6202.0 - Labour Force, Australia, Oct 2010 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/11/2010   
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CHANGES THIS MONTH


BACKGROUND

As foreshadowed in the September 2010 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) in the article Labour Force Survey Population Benchmarks, the ABS has changed one of the assumptions used to create the population benchmarks underpinning the Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates.

The derivation of the net overseas migration component of LFS population benchmarks was previously based on the assumption that the previous year's net overseas migration (for the required quarter) movements were representative of the current year's movement.

From this issue onwards, the net overseas migration component of the LFS population benchmarks will be derived using assumptions that take into account a range of available supplementary data sources and relevant information to forecast population changes in the short-term.


IMPACT ON AUSTRALIA ESTIMATES

The statistical impact of the change to the assumptions underpinning the derivation of the LFS population benchmarks has been a decrease of 4,000 persons to the civilian population aged 15 years and over. There was a decrease in the total number of males, down 1,900 and a decrease in the total number of females, down 2,100. The impacts observed for the age groups were:

  • 15 to 19 years decreased by 600 persons;
  • 20 to 24 years decreased by 1,000 persons;
  • 25 to 29 years decreased by 800 persons;
  • 30 to 34 years decreased by 600 persons;
  • 35 to 39 years decreased by 300 persons;
  • 40 to 44 years decreased by 200 persons;
  • 45 to 49 years decreased by 100 persons;
  • 50 to 54 years decreased by 100 persons;
  • 55 to 59 years decreased by 100 persons;
  • 60 to 64 years decreased by 100 persons;
  • 65 to 69 years decreased by 50 persons; and
  • 70 years and over decreased by 50 persons.


Employed persons

In trend terms, the statistical impact of the change to employment has been a decrease of 1,100 persons. There was a decrease in both the total number of males, down 550 and total number of females, down 550.


Unemployed persons

In trend terms, the statistical impact of the change to unemployment has been a decrease of 100 persons.


IMPACT ON STATE AND TERRITORY ESTIMATES

The resultant statistical impacts on the state and territories were:
  • New South Wales decreased by 1,400 persons;
  • Victoria decreased by 1,100 persons;
  • Queensland years decreased by 700 persons;
  • South Australia years decreased by 200 persons;
  • Western Australia decreased by 500 persons;
  • Tasmania and Northern Territory showed minimal change; and
  • Australian Capital Territory decreased by 100 persons.

Statistical impact on Labour Force Survey estimates - October 2010

Trend
Seasonally Adjusted
Original
Total Emp-
loyed
Total Unemp-
loyed
Unemp-
loyment Rate
Partici-
pation Rate
Total Emp-
loyed
Total Unemp-
loyed
Unemp-
loyment Rate
Partici-
pation Rate
Total Emp-
loyed
Total Unemp-
loyed
Unemp-
loyment Rate
Partici-
pation Rate
Civilian Pop-
ulation aged 15 years and over
'000
'000
%
%
'000
'000
%
%
'000
'000
%
%
'000

Males

New South Wales
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.4
-
-
-
-0.5
-
-
-
-0.7
Victoria
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.4
-
-
-
-0.5
Queensland
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.3
South Australia
-
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
Western Australia
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.2
Tasmania
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Northern Territory
-
-
-
-
np
np
np
np
-
-
-
-
-
Australian Capital Territory
-
-
-
-
np
np
np
np
-
-
-
-
-
Australia
-0.5
-
-
-
-1.3
-0.1
-
-
-1.5
-0.1
-
-
-1.9

Females

New South Wales
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.6
-
-
-
-0.5
-
-
-
-0.7
Victoria
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.4
-
-
-
-0.6
Queensland
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.4
South Australia
-
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
Western Australia
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.2
Tasmania
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Northern Territory
-
-
-
-
np
np
np
np
-
-
-
-
-
Australian Capital Territory
-
-
-
-
np
np
np
np
-
-
-
-
-
Australia
-0.5
-
-
-
-1.1
-0.1
-
-
-1.3
-0.1
-
-
-2.1

Persons

New South Wales
-0.4
-
-
-
-1.0
-0.1
-
-
-1.0
-0.1
-
-
-1.4
Victoria
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.6
-0.1
-
-
-0.8
-0.1
-
-
-1.1
Queensland
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.5
-
-
-
-0.5
-
-
-
-0.7
South Australia
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.2
-
-
-
-0.2
Western Australia
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.3
-
-
-
-0.5
Tasmania
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Northern Territory
-
-
-
-
np
np
np
np
-
-
-
-
-
Australian Capital Territory
-
-
-
-
np
np
np
np
-0.1
-
-
-
-0.1
Australia
-1.1
-0.1
-
-
-2.3
-0.2
-
-
-2.8
-0.2
-
-
-4.0

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated



AVAILABILITY OF DATA

Data used to compile the table in this article are available on the ABS website in Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) in the spreadsheet titled Article_October 2010 in the downloads tab.


FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS

The trends in the LFS population benchmarks (which are short range projections made at a point in time) will continue to be monitored with respect to trends in the resident population estimates (available some time later) for future calculations.

The ABS may, from time to time, elect to revise the LFS population benchmarks to take account of changes in the estimated resident population.


FURTHER INFORMATION

For any queries regarding the implementation of any of these changes to the LFS, contact Labour Force Estimates on Canberra 02 6252 6525, or via email at labourforce@abs.gov.au.