6102.0.55.001 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Jun 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/08/2004   
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Contents >> Methods >> Household Surveys >> Chapter 20. Labour Force Supplementary Surveys

INTRODUCTION

20.0.1 A supplementary topic was included with the Labour Force Survey for the first time in November 1961, and this concept has been gradually extended so that now the majority of months in each year include supplementary questions on one or more topics.

20.0.2 Each Labour Force Supplementary Survey comprises a series of additional questions asked at the end of each Labour Force Survey interview. The survey methodology does not differ greatly among the supplementary surveys, and in many aspects is the same as the Labour Force Survey methodology (outlined in Chapter 19). Paragraphs 20.0.1 to 20.0.22 of Chapter 20 (below) describe the broad survey methodology of the supplementary surveys. They should be used in conjunction with Sections 1 to 16, which outline elements of the methodology which are unique to each supplementary survey.


OBJECTIVES OF THE LABOUR FORCE SUPPLEMENTARY SURVEYS

20.0.3 The Labour Force Supplementary Surveys form an important component of the ABS's household surveys program, which aims:

  • to provide a range of statistics required to monitor the social and economic wellbeing of Australians with particular reference to important sub-groups of the population; and
  • to support the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs of key Commonwealth and State government agencies.

20.0.4 The information requirements of ABS household surveys are determined on the basis of submissions from users on their needs for and uses of household survey data. They also reflect ABS deliberations on what is required of a national statistics program in the various subject fields, based on user contact and consultation.

20.0.5 In the field of labour statistics, supplementary surveys provide detailed information on a range of labour topics and interest groups such as:
  • labour force - labour force experience;
  • employment - underemployment; multiple job holding; forms of employment; labour turnover; work-related injuries; and locations of work;
  • employees - earnings; trade union membership; benefits; and working arrangements;
  • unemployment - job search experience; successful and unsuccessful job search;
  • persons not in the labour force - discouraged job seekers; other persons with marginal attachment to the labour force;
  • retirement and retirement intentions; and
  • persons retrenched or made redundant from work.

20.0.6 Many labour topics are covered on a regular basis, while others are only covered once or at irregular intervals to meet a specific need for information. Topics are usually run nationally. However, one month is set aside each year for State government proposed topics, specific to one or more States. The program also includes other social and economic topics not relating to labour statistics, such as the environment, crime and safety, and child care.


SURVEY OUTPUT

20.0.7 Estimates from each supplementary survey are released in separate publications. More detailed estimates are available on request. Confidentialised Unit Record Files are sometimes also produced.
SCOPE

20.0.8 In addition to those already excluded from the Labour Force Survey, the following persons are excluded from most supplementary surveys (see paragraphs 17.2 to 17.4 of Chapter 17 for further information):
  • persons living in private dwellings in remote and sparsely settled parts of Australia;
  • institutionalised persons; and
  • boarding school pupils.

20.0.9 Depending on the topic or population of interest for which information is being collected, there may be further exclusions from scope. For example, some supplementary surveys exclude all persons living in special dwellings; others collect information only from a certain population or interest group (e.g. information on retirement is collected from persons aged 45 years or over).


COLLECTION METHODOLOGY

20.0.10 The collection methodology for the supplementary surveys is generally the same as for the Labour Force Survey. Interviews are conducted at the same time as interviews for the Labour Force Survey. Most interviews (about 70%) are conducted by telephone, with the remainder conducted face-to-face.

20.0.11 Information about each household member in scope of the supplementary survey is generally collected from one adult using the ARA methodology.

20.0.12 Response rates for the supplementary surveys are slightly lower than for the Labour Force Survey, and average around 93%.


SAMPLE DESIGN

20.0.13 The supplementary surveys use the same sample design as the Labour Force Survey, and the sample used in the supplementary surveys is a subset of the Labour Force Survey sample. Persons in the outgoing rotation group in the Labour Force Survey are excluded from all supplementary surveys.

20.0.14 The sample size for the supplementary surveys varies. In addition to the scope exclusions listed above, there may be further restrictions to the supplementary survey sample for particular topics.


ESTIMATION METHODS

20.0.15 Post-stratification estimation techniques are generally used, with adjustment to account for persons enumerated outside their State of usual residence.

20.0.16 Supplementary survey weights use labour force estimates, referred to in this context as pseudo-benchmarks, to supplement independent demographic benchmarks (see Chapter 17 for further information on population benchmarks used in household surveys). Supplementary surveys may also incorporate other auxiliary information on target populations - for instance benchmarks for the Indigenous population, or the private dwelling population - into estimates.

20.0.17 The post-stratification variables generally used are:
  • State/Territory of usual residence;
  • part of State of usual residence (capital city, rest of State);
  • labour force status;
  • sex; and
  • age (age groupings generally correspond with those used in post-stratification for the Labour Force Survey).


TIME SERIES ESTIMATES

20.0.18 Seasonally adjusted and trend estimates are not produced for supplementary surveys.


RELIABILITY OF THE ESTIMATES

20.0.19 Estimates from supplementary surveys are subject to both sampling and non-sampling error (see Chapter 16 for more detail). The relative standard errors of survey estimates are published in each supplementary survey publication.

20.0.20 A 'split-halves' variance estimator, with a Taylor series adjustment for the post-stratified estimate, is used to calculate estimates of variance (see Chapter 16 for more detail).


DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME

20.0.21 Estimates from successive supplementary surveys on a given topic may not be strictly comparable over time due to changes in survey scope and concepts measured. In addition, changes affecting the Labour Force Survey sample and estimation processes will affect supplementary survey estimates. For further discussion of changes to a particular labour topic see Sections 1 to 16 of this chapter.


FURTHER INFORMATION

20.0.22 For further details contact the Assistant Director, Monthly and Multi-purpose Population Surveys Section, on Canberra (02) 6252 6660.




This section contains the following subsection :
          20.1. Career Experience
          20.2. Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership
          20.3. Forms of Employment
          20.4. Job Search Experience of Unemployed Persons
          20.5. Labour Force Experience
          20.6. Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Migrants
          20.7. Labour Mobility
          20.8. Locations of Work
          20.9. Multiple Job Holders
          20.10. Persons Not In the Labour Force
          20.11. Retirement and Retirement Intentions
          20.12. Retrenchment and Redundancy
          20.13. Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience
          20.14. Underemployed Workers
          20.15. Work Related Injuries
          20.16. Working Arrangements
          20.17 Job Search Experience

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