: Pearson Edexcel past-paper questions pack
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Employment and unemployment

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score/ 61

Questions are numbered; the mark schemes (the answer key) follow on separate pages so the question pages can be handed out alone. www.economicsaleveltutor.com

Pearson Edexcel AS and A-level Economics past-paper questions since 2016 · 22 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.economicsaleveltutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © Pearson Edexcel

1. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(a) · 1 marks ·
(a) Which one of the following best describes this cause of unemployment? (1) A Cyclical B Frictional C Seasonal D Structural
2. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q3(b)(i) · 2 marks · AO1=1,AO3=1
(b) Explain one likely disadvantage of a decline in GDP on: (i) workers (2)
3. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q5(a) · 2 marks · AO2=2
(a) The total UK labour force in January 2022 was 34.5 million. With reference to the information above, calculate the total number of inactive people in the UK labour force in January 2022. (2)
4. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q5(b) · 2 marks · AO1=1,AO3=1
(b) Explain one likely reason for the high levels of inactivity in the UK labour force. (2)
5. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q5(c) · 1 marks ·
(c) Which one of the following would be the most likely result of an increase in the rate of employment? (1) A Deflation B Improvement in living standards C Increase in absolute poverty D Recession
6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 1 marks ·
(a) Which one of the following can be inferred from the above chart? (1) A Between September 2013 and September 2016, there were nearly 100 000 more people leaving the UK than entering the UK B Immigration to the UK is likely to decrease the short-run AS curve C Since the EU referendum, net migration has fallen by around 80 000 D There has been a significant decrease in emigration throughout the given period
7. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b) · 3 marks · AO1=1,AO2=1,AO3=1
(b) With reference to the above chart, explain one likely effect of migration on employment in the UK. (3)
8. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q2(a) · 1 marks ·
(a) With reference to the chart, which one of the following is true? (1) The unemployment rate: A fell by 1.4% between December 2020 and April 2022 B fell by one percentage point between February 2021 and December 2021 C was highest in March 2022 and lowest in December 2020 D will continue to rise but at a slower rate
9. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q2(b) · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO2=1,AO3=1
(b) With reference to the chart on the previous page, explain one likely reason for the change in the UK’s rate of unemployment. (4)
10. November 2021 · Paper 3 · Q2(b) · 8 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2,AO3=2,AO4=2
(b) Examine two likely effects of the forecast change in the rate of unemployment between 2019 to 2020, on firms in Germany. Refer to Figure 4 in your answer. (8)
11. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4(a) · 2 marks · AO2=2
(a) Calculate the percentage change in the number of UK unemployed persons between April and July 2018. You are advised to show your working. (2)
12. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4(b) · 2 marks · AO1=1,AO3=1
(b) Explain one likely reason for the increase in the number of people unemployed in the UK over the time period shown. (2)
13. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4(c) · 1 marks ·
(c) Which one of the following types of unemployment is most likely to be caused by a technological change in an industry? (1) A Cyclical B Real wage C Seasonal D Structural
14. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 3 marks · AO1=1,AO2=1,AO3=1
(a) With reference to the chart above, explain one likely economic effect of the change in the UK unemployment rate between 2012 and 2018. (3)
15. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(a) · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO2=2
(a) With reference to Figure 1, explain one reason why the claimant count and the ILO measure of unemployment differ. (4)
16. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(e) · 15 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3,AO3=3,AO4=6
(e) With reference to Extract B and Figure 1, discuss the likely impact of migration on employment and unemployment in the UK. (15)
17. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q1(a) · 1 marks ·
(a) Which one of the following types of unemployment best explains the change in the data between 2008 and 2010? (1) A Cyclical B Frictional C Seasonal D Voluntary
18. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a) · 3 marks · AO1=1,AO2=1,AO3=1
(a) With reference to the statement above, explain the term ‘under-employment’. (3)
19. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b) · 1 marks ·
(b) Which one of the following is the most likely reason for a fall in the unemployment rate? (1) A Increasing unemployment benefit payments B Decreasing real GDP C Decreasing funding for apprenticeships D Increasing consumer spending
20. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a) · 1 marks · AO1=1
(a) Define the term ‘claimant count’. (1)
21. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b) · 2 marks · AO2=2
(b) Calculate the percentage change in the claimant count from August 2014 to February 2015. (2)
22. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(c) · 1 marks ·
(c) Which one of the following is likely to cause a reduction in the claimant count? (1) A An increase in the weekly payment for claimants B A compulsory weekly interview for every claimant C An increase in the size of the workforce D A fall in employment

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q1(a)
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q1(a)
2. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q3(b)(i)
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q3(b)(i)
3. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q5(a)
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q5(a)
4. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q5(b)
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q5(b)
5. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q5(c)
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q5(c)
6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a)
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q3(a)
7. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b)
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q3(b)
8. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q2(a)
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q2(a)
9. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q2(b)
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q2(b)
10. November 2021 · Paper 3 · Q2(b)
Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 3 Q2(b)
11. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4(a)
Mark scheme October 2020 Paper 2 Q4(a)
12. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4(b)
Mark scheme October 2020 Paper 2 Q4(b)
13. October 2020 · Paper 2 · Q4(c)
Mark scheme October 2020 Paper 2 Q4(c)
14. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a)
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q3(a)
15. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(a)
Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q6(a)
16. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q6(e)
Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q6(e)
17. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q1(a)
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q1(a)
18. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(a)
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q2(a)
19. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q2(b)
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q2(b)
20. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(a)
Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q3(a)
21. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(b)
Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q3(b)
22. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q3(c)
Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q3(c)