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REVISED LABOUR FORCE ESTIMATES RELEASED
In December 2012, the ABS released Labour Force, Australia (cat. no 6202.0) containing revised estimates for July 2008 to October 2012 to align the labour force population benchmarks with the latest available information on population growth.
These revisions to the LFS population benchmarks impact primarily on the magnitude of the labour force estimates (i.e. employment and unemployment) that are directly related to the underlying size of the population. Changes in population composition such as age, sex or region (as used in the population benchmarks) may result in a different rate of change for different states or territories. The rebenchmarking has not resulted in any material change to unemployment rates, participation rates or employment to population ratios.
To ensure that the labour force series continue to be coherent with population series, the ABS will undertake regular revisions to population benchmarks into the future to reflect the latest available population estimates.
More information is available in the feature article Rebenchmarking of Labour Force Series in Labour Force, Australia. |
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| LONGITUDINAL LABOUR FORCE SURVEY CONFIDENTIALISED UNIT RECORD FILE
In December 2012, the ABS released Microdata: Longitudinal Labour Force, Australia, 2008-10 (cat. no. 6602.0) - the first longitudinal Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) to be produced from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). It contains details on the labour market participation and the transitions into and out of employment of Australians over a three year period, providing insights into how the labour market has changed over time.
The Longitudinal CURF is created from 36 monthly Labour Force Surveys (LFS) along with data collected from labour supplementary surveys and multipurpose household surveys run between January 2008 and December 2010. It includes a range of data to enable users to better understand the dynamics of the labour market and changes in individuals' employment, unemployment and moves in and out of the labour force. Data includes labour force status, hours worked, underemployment, industry and occupation, demographic characteristics, education, earnings, trade union membership, activities when not in the labour force, retirement intentions and detailed family and household characteristics.
It is expected that future releases of the LLFS will expand the data collection both forwards and backwards in time, providing even more insights into how the Australian labour market has changed over the years.
The CURF is available via the Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) and ABS Data Laboratory (ABSDL). More information, including how to access it, is available through the ABS CURF Microdata page. |
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| CHANGES TO AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
The frequency of the Average Weekly Earnings survey changed from quarterly to six-monthly in 2012. The May 2012 publication (released in August 2012) was the last quarterly issue, with the November 2012 publication the first produced on a biannual basis (to be released in February 2013). From 2013 onwards, AWE data will be produced twice a year relating to the May and November quarters. This change was first advised to users in the May 2011 issue of Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0). The collection methodology has not changed - data is still collected for the reference week ending the third Friday of the third week of the middle month of the quarter, and released on the same basis as before for the two remaining quarters.
An assessment of the feasibility of releasing seasonally adjusted and trend estimates determined that seasonal factors remain present and can be calculated on a biannual basis. However, it should be noted that calculating seasonally adjusted and trend estimates using only two points of measurements each year, rather than the four points available in a quarterly survey, will likely result in a change in the level of these series.
An information paper containing further details about these changes was released in April 2012 and is available on the ABS website. Please see: Information Paper: Changes to Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, April 2012 (cat. no. 6302.0.55.002).
If you would like further information about the changes to Average Weekly Earnings statistics please contact the Manager, Survey of Average Weekly Earnings on Perth (08) 9360 5304. |
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 | OUTCOMES OF THE LABOUR HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS CONTENT REVIEW
In July 2012, the ABS released Information Paper: Outcomes of the Labour Household Surveys Content Review (cat. no. 6107.0), which presents the outcomes of the Labour Household Survey Content Review completed in early 2012. The review aimed to improve the relevance of data released, maximise the coherence of interrelated topics and minimise the duplication of content. The scope of the review included the Labour Force Survey, labour supplementary surveys and labour multi-purpose household survey topics.
The information paper outlines the intended changes to the Labour Force Survey and the labour supplementary surveys resulting from the review. More details are available from the information paper. |
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 | INTRODUCTION TO LABOUR STATISTICS TRAINING
Introduction to Labour Statistics is a one-day training course that is designed for anyone who uses or needs to understand ABS Labour Statistics. The course provides an overview of the range of concepts and issues associated with ABS labour statistics. It explores the data produced by both household and employer based collections, and highlights the range of data available.
Courses are currently being scheduled for delivery in 2013 for most state/territory capital cities. For more details about the training course, or to register interest in attending, please refer to the ABS Training page or contact Pourus Bharucha on (02) 6252 6218 or email <pourus.bharucha@abs.gov.au> |
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 | RECENT RELEASES
Employment and Earnings, Public Sector
In December 2012, the ABS released Employment and Earnings, Public Sector, Australia, 2011–12 (cat. no. 6248.0.55.002), which presents estimates of number of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government by state. It also presents estimates of number of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by industry for Australia.
Industrial Disputes
In December 2012, the ABS released Industrial Disputes, Australia, Sept 2012 (cat. no. 6321.0.55.001), which presents number of disputes, employees involved, working days lost and working days lost per 1,000 employees in industrial disputes involving stoppages of work of 10 days or more, classified by state, industry, cause of dispute, working days lost per employee involved and reason work resumed.
Pregnancy and Employment Transitions
In November, the ABS released Pregnancy and Employment Transitions, Australia, Nov 2011 (cat. no. 4913.0), which presents data on the employment experiences and leave taken of women with children under the age of 2 years, including some aspects of women's working experiences while pregnant and after returning to work.
The survey results show that 27 per cent of women who started or returned to work after the birth of their child, relied on grandparents as the main care for their child. More details are available from the publication.
Job Vacancies
In September 2012, the ABS released Job Vacancies, Australia, Aug 2012 (cat. no. 6354.0), which presents estimates of the number of job vacancies with state and territory and industry dissections.
The survey results show that total job vacancies in August 2012 were 176,200, a decrease of 0.4% from May 2012. More details are available from the publication.
Average Weekly Earnings
In August 2012, the ABS released Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2012 (cat. no. 6302.0), which contains estimates of average weekly ordinary time earnings and average weekly total earnings for full-time adult employees, and average weekly total earnings for all employees, classified by sector and state or territory and by industry at the Australia level, for males, females and persons.
The survey results show that full-time adult ordinary time earnings were $1,446 per week for males and 1,194 per week for females in May 2012. More details are available from the publication.
Labour Mobility
In September 2012, the ABS released Labour Mobility, Australia, Feb 2012 (cat. no. 6209.0), which provides information about people aged 15 years and over who, within the 12 months to February 2012, either had a change of employer/business in their main job, or had some change in work with their current employer/business, for whom they had worked for one year or more.
The survey results show that of the 2.5 million Australians who ceased a job in the previous twelve months, 1 on 5 left their job voluntarily to obtain a better job or conditions, while around 1 in 6 lost their job because they were retrenched, made redundant or their employer went out of business. More details are available from the publication.
A Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) from the survey was released in December 2012. For more information see Microdata: Labour Force Survey and Labour Mobility, Australia, Feb 2012 (cat. no. 6202.0.30.004). The basic CURF is available on CD-ROM and the expanded CURF is accessible through the ABS Remote Data Access Laboratory (RADL) and the ABS Data Laboratory (ABSDL). |
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This page first published 11 December 2012 |
