Dispersion of regional employment rates. By sex

The dispersion of regional employment rates of the age group 15–64 shows the regional differences in employment within countries and groups of countries (EU–28, Eurozone).

It represents the employment rate of the age group 15–64 compared to the entire population of the same age group. The dispersion of regional employment rates is zero when the employment rates in all regions are identical, and it will rise if there is an increase in the differences between employment rates among regions.

The population studied is made up of persons aged 15 and over living in private households (population living in collective households, i.e. residential homes, boarding houses, hospitals, religious institutions, workers' hostels, etc. are not included). This definition also includes persons absent from the households for the short periods (but having retained a link with the private household) owing to studies, holidays, illness, business trips, etc. Persons on obligatory military service are not included.

The dispersion of regional (NUTS level 2) employment rates is expressed by the coefficient of variation of regional employment rates of the same age group. It is calculated as the square root of the weighted variance of regional employment rates of age group 15–64, divided by the employment rate at national (European, respectively) level.

It Catalonia the provinces were considered as regions.

In the case of Catalonia and Spain, the data com from the INE's Labour Force Survey. In this sphere, the active population (numerator) is aged 16 to 64.