(a) Explain any two causes of a declining population:
(b) Outline any three factors which determine the size of your country’s working population.
Explanation
(a) The causes of declining population include following;
(i) A fall or decrease in birth rate, due to .decreasing population, birth control, late marriages.
(ii) A rise or increase in the death rate of the young on through epidemic, natural disasters, poor medical facilities, low standard of living etc; ie. high infant mortality
(iii) Emigration of the youths can also lead to declining population.
(b) Factors affecting the size of the working population are the:
(i) Size of the total population, may affect the size of the Working population.
(ii) School-leaving age, also affect, if it is higher, the number of the total workforce.
(iii) Age of retirement, can affect the size. If it is lower, so many people will retire early.
(iv) Number of sick people of working age can drastically reduce workforce, if they are on the increase.
(v) Number of women who decide to work, due to custom like purdah and education.
(vi) Number of people who decide to study beyond the school leaving age.
(vii) The number of people who retire early will create job vacuum, leading to lean workforce.
(viii) Statutory age of entry also affects he size of the work-ing population. If it is lower, many will qualify to work, but if it is raised, it will reduce the number of those available to work.
(ix) Net migration is capable of impacting on the size, if emigration is more than immigration, it will reduce the workforce in the country.