Labour force participation, employment and unemployment are three macroeconomic quantities for describing the labour market. The labour force consists of those who are employed – those who want to work and actually have a job – and those who are unemployed – those without a job, but who also want to work and are also looking for a job. Labour force participation is often expressed as the share of the labour force of the population of working age, while employment and unemployment are expressed as the number of employed and unemployed, respectively, in relation to the labour force.

An aim for labour market policy is to stimulate labour supply and create permanent higher employment and lower unemployment. Thus, the effects of these measures are crucial when evaluating labour market policy but also in evaluations of education-, social insurance and family policy.

Our research also includes questions on the other determining factors of labour force participation, employment and unemployment such as for example: legislation on employment protection, taxation, monetary policy, immigration and health of the population. But also on relations that go in the opposite direction such as effects of periods outside the labour force, or in unemployment, on future sickness absence, ill health, income and employment.

Contacts: Marcus Eliason, Anders Forslund