The table compares the number of people working in four sectors in the UK across different age groups in 1998 and 2006.
Overall, most employees were in the younger and middle age groups (18-45), while the 56-65 group had the lowest figures in most sectors. Additionally, the technology sector experienced significant growth over the period.
In 1998, hotel and catering employed the highest number of people aged 18-25 (25,764), followed by similar figures in the 26-35 and 36-45 groups. The numbers declined with age, reaching the lowest in the 56-65 group. A similar pattern was seen in building, where the 18-25 group dominated. In technology, however, the largest group was aged 26-35, while education had more workers in older age groups.
By 2006, employment in technology rose sharply, especially among those aged 26-35 (454,375). Meanwhile, hotel and catering saw the highest figures in the 36-45 group, and education continued to have the fewest workers aged 18-25.