6245.0 - Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience, Australia, Jul 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/06/2001   
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INTRODUCTION

1 The statistics in this publication were compiled from data collected in the Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience Survey that was conducted throughout Australia in July 2000 as a supplement to the monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). Respondents to the LFS who were within the scope of the supplementary survey were asked further questions.

2 The publication Labour Force, Australia (Cat. no. 6203.0) contains information about survey design, sample redesign, scope, coverage and population benchmarks relevant to the LFS, which also apply to supplementary surveys. It also contains definitions of demographic and labour force characteristics, and information about telephone interviewing which are relevant to both the LFS and supplementary surveys.


SCOPE

3 In addition to those already excluded from the LFS, there were approximately 80,000 persons living in remote and sparsely settled parts of Australia who were out of scope of this survey. The exclusion of these persons has only a minor impact on any aggregate estimates that are produced for individual States and Territories, except the Northern Territory. Further details can be obtained by contacting the person listed on the front cover of this publication.

4 Students at boarding schools, patients in hospitals, residents of homes (e.g. retirement homes, homes for persons with handicaps), and inmates of prisons are excluded from all supplementary surveys.

5 This survey was restricted to persons who had started or looked for a job for wages or salary during the previous 12 months, excluding persons who started a new job without changing employer.


COVERAGE

6 The estimates in this publication relate to persons covered by the survey in July 2000. In the LFS, coverage rules are applied which aim to ensure that each person is associated with only one dwelling, and hence has only one chance of selection in the survey. See Labour Force, Australia (Cat. no. 6203.0).


RELIABILITY OF THE ESTIMATES

7 Estimates in this publication are subject to sampling and non-sampling errors:

  • Sampling error is the difference between the published estimate and the value that would have been produced if all dwellings had been included in the survey. For more information see the Technical Notes.
  • Non-sampling errors are inaccuracies that occur because of imperfections in reporting by respondents and interviewers, and errors made in coding and processing data. These inaccuracies may occur in any enumeration, whether it be a full count or a sample. Every effort is made to reduce the non-sampling error to a minimum by careful design of questionnaires, intensive training and supervision of interviewers, and efficient processing procedures.


SEASONAL FACTORS

8 The estimates are based on information collected in the survey month and, due to seasonal factors, may not be representative of other months of the year.


COMPARABILITY OF TIME SERIES

9 Revisions are made to population benchmarks for the LFS after each five-yearly Census of Population and Housing. The last such revision was made in February 1999 to take account of the results of the 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Estimates from supplementary surveys conducted from and including February 1999 are therefore based on revised population benchmarks.

10 Supplementary surveys are not always conducted on the full LFS sample. Since August 1994 the sample for supplementary surveys has been restricted to no more than seven-eighths of the LFS sample. The reduction in sample size means that the standard errors for this survey differ from those applicable to previous surveys.


NOTES ON THE ESTIMATES

11 The Government made significant changes to the manner in which it provided employment services to the community between September 1997 and May 1998. As a result, the nature of job search activity undertaken by jobseekers changed.

12 Prior to the change in employment service arrangements, the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) provided jobseekers with access to labour market assistance and offices of the then Department of Social Security (DSS) provided jobseekers with access to income support.

13 Centrelink progressively replaced the CES and DSS shopfronts from September 1997. A competitive employment services market, the Job Network, was launched on 1 May 1998. The Job Network consists of private, community and government organisations on contract to the government to provide employment services to the community. As from that date, jobseekers register with Centrelink for job search assistance and can choose to go to any of the Job Network employment agencies. The Agency then attempts to match jobseekers with jobs that are registered with them by employers.

14 During the transition to the new employment services market, Centrelink performed a similar role to the CES. Jobseekers registered at either a CES or Centrelink office, depending on which was operating in their area, for income support and/or job search assistance.

15 Due to the changes in the nature of employment services, caution should be used in comparing results for periods prior to the introduction of the changes with results from surveys conducted after the changes occurred.


PREVIOUS SURVEYS

16 Results of similar surveys conducted in June 1986, and two-yearly from July 1990 were published in previous issues of Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience, Australia (Cat. no. 6245.0).

17 Results of a July 1982 survey were published in Methods of Obtaining Jobs, Australia (Cat. no. 6245.0).


NEXT SURVEY

18 The ABS plans to conduct this survey again in July 2002.


ACKNOWLEDGMENT

19 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.


RELATED PUBLICATIONS

20 Other publications which may be of interest include:

Job Search Experience of Unemployed Persons, Australia (Cat. no. 6222.0)
Labour Force, Australia (Cat. no. 6203.0)
Labour Force Experience, Australia (Cat. no. 6206.0)
Labour Mobility, Australia (Cat. no. 6209.0)
Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia (Cat. no. 6220.0)
Retrenchment and Redundancy, Australia (Cat. no. 6266.0)
Underemployed Workers, Australia (Cat. no. 6265.0)

21 Current publications produced by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products (Cat. no. 1101.0). The ABS also issues, on Tuesdays and Fridays, a Release Advice (Cat. no. 1105.0) which lists publications to be released in the next few days. The Catalogue and Release Advice are available from any ABS office.