(a) Distinguish between labour force and efficiency of labour
(b) Describe five factors which determine the size of the labour force in a country
Explanation
(a) Labour force can be defined as the total number of persons available to supply the labour for the production of economic goods and services. In other words, it is the total number of people of working age in a country who are able and willing by law to work.
On the other hand, Efficiency of labour is the ability of labour to increase output without increasing the quantity of labour. An increase in efficiency is usually expressed in terms of an increase in the output of labour within a shorter period of time without any fall in the quantity of goods and services produced.
(b) - Age structure of the population: The structure of a country's population is a significant determination of the size of the labour force. The lower the dependent people, the higher the supply of labour and vice versa. In other word, the labour force will increase in a country with a greater number of its people between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
- Role of women in te society: In some societies, women are usually prevented from engaging in gainful employment because of religious belief, social and cultural factors and his affects the size of labour force.
- Number of working hours and days: The number of working hours per day and the number of working days in a week or a year also helps to determine the supply of labour.
- The number of disabled: When the number of disabled persons is high, especially within the working population, the supply of labour will be low.
- The number of people who are willing to work: There are certain number of able bodied people who are also between the age bracket of 18 and 65 years but are unwilling to work. If their population is high, it will affect the size of supply of labour.