6102.0 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/05/2001  Ceased
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INTRODUCTION

20.7.1 The Labour Mobility survey provides information on job mobility and job tenure over a 12 month period. The survey was first conducted in November 1972. Since February 1992 the survey has been conducted biennially, with the most recent survey conducted in February 2000. Over this time the survey design has remained broadly the same, with some changes to the scope and sample size.

20.7.2 The survey is the only source of data on labour force mobility over a twelve month period and (in conjunction with the Labour Force Experience survey) is a major source of data for analysing the dynamic nature of the labour force.

20.7.3 This section describes only those aspects of the methodology that are unique to this survey, and hence should be used in conjunction with the overview part of this chapter, which outlines the survey methodology used in supplementary surveys.


SURVEY OUTPUT

20.7.4 The data are published in Labour Mobility, Australia (Cat. no. 6209.0). More detailed estimates are available on request.

20.7.5 Data from the survey relate to persons aged 15-69. The main population of interest is persons who worked at some time during the year. Details of last job and jobs held currently may relate to jobs outside Australia. Estimates are produced on an original basis only (i.e. not seasonally adjusted) and include:

Socio-demographic informationSex, age, marital status, relationship in household, family, geographic region, State of usual residence 12 months prior to survey date, educational attainment, birthplace and year of arrival in Australia.
.
Persons who worked at some time during the year Whether in the labour force at survey date and, if so, whether working or looking for work; whether in the labour force 12 months prior to survey date and, if so, whether working or looking for work; number of employers or businesses during the year; details of jobs held during the year including occupation, industry, full-time/part-time status and status in employment - details are collected where appropriate for up to three jobs (current, last job and job held 12 months prior to survey date); job mobility (whether changed employer/business or locality); details of changes in labour force status and jobs held over survey reference period (between survey reference date and situation 12 months prior).
.
Persons who were working at survey dateDuration of current job, summary of changes from last to current job (e.g. whether changed occupation, industry, full-time/part-time status), summary of changes from job held 12 months previous to current job.
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Persons who were working at survey date and had changed locality from last job
.
Reason changed locality.
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Persons who ceased a job during the yearReason for ceasing last job, duration of last job.

20.7.6 Data collected in the survey are compiled according to concepts and definitions outlined in Chapter 4 (employment characteristics) and Chapter 15 (socio-demographic information and industry).


SCOPE

20.7.7 The scope of this survey is restricted to persons aged 15-69 years. The standard scope restrictions for supplementary surveys outlined in the overview part of Chapter 20 also apply to this survey.


DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME

20.7.8 In order to provide a high degree of consistency and comparability over time, changes to survey methods, survey concepts, data item definitions, frequency of collection, and analysis methods are made as infrequently as possible. Over the time the survey has been conducted there have been some changes to the scope and sample size. These changes mean that the standard errors for the survey differ over time. The effect on estimates of the change in scope is considered to have been small. Changes affecting the Labour Force Survey may also affect this survey. Such changes are outlined in Chapter 19 and are not repeated here.


1972Initial survey conducted (November) - preliminary data published in Labour Mobility, Preliminary (Ref. no. 6.34) and final data in Labour Mobility (Ref. no. 6.43).
Survey reference period - preceding calendar year.
Sample size restricted to three-quarters of the Labour Force Survey sample.
.
1975Survey conducted (February).
.
1976Survey conducted (February).
.
1979Annual collection commenced (February).
Catalogue numbers replaced reference numbers - Cat. no. 6208.0 (preliminary data) and Cat. no. 6209.0 (final data).
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1981Change to survey reference period - beginning of February in the previous year to the end of the reference week.
Reasons for leaving job collected only from persons who stated they changed jobs (previously asked of all persons leaving a job).
For persons who changed jobs during the reference period, data collected about current job and first job held during the reference period (previously asked about current job and previous job held).
.
1983Change to survey reference period - 52 weeks to the end of the week prior to interview.
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1988Preliminary publication discontinued.
.
1989Sample size reduced to one-half of the Labour Force Survey sample.
.
1990Persons aged 70 and over excluded from the scope of the survey.
Sample size increased to full Labour Force Survey sample.
.
1992Annual collection ceased - replaced by biennial collection.
.
1996Sample restricted to no more than seven-eighths of the Labour Force Survey sample.
.
1998Persons living in remote and sparsely settled areas excluded from scope.

FURTHER INFORMATION

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



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