WJEC · Microeconomics · The labour market

WJEC Economics past paper questions: The labour market

Every WJEC question on The labour market from 2016 to 2025: 6 data response questions, 1 short answer question and 3 multiple choice questions. It covers Demand, supply and elasticity, The economic problem and resource allocation and Business growth and objectives. Each question links to its paper, mark scheme and examiner report.

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SubtopicsDemand, supply and elasticity 2The economic problem and resource allocation 2Business growth and objectives 1

Data response questions on the labour market

AS Unit 1, June 2025, Q1710 marks
Using the data and your own knowledge, discuss the advantages of a regional minimum wage for Wales.

Examiner insight

What to cover
The question is about a regional minimum wage, not the national one. Use the tables to show why a different rate would suit different parts of Wales, for example Mid Wales with the highest unemployment and the lowest average wages, and compare Wales with England.
Watch out
A generic answer about the national minimum wage was capped at 4 out of 10 even with data. Read the question, then keep the word regional in front of you as you write.
Question paper p.14Mark scheme p.6Examiner report p.7Open in the tool
AS Unit 2, June 2023, Q2(a)16 marks

Case study: THE WELSH ECONOMY

(i) Define the term Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. (ii) The data states that the construction sector is likely to 'achieve an average annual growth rate of 4.6% in Wales during the years 2019 to 2024' (lines 5–6). Evaluate the factors that could have caused high growth in this industry. (iii) Discuss the likely causes of wage differentials between construction sector jobs in Wales as shown in Table 1.

Examiner insight

What to cover
Part (i): define GDP growth, not just GDP, and stress total value rather than number of goods and services. Part (ii): explain the causes of high growth in the construction sector specifically, such as low interest rates, government infrastructure spending and housing demand. Part (iii): give several causes of wage differentials, linked to demand and supply for each type of labour.
Watch out
Keep part (ii) on the construction sector, not the whole economy, and do not treat sector growth as the same thing as employment in the sector. In part (iii), discussing only education requirements limits AO1 to Band 1.
Question paper p.5Mark scheme p.13Examiner report p.10Open in the tool

Short answer questions on the labour market

Multiple choice questions

  1. AS Unit 1, June 2024, Q3

    Which one of the following is the most likely effect of a firm increasing its use of specialisation?

  2. AS Unit 1, June 2016, Q3

    High rates of personal income tax are thought to have a disincentive effect on work. This refers to the likelihood that the high tax rates will:

  3. AS Unit 1, June 2016, Q7

    Calculate the number of people who have lost their jobs as a direct result of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) being increased from £7.50 to £9. Slab Wage £9 NMW £7.50 Dlab 100 160 210 Labour D 60 E 50

Question text is quoted from the question papers, © WJEC CBAC Ltd, for students’ private study. Open the official papers and mark schemes from the links on each question. Examiner insights are written with AI assistance and moderated by Finn.