Study Notes
Demand for Labour (Labour Markets)
- Level:
- AS, A-Level
- Board:
- AQA, Edexcel, OCR, IB, Eduqas, WJEC
Last updated 10 Apr 2023
The labour market is a factor market – it provides a means by which employers find the labour they need, whilst millions of individuals offer their labour services in different jobs.
The demand for labour is a derived demand, meaning that it depends on the demand for the goods and services that labour produces. The following are some of the factors that influence the demand for labour:
- The price of the good or service: The higher the price of the good or service, the more profitable it is for firms to produce it, and the more labour they will demand.
- Productivity of labour: The more productive workers are, the more output they can produce per hour, and the more labour firms will demand.
- The cost of labour: The higher the cost of labour, the less profitable it is for firms to hire workers, and the less labour they will demand.
- The cost and availability of substitutes: If there are good substitutes for labour, such as capital or automation, firms will be less likely to demand labour.
- The level of technology: The higher the level of technology, the more productive workers can be, and the more labour firms will demand.
- The level of government regulation: The more regulations there are on businesses, the more costly it is for them to operate, and the less labour they will demand.
- The level of economic activity: The higher the level of economic activity, the more goods and services are being produced, and the more labour firms will demand.
The demand for labour is a complex issue, and the factors that influence it can vary depending on the specific industry or sector.
Elasticity of Labour Demand - Revision Video
You might also like

Paul Ormerod: How sticky is unemployment?
23rd August 2013

Automation a factor behind falling real wages for millions
19th October 2014

The Happy Band of the Self Employed
15th October 2014
The Poverty Trap- Panorama
12th October 2014

After the BRICs, the GIPSIs: Tackling Europe’s Problems
10th September 2014
Zero-hours contracts - vital for flexibility or exploitative?
19th December 2013
Inflation, unemployment and the Misery Index
17th October 2013