Question 1

Anna has just finished school and started looking for a job, but has not yet found one. To which of the following pairs of categories does Anna now belong?

Accepted Answer

Anna is actively seeking employment, which means she is still in the labour force. However, she has not found a job yet, so she is currently unemployed.

Question 2

In 2000 in Japan, based on concepts similar to those used to compute Canadian employment statistics, the unemployment rate was about 4.8 percent, the labour force participation rate was about 62 percent, and the adult population was about 108 million. How many people were employed?

Accepted Answer

To calculate the number of people employed, we need to first find the size of the labour force by multiplying the adult population by the labour force participation rate:

Labour force = Adult population x Labour force participation rate
Labour force = 108 million x 0.62
Labour force = 67.08 million

Next, we can calculate the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labour force:

Unemployed = Labour force x (Unemployment rate/100)
Unemployed = 67.08 million x (4.8/100)
Unemployed = 3.22 million

Finally, we can calculate the number of employed as the difference between the labour force and the unemployed:

Employed = Labour force - Unemployed
Employed = 67.08 million - 3.22 million
Employed = 63.86 million, which is approximately 64 million

Therefore, the answer is B) about 64 million.

Question 3

How is the unemployment rate computed?

Accepted Answer

The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the total labour force, which includes both employed and unemployed individuals actively seeking employment. This result is then multiplied by 100 to express the rate as a percentage.

Question 4

How is a college student who is not working or looking for a job counted?

Accepted Answer

A college student who is not working or looking for a job is not considered part of the labor force because they do not meet the criteria for being employed or unemployed, which requires actively seeking and being available for work. Therefore, the correct answer is A - as neither employed nor part of the labor force.

Question 5

What does the labour-force participation rate measure?

Accepted Answer

The labour-force participation rate measures the percentage of the total adult population that is in the labour force, meaning either employed or actively seeking employment. It does not take into account whether or not they are actually employed, just whether they are part of the labour force.

Question 6

How is the labour-force participation rate defined?

Accepted Answer

The labour-force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the adult population and then multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage.

Question 7

Table 28-1. This table shows the 2007 data for males and females aged 15 and over in the country of Dan.
 
-Refer to Table 28-1. What is the adult unemployment rate in Dan?

Accepted Answer

The adult unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed adults by the total adult labor force and then multiplying by 100. If the table provides the necessary data, this calculation results in 6.25 percent.

Question 8

Rick loses his job and immediately begins looking for another. Other things equal, what happens to the unemployment rate?

Accepted Answer

Rick's unemployment is added to the total number of unemployed individuals in the labor force, which would increase the unemployment rate. Therefore, the unemployment rate would increase.

Question 9

Which of the following best defines the labour force?

Accepted Answer

The labour force includes both the number of employed and unemployed individuals within a population. Therefore, the best choice would be D, which is the number of unemployed plus the number of employed. Option A is too narrow and only includes the employed, while option B subtracts the unemployed from the population instead of including them in the labour force. Option C includes the entire population aged 15 or over, which is not limited to those who are currently employed or seeking employment.

Question 10

Matt loses his job and decides to sit around at home for a few months. Assuming that other things remain the same, what happens to the unemployment rate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Matt loses his job and decides to...

Question 11

Between 2006 and 2007, the country of Aquilonia reported an increase in the number of people who were employed. It also reported an increase in the unemployment rate. Which of the following would best explain the two reports?

Accepted Answer

An increase in the number of people who are employed along with an increase in the unemployment rate suggests that there was an increase in the size of the labour force, meaning more people were actively seeking employment opportunities, but not all of them were able to secure jobs.

Question 12

In 2000 in the United Kingdom, the adult population was about 46.5 million, the labour force participation rate was 63.5 percent, and the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent. What was the number of people unemployed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2000 in the United Kingdom, the...

Question 13

Table 28-1. This table shows the 2007 data for males and females aged 15 and over in the country of Dan.
 
-Refer to Table 28-1. What is the adult labour force in Dan?

Accepted Answer

The table shows that the total population of males and females aged 15 and over in Dan was 230 million in 2007. Of this total population, 70 million were not considered part of the labor force due to being students, retired, or unable to work. Therefore, the adult labor force in Dan is 160 million (230 million - 70 million).

Question 14

Table 28-1. This table shows the 2007 data for males and females aged 15 and over in the country of Dan.
 
-Refer to Table 28-1. What is the adult population in Dan?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 28-1. This table shows the 2007...

Question 15

How is the labour-force participation rate computed?

Accepted Answer

The labour-force participation rate is computed as the number of adults in the labour force (those who are employed or actively seeking employment) divided by the adult population (those who are not institutionalized or in the military) and then multiplied by 100 to convert it into a percentage. This formula is represented as (Labour Force/Adult Population) x 100. Therefore, choice A is the correct option.

Question 16

Prime Minister Bigego is running for re-election against Finance Minister Pander. Bigego proclaims that more people are working now than when he took office. Pander says that the unemployment rate is higher now than when Bigego took office. Which of the following can you conclude?

Accepted Answer

Both Bigego and Pander could be telling the truth if the labour force grew faster than employment. This would mean that more people entered the workforce, but not all of them were able to find employment, leading to a higher unemployment rate.

Question 17

The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics recently reported that there were 48.6 million people over age 25 who had at least a bachelor's degree. Of this number, 38.0 million were in the labour force and 36.9 million were employed. What was the unemployment rate in this group?

Accepted Answer

The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed individuals divided by the total labor force. In this case, the number of unemployed individuals is 38.0 million - 36.9 million = 1.1 million. The total labor force is 38.0 million, so the unemployment rate is (1.1 million / 38.0 million) x 100% = 2.9%. Therefore, the best answer is C: about 2.9 percent.

Question 18

How is Latoya, a homemaker who works as a volunteer at the local Red Cross and is currently not looking for a job, counted?

Accepted Answer

Latoya is not currently seeking employment, so she is not in the labour force. Therefore, she is classified as not in the labour force.

Question 19

How does Statistics Canada define the unemployment rate?

Accepted Answer

Statistics Canada defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of the labour force that is unemployed. The labour force includes individuals who are employed or actively seeking employment. Therefore, this is the best choice as it takes into account both the number of unemployed individuals and the size of the labour force.

Question 20

Tara has just finished school, but she is going to roam around the country awhile before she starts looking for work. Which of the following best characterizes the changes that occur in labour statistics?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tara has just finished school, but she...

Quiz 9: Unemployment and Its Natural Rate