"The economically inactive are defi ned as people who are not in employment or unemployed. There are many reasons why an individual may be inactive, for example, they might be studying, looking after family or long-term sick. These individuals are not part of the supply of labour but are important as they are potential labour supply in the future. This article examines inactivity trends using information from the Labour Force Survey. It shows trends from the early 1970s and the characteristics of inactive people. It then looks at some of the reasons for people being inactive."

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