It is important for an economic and social understanding to be able to measure labour force characteristics of the population and changes which occur to those characteristics over time.
In the ABS the labour force characteristics of the population are measured and described through a group of variables. These core labour force variables are:
- Labour force status
- Status in employment
- Hours worked
- Full-time/part-time status
- Duration of job search.
The core labour force variables, when cross-classified with other social, economic and demographic variables, can provide comprehensive data on a particular topic, issue or population group. The resulting information can be used for a range of purposes, including:
- informed decision making and planning
- policy formulation and monitoring
- social and economic research and analysis, and
- program provision and evaluation.
The core variables form a coherent set, which jointly provide a detailed description of the labour force.
Labour force questions are most commonly collected via household-based surveys. These surveys have strict time limits to minimise burden on householders and the cost of collecting the information, therefore the amount of content available for any one topic is limited. ABS Labour Force Survey (LFS) collects this information via specially trained interviewers using face-to-face and telephone interview collection methods, or by online self-enumeration. Labour force information is also collected in other household sample surveys, and in the Census of Population and Housing.
To accommodate the different levels of detail required, and the constraints of different collections, three conceptually comparable standard questionnaire modules have been developed.
- The Labour Force Survey Questionnaire Module, which is used in the ABS LFS.
- The Household Survey Questionnaire Module, a shorter version used in all other relevant ABS Household Surveys.
- The Census of Population and Housing Questionnaire Module, which is best suited where labour force status is used as an explanatory variable (e.g. Census) or for use in administrative data collections.
A single question to establish labour force status can be used in administrative data collection, but is not considered a standard. For certain enumeration situations (e.g. remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities) a modified questionnaire format may also be used.
In all household-based surveys, Labour force status is the first of the core variables to be established when processing data on labour force activity. A derivation process is used to identify the Labour force status of each respondent. The derivation combines the responses to several questions according to a specified set of rules in order to correctly assign a classification code. Within the questionnaire module to establish Labour force status, the questions to determine Status in employment and Hours worked are also asked. Full-time/part-time status is derived from Hours worked. Additional questions have to be asked to determine Duration of job search.
The following table shows the variables contained in each of the three standard questionnaire modules, and the single question.