formation and movement. In particular they include:

• - characteristics of the availability, composition and structure of labor resources and the economically active population;
• - studies of employment and unemployment;
• - characteristics of natural reproduction of labor resources;
• - study of migration and the factors that determine it;
• - calculation of the future number of labor resources;
• - assessment of the state and development of the labor market, supply and demand, conditions and tensions in the labor market.

Sources of statistical information are current labor reports, population censuses, sample surveys and specially organized observations on employment problems conducted by state statistics bodies.

For analysis, planning, accounting and management of labor resources, taking into account domestic and world practices, the composition of labor resources is distinguished, presented in Fig. 12.1.

Rice. 12.1.

The employed population includes people working in enterprises various forms property, including those engaged in individual entrepreneurial activities, as well as employees of religious cults.

The unemployed are people of working age who are not working at a given time, are looking for work and are ready to start work at any time. Persons who have reached the age of 16, those studying on the job, pensioners, and disabled people are counted among the unemployed if they were looking for work, i.e. contacted employment services, employers, etc., and were ready to get started.

The total number of employed and unemployed people constitutes the category of economically active population.

The population of working age, pupils, full-time students, people involved in raising children, housekeeping, military personnel belong to the group of economically inactive population or to the mobile reserve.

The number of labor resources is calculated by two methods: demographic (based on sources of formation) and economic (based on actual employment).

Using the demographic method, the number of labor resources is calculated as the sum of the population of working age, minus disabled people of groups I and II and adding the number of working teenagers under the age of 16 and working people of retirement age.

When calculated using the economic method, the number of labor resources represents the totality of the entire actually employed population, including those employed in personal subsidiary work, farms, persons of working age employed in household and childcare, out-of-work students over 16 years of age, the unemployed and other unemployed persons of working age.

The number of labor resources changes under the influence of natural and mechanical movement.

The natural movement of labor resources is:

• 1) from the natural replenishment of labor resources from persons who have reached the age of 16, as well as from the population of retirement age and adolescents under the age of 16 involved in participation in economic activities;
• 2) natural retirement of labor resources due to:
  • a) persons who have reached retirement age,
  • b) persons of working age who have become disabled,
  • c) persons related to the labor force and who died during the analyzed period,
  • d) working persons of retirement age and teenagers who have finished participating in public labor;
• 3) natural increase (loss) of labor resources, which is calculated as the difference between the natural replenishment and retirement of labor resources.

Natural replenishment of labor resources is understood as the number of those who have entered working age, and natural retirement is the number of deaths at working age and those who have reached retirement age, as well as those who have received disability of groups I and II.

The ratio of the natural increase in labor resources to the average number of labor resources is called the coefficient of natural increase in labor resources.

The mechanical movement, or migration, of labor resources consists of:

• 1) from the mechanical replenishment of labor resources - the number of persons belonging to the labor force and who have arrived for permanent residence in a given locality;
• 2) mechanical retirement of labor resources - the number of retired persons taken into account as part of the labor resources;
• 3) mechanical increase (loss) of labor resources, defined as the difference between arriving and departing persons belonging to the labor force.

The ratio of the mechanical increase in labor resources to the average number of labor resources is called the coefficient of mechanical increase in labor resources.

The sum of the coefficients of natural and mechanical growth of labor resources represents the coefficient of total growth of labor resources.

One of essential tools analysis of modern processes emerging in the labor market is the balance of labor resources. It is compiled on the basis of materials not only from labor statistics, but also from other branches of statistics. The balance reflects the sources of formation of labor resources, directions of use of labor resources in the system social division labor. It is necessary to obtain a comprehensive picture of the formation of the country’s labor potential, the creation of a labor market, the study of employment and unemployment, the structure of the employed by economic sector, type of ownership, by region and other areas; identifying labor reserves for the country as a whole, sources of replenishment and directions of retirement and other issues. The balance of labor resources is of great importance for studying the social structure of society, forecasting supply and demand in the labor market.

The labor resource balance includes two interrelated sections. The first section characterizes the availability and reproductive composition of labor resources. The second section of the balance sheet characterizes the distribution of labor resources by area and type of activity.

These balances make it possible to calculate a number of indicators characterizing the working capacity and employment of the population: working capacity coefficients of the entire population, the working age population; employment rates of the entire population, working-age population, labor force employment rate, labor force economic activity rate.

The number of labor resources can be determined as of a specific date or as an average for a certain period.

The average number of labor resources is calculated using the formulas of the arithmetic average (when data is available only at the beginning and end of the reporting period) or the chronological average (if data on the population is available at the beginning of each period for equal periods of time). If information is available for unequal time intervals, then the chronological weighted average formula is applied.

Calculation example: the number of labor resources in the region (thousand people) was 948 as of January 1; May 1 - 956; September 1 - 958; November 1 - 952; 1st of January next year - 950.

The average number of labor resources is:

The system of labor force statistics indicators includes the calculation of working capacity coefficients.

The working capacity coefficient of the entire population is equal to the ratio of the working-age population of working age to the total population.

The working-age population working-age coefficient is calculated by dividing the working-age population by the total working-age population.

The pension burden coefficient is determined by dividing the retirement age population by the working age population, the result is multiplied by 1000 (per thousand people).

The labor force replacement rate is equal to the ratio of the pre-working age population to the working age population, the result multiplied by 1000 (per thousand people).

The total load coefficient (age economy coefficient) reflects the degree of load of the working-age population by the population of all non-working ages. It is determined by the sum of the pension burden coefficient and the labor force replacement coefficient.

Labor resources - this is the part of the country's population that has the necessary physical development, health, education, culture, abilities, qualifications, professional knowledge for work in the field of socially useful activities.

• working-age population of working age (both employed and not employed in social production). These include: men aged 16–59 years and women aged 16–54 years, with the exception of non-working disabled people of groups I and II and non-working people of working age receiving benefits or old-age pensions;
• population older and younger than working age employed in production (actually working).

where NTSV) is the population of working age; I – non-working disabled people of groups I and II of working age; PL – non-working benefit pensioners of working age; Pr – working pensioners; RP – working teenagers.

The relationship between such concepts as “labor resources”, “economically active population”, “economically inactive population”, “employed”, “unemployed” is shown in Fig. 4.1.

Rice. 4.1.

Labor resources consist of actual and potential workers. The necessary physical and intellectual abilities depend mostly on age: in the early period of a person’s life and in the late period, when a person loses his ability to work. Age appears in the so-called criterion form, which makes it possible to select labor resources from the entire population.

Working age varies widely and may depend on professional, personal or special characteristics. It means the age of a person that allows him to work at a given point in time, at a given time and under specific conditions:

• 0–16 years - as a rule, is considered a disabled age, however, in accordance with the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, in case of receiving a basic general education, or leaving this institution in accordance with federal law employment contract can be concluded by persons over 15 years of age. In some cases, an employment contract may be concluded with persons over 14 years of age, in agreement with one of the parents (guardian, trustee);
• 16–54 years old – for women (inclusive);
• 16–59 years old – for men (inclusive).

The concept of “labor resources” can still be found today, although, as mentioned above, the requirements of a market economy make it necessary for our statistics to transition to the standard international practice other labor force accounting recommended by the International Labor Organization. Age limits and socio-demographic composition of the labor force are determined by a system of legislative acts. They (borders and composition) changed in different periods of the history of our country. Thus, in the first five-year plan (1929–1932), the lower limit of working age was set at 14 years. By the end of the second Five-Year Plan (1933–1937), this limit was raised to 16 years. During the Great Patriotic War she dropped back to 14 years old. Currently, the working age limit is 16 years. There are trends of a decrease in the share of the population under working age and working age and an increase in the share of the population older than working age. Experts predict a noticeable reduction in the total population and the share of the population in pre-working age, a stabilization in the share of the population in retirement age and an increase in the share of the population in working age, an aging population, which in the future will lead to a reduction in the working age population.

Labor resources are divided into active (i.e., persons directly employed in social production) and potential (students on the job and employed in the household).

The number of labor resources is determined for a specific date, but it can also be calculated as an average for any period of time. In Russia they make up approximately 50% of the total population. In Western economic science there is no unified approach to determining labor resources, therefore, in national statistical publications of countries with market economies, as well as in international statistics, there are various concepts, related to the characteristics of this category.

Working population - this is the main part of the labor force of working age, possessing the necessary psychophysical development, knowledge and practical experience and capable of fully participating in physical and intellectual work. In world statistics, the working age population is considered to be between the ages of 15 and 64, and according to the UN, it accounts for about 3/5 of the total world population. Currently, the issue of increasing the working period is being considered, but in modern conditions average life expectancy is this:

• for men it is 64 years old;
• for women – 74 years.

However, for some types of activities so-called benefits are provided. They concern people engaged in work associated with high psychophysiological stress or unfavorable working conditions (chemical industry, metallurgical industry, ballet, etc.). In reality, preferential pensioners can continue to work and therefore are included in the labor force.

During perestroika, the emergence of a new economic and ideological doctrine was accompanied by the removal of the state from the sphere of solving the life problems of the individual. Limited social politics ideologically justified, expressed in the statement about its ineffectiveness and injustice of free distribution of social benefits with a corresponding refusal of obligations.

This happened against the background of a new social stratification, which was expressed at the lower level in the impossibility of a person by ordinary work in his specialty and having a certain qualification to secure even a minimum level of existence. Objectively, this is still expressed through high level unemployment in general and structural unemployment. At the same time, we have a paradoxical situation where enterprises seem to be working, people seem to be working, but wage is not paid for months or its amount is not commensurate with basic needs.

In table Table 4.1 provides data on some basic indicators of the state of labor resources in Russia for the 1990s. compared to developed countries in the mid-1990s.

Table 4.1

Comparative assessments of Russia and developed countries for some economic indicators and human resource parameters

Some main problems, contradictions and desired state in the field of labor resources in Russia during the 1990s. are summarized in table. 4.2.

Table 4.2

Problems and contradictions in the field of labor resources in Russia in the 1990s.

Negative trends characteristic of the social and labor sphere of Russia have led to the fact that not only the socially vulnerable non-working population, but entire professional and sectoral layers of workers (peasants, public sector workers, highly qualified workers of the system of formative industries) have become social risk groups National economy) (Table 4.3).

Table 4.3

Correlation of labor development indicators Russian society(base of comparison – 1990)

An important role in studying the population of a particular territory (country) is played by the analysis of labor resources. Under labor resources refers to the part of the country's population that has the necessary physical development, mental abilities and knowledge for work. The number of labor resources characterizes the potential mass of living labor or the “stock” of labor that society has to satisfy its needs. In Russian scientific journalism, the concept of “labor resources” was first formulated in the 1920s. Academician S. G. Strumiliym.

IN Russian Federation labor resources include the population able-bodied(or, as defined by B. C. Urlanis, - working age) with the exception of non-working disabled people, as well as persons employed in the economy older (and younger) than working age. Speaking about “working age”, it is necessary to define the term “working ability”. Under ability to work It is customary to understand a person’s ability to work, a condition that allows a person to perform certain work without harm to health. The difference in types of work also determines the variety of options for working ability. There is a concept general working capacity, i.e. ability to perform any work at all under normal working conditions. There are also professional ability to work - as the ability to perform work in the relevant profession (specialty), and special ability to work - ability to work in certain production or climatic conditions (in the mountains, in the Far North, in a mine, etc.).

The size of labor resources depends on several factors that can vary significantly over time. These include: 1) age limits of working age officially established at the state level; 2) the share of persons with general working ability among the entire population of working age; 3) the number of participants economic life persons beyond working age.

Since labor resources represent a part of the entire population, the natural movement of the population has a decisive influence on the dynamics of their numbers and age-sex composition. In the case of expanded population reproduction, the number of labor resources also tends to increase; in the case of a narrowed population reproduction regime, it tends to decrease. But in the second case, the decrease in the number of labor resources does not occur immediately, but as the most numerous age cohorts of the population retire, which are not quantitatively replaced by young people entering working age.

The main indicators characterizing changes in the number of labor resources over a certain time period are absolute growth and growth rates. Absolute growth is calculated as the difference between the amount of labor resources at the end and beginning of the time period under consideration. The growth rate of labor resources is calculated as the ratio of their absolute number at the end of a given period to the number at the beginning of the period.

Quantitative, qualitative and structural characteristics labor resources can be expressed in absolute and relative terms. Key indicators include:

• average salary for accounting period number of employees;
• staff turnover rate;
• the share of employees with higher and secondary specialized education in the total number of employees;
• average length of service for certain categories of employees;
• the share of workers of certain categories in their total number.

One of the main qualitative indicators of labor resources is their gender and age structure. There are several different approaches to identifying age groups. The simplest and most frequently used three-level classification: 1) labor resources of working age; 2) those employed in age groups younger and 3) older than working age. Sometimes a more detailed age scale is used, for example in 10 groups: 16-19, 20-24, 25-29,30-34,35-39,40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60 years and more.

In the period after the Great Patriotic War, the change in the number of labor resources in Russia, as well as the change in the growth rate of the entire population, occurred in waves (see paragraph 7.1). Thus, the minimum increase in the working age population occurred in 1959-1961, the maximum in 1971-1975. The quantitative difference in the values ​​of population growth at working age between these time periods was almost fourfold. The next minimum increase in labor resources occurred in the late 1980s - early 1990s, which practically coincides with the decline in the birth rate 1 . Since 2006, Russia has experienced an absolute reduction in the number of labor resources, caused primarily by a reduction in the working-age population due to negative natural growth.

An increase in the number of labor resources is possible in several cases: 1) due to the natural increase in the population of working age; 2) by reducing the proportion of people unable to work among people of working age; 3) by increasing the number of people under and over working age employed in the economy. The number of labor resources may also increase if the age limit for working capacity is revised, primarily by raising the retirement age.

A tool for studying the use of labor resources is drawing up a balance of labor resources. Labor balance- this is a system of indicators reflecting the number and composition of labor resources and their distribution among those employed in sectors of the national economy and forms of ownership. When drawing up the balance of labor resources, we also take into account unemployed And economically inactive population.

Terminology problems

According to the terminology accepted in the Russian Federation economically active population persons aged 15-72 years are considered to be employed or unemployed during the period under review. In the same time economically inactive population - These are persons aged 15-72 years who are not considered to be employed or unemployed during the reference period.

TO unemployed, in relation to definitions International organization labor (ILO), include persons aged 15-72 years who, during the period under review, simultaneously satisfied the following criteria:

• did not have a job (gainful occupation);
• were looking for work, i.e. contacted a government or commercial employment service, used or placed advertisements in the media, the Internet, directly contacted the administration of an enterprise or employer, used personal connections etc. or took steps to organize their own business;
• were ready to start work during the survey week.

Students in general education institutions, pensioners and disabled people are counted as unemployed if they do not have a job, are looking for work and are ready to start work.

The balance of labor resources can be of different territorial production levels - from an individual enterprise to the state economy as a whole. The consolidated balance of labor resources reflects their number and qualitative composition (by gender, age, type of employment, economic sectors and professions). Using the balance of labor resources, you can determine the need or surplus for workers.

The balance of labor resources consists of two parts: the first records the number and composition of labor resources, and the second records their distribution by industry and area of ​​employment. Thus, when compiling the balance of labor resources among people of working age, the following age groups are separately distinguished: 16-17 years, 18-29, 30-44 and 45 years and older. Age gradations are important in determining differences in labor productivity, professional characteristics of workers, their territorial mobility and a number of other qualitative characteristics.

The concept of demographic load is also closely related to labor resources. Demographic load is understood as a generalized quantitative characteristic of the age structure of the population, showing the burden on society of the unemployed population. The demographic burden shows the relationship between the working-age part of the population, on the one hand, and the non-working (children and old people) on the other.

There are several types of demographic pressure. is calculated as the ratio of the total number of children aged 0-14 years to the number of people of working age. In turn, it is the ratio of the number of people of retirement age to the number of people of working age. The total (total) demographic burden is the ratio of the total number of children and old people to the working age population. Demographic load indicators and the forecast of their changes are of great importance for economic calculations related to the functioning of the pension system, system social security and healthcare.

In different countries of the world, the concept of “working age” is different, which is due to the peculiarities of national labor legislation, which determines the boundaries of retirement age and the age at which one can officially begin working. According to international standards, working age includes the population of both sexes in the age group 15-64 years. Accordingly, the share of this group in the total population will vary significantly depending on the age structure of the population of each specific country.

Today in the world the total demographic burden is on average 52 people per 100 people of working age. The maximum demographic burden is observed in countries with high birth rates, due to the very large proportion of children in the total population. Among the states with a total demographic burden of more than 80 are the countries of Tropical Africa

Labor resources - this is a part of the population that, due to the combination of physical abilities, special knowledge and experience, can participate in the creation of material wealth or
work in the service sector.

The criteria for allocating labor resources from the population are the boundaries of working age, which are established by the state and depend on the social system, the life expectancy of people, other social and economic factors and on official state regulations adopted in this regard acts. In the Republic of Belarus, the working age for men is from 16 to 60, for women - from 16 to 55 years.

The workforce includes:- working population of working age; - working teenagers (up to 16 years old); - the population older than working age, taking part in social production.

The working population includes persons at working age, with the exception of non-working disabled people of groups I and II, as well as persons who retired on preferential terms earlier than established in general procedure working age.

The following categories are distinguished as part of labor resources:- employed in public production; - self-employed labor activity; - those who are studying part-time; - employed at home and personal subsidiary plot; - military personnel.

Labor resources have quantitative and qualitative characteristics. The first include indicators of size and composition (age, gender, social groups, etc.); the second includes indicators of educational level, professional qualification structure, etc.

Age groups: youth aged 16-29 years; persons from 30 to 49 years old; persons of pre-retirement age (men 50-59 years old, women 50-54 years old); persons of retirement age (men 60 years and older, women 55 years and older).

Sexual structure of labor. resources is characterized by the ratio of men and women. Determined by the working age population. In the Republic of Belarus the proportion of men is 47 %, women - 53%. This ratio is considered normal for the economy of developed countries.

By level of education: general, special and higher level; by social groups.

The ratio of workers by type of activity and skill level characterizes the professional and qualification structure of labor resources. Professions are determined by the nature and content of labor, the specifics and operating conditions of individual sectors of the economy. Within general professions specialties are identified. Depending on the complexity of the work, highly qualified, qualified and unskilled workers are distinguished.

When determining the ratio of labor resources by personnel categories, workers and employees are taken into account, including managers, specialists, etc.

The basis for the formation of labor resources is the reproduction of the population, which is carried out through a change of generations as a result of the birth and death of people, i.e. With an increase in the birth rate and life expectancy, there will be an increase in the population and, consequently, in the labor force. The Republic of Belarus belongs to the group of countries with an extremely low birth rate, with 14.5-17.3 births per 1000 people.

Population migration is important in the formation of labor resources.

Important problem this is unemployment. Unemployment – a social-economic phenomenon, expressed in the fact that a certain part of the working-age population cannot realize their labor potential.

According to the definition of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the unemployed are persons who are able and willing to work and are actively looking for work.

In the Republic of Belarus the unemployment rate in 2000 was 2%. At the same time, the share of hidden unemployment is high.

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