Standard Errors
Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are based on information collected from people in a sample of dwellings, rather than the entire population. Hence the estimates produced may differ from those that would have been produced if the entire population had been included in the survey. The most common measure of the likely difference (or 'sampling error') is the standard error (SE). New models for calculating standard errors for these estimates were introduced in June 2007 and apply to estimates from the LFS from April 2001 onwards.
The ABS considers that estimates with a relative standard error of 25% or more may be subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes.
To indicate those cells in the spreadsheets with a relative standard error of 25% or more, annotations have been applied prior to dissemination.
In addition, the table below has been supplied to show estimates at which the relative standard error is 25%. Estimates of the size indicated in the tables, or smaller, are considered to be subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes.
For additional information on LFS standard errors see Labour Force Survey Standard Error, 2005 (cat. no. 6298.0) and the Explanatory Notes tab in Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).
| State | Feb 78
to Sep 82 | Oct 82
to Aug 87 | Sep 87
to Aug 92 | Sep 92
to Aug 97 | Sep 97
to Mar 01 | From April 2001 |
Employed | Unemployed | NILF |
|
| NSW | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
| Vic. | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Qld | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| SA | 2.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| WA | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| Tas. | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| NT | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
| ACT | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Aust. | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5.3 |
|
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