Demographics and Labor Force in Catalonia
Catalonia’s Aging Population
The population over the age of 65 is quite large, representing 17% of the total population. This is due to the lengthening of life expectancy, especially in women. Recently, the number of people over 65 years old has surpassed the number of people in Catalonia between 0 and 15 years old.
Socio-professional Structure of the Population
Economic Activity
The population can also be classified according to their participation in economic activities, generally into two groups:
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The labor force: Individuals of working age, between 16 and 65, who are either regularly employed or actively seeking employment. This group is further subdivided into:
- Employed population (those who are working)
- Unemployed population (those who are seeking work)
In Spain, approximately 11.33% of the workforce is unemployed. In Catalonia, the figure is approximately 9%.
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The inactive population: Individuals who do not perform remunerated activities or are not seeking employment, either by choice, due to age restrictions, or for health reasons. This includes children, homemakers who do not seek work, retirees, students, and individuals with disabilities. It is divided into:
- Potentially active: Individuals of working age who could become active if they chose to (e.g., homemakers, students)
- Passive: Individuals who are retired, have a degree of disability that prevents them from working, or are children
Typically, the activity rate is used to measure the percentage of the workforce relative to the total population.
Workforce Data
Population aged 16 and over. Used to measure the potential workforce of a country.
The problem is that this rate does not take into account aspects such as homemakers who are not seeking employment. It also does not account for people working in the informal economy (i.e., individuals who perform jobs that are not officially recognized or who do not pay taxes on their work).
Productive Sectors
The population is divided into three sectors:
- Primary sector: Involves the extraction of raw materials from nature without transformation, such as agriculture, livestock farming, mining, fishing, forestry, and beekeeping.
- Secondary sector: Involves the transformation of raw materials, including industry and construction.
- Tertiary sector: Encompasses all activities that do not produce goods but provide services, such as finance, administration, commerce, transport, tourism, healthcare, and education.
Some authors believe that there is a quaternary sector that includes specialized trades beyond the tertiary sector.
Dynamics of Productive Sectors
As a country develops, the number of people working in the primary sector decreases, while the number of people working in the secondary and tertiary sectors increases.
In general, the dynamics of the sectors have two clear phases:
- Transfer from agriculture to industry: This occurred in Europe during the Industrial Revolution.
- Decline in industrial employment: The number of workers in the industry began to decline due to automation and mechanization of production processes. This is currently happening in developed countries.
In less developed countries, people primarily work in the primary sector, with relatively few people working in the secondary sector. In the tertiary sector, employment often consists of civil service, military, and retail trade, i.e., non-specialized services.
The Problem of Unemployment
Unemployment in Different Countries
Underdeveloped Countries
Unemployment is a common problem in these countries. The majority of the population works in agriculture, but due to population growth, there is not enough work for everyone in the field. There is insufficient land for everyone, and many people migrate to cities in search of work. The problem is that cities in developing countries have little industry and generate few jobs, contributing to many immigrants being unemployed. Not only are they unemployed, but they also lack housing, leading to increased poverty.
Developed Countries
Unemployment in developed countries often coincides with times of economic crisis, such as the oil crisis of the 1970s or the present.