Question

Any study of employment must start with a review of the worker-population ratios, why?

Answer 1

Because the worker-population ratio (WPR) tells us what proportion of the population is actually engaged in economic activities. It is calculated as:

Worker-Population Ratio = (Number of workers ÷ Total population) × 100

So, studying employment usually begins with WPR because it helps us understand:

• how many people are working,
• the level of participation in economic activities,
• differences in employment between males and females,
• differences between rural and urban areas, and
• changes in employment over time.

In short, WPR gives a basic picture of how much of the population is employed, so it is a useful starting point for any study of employment.