6102.0.55.001 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2013  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/05/2013   
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CHAPTER 21.1 CAREER EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCTION

21.1.1 This survey was first conducted in February 1993 and again in November 1996, 1998 and 2002. It collected information on the career experience of employees. Data collected in the survey are used in the formulation and monitoring of policy relating to workplace flexibility, barriers to career development, and workers with family responsibilities. The ABS does not plan to conduct this survey again. Information related to changes with employer is available from Labour Mobility, Australia (cat. no. 6209.0). Information regarding absences following the birth of a child is available from Pregnancy and Employment Transitions, Australia (cat. no. 4913.0). Information on other long-term absences and whether work performance is formally assessed are no longer collected.

21.1.2 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

21.1.3 Data are published in Career Experience, Australia (cat. no. 6254.0). More detailed data are available on request.

21.1.4 The main populations of interest are employees (excluding those aged 15-19 who are still attending school), and employees with children under 12 years of age. Estimates are produced on an original basis (i.e. not seasonally adjusted) only and include:

    Socio-demographic information


    Sex, age, marital status, relationship in household, family, geographic region, educational attainment, birthplace and year of arrival in Australia.

    Employees


    Employment characteristics (industry, occupation, sector, full-time/part-time status, permanent/casual status); hours worked in reference week; usual weekly earnings; size of employees workplace; changes in jobs held with current employer over previous 12 months (promotions, transfers, changes in duties, level of responsibility, and locations of work); duration of employment and expected future duration of employment with current employer; types of training received/supported by current employer; age of youngest child; and whether had a break from work of six months or more.

    Employees with children aged under 12 years


    Use of formal childcare; if not using formal childcare - reason why; if using formal childcare - type of childcare used; and number of employees in household.

    Employees with children aged under 6 years


    Whether took break from work when youngest child was born, and if so details of that break (duration and type of leave taken).

21.1.5 Data collected in the survey are compiled according to concepts and definitions outlined in Chapter 4 (Employment measures and classifications), Chapter 12 (Employee remuneration) and Chapter 16 (Other classifications used in labour statistics).


SCOPE

21.1.6 The scope of this survey is restricted to persons aged 15 years and over. Also excluded are persons aged 15-19 years who are still attending school. The standard scope restrictions for supplementary surveys outlined in the overview part of Chapter 21 also apply to this survey.


SAMPLE DESIGN

21.1.7 In addition to the sample restrictions for all supplementary surveys, a further three-eighths of the private dwelling sample of the Labour Force Survey are excluded from the sample for this survey.


DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME

21.1.8 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 18 and are not repeated here.

    1993

    Initial survey conducted (February) - data published in Career Experience, Australia (cat. no. 6254.0).

    1996

    Survey conducted (November).
    Sample reduced to four-eighths of the Labour Force Survey sample.
    Data items no longer available from this survey:
      • size of location (all employees);
      • whether work performance formally appraised by current employer in the last 12 months;
      • whether intend to stay with current employer for the next 12 months;
      • whether used different computers, computer-based equipment or computer packages with current employer in the last 12 months;
      • whether used other machinery, tools or equipment with current employer in the last 12 months;
      • whether on paid or unpaid leave during the most recent break from work;
      • main field of study; and
      • place of usual residence 12 months ago.

    Data items replaced by the data item 'Whether changed hours usually worked with current employer in the last 12 months':
      • whether changed from full-time to part-time work with current employer in the last 12 months;
      • whether changed from part-time to full-time work with current employer in the last 12 months; and
      • whether had other change in hours usually worked with current employer in the last 12 months.

    1998

    Survey conducted (November).
    Data items no longer available from this survey for persons aged 70 and over:
      • educational attainment; and
      • usual weekly earnings in current position.

    Additional data items collected for this survey:
      • size of location (all employees);
      • whether work performance formally appraised by current employer in the last 12 months;
      • expected future duration of main job;
      • reason expected duration of main job is less than 12 months;
      • type of leave taken for most recent break from work;
      • main field of study; and
      • place of usual residence 12 months ago.

    2002

    Survey conducted (November).
    Data items no longer available from this survey :
      • permanent or casual status; and
      • expected future duration of main job.

    Additional data items collected for this survey:
      • provision of paid sick leave;
      • provision of paid holiday leave;
      • provision of paid maternity/paternity leave;
      • level of highest non-school qualification;
      • highest year of school completed;
      • whether has a non-school qualification;
      • whether promoted or transferred with current employer in the last 12 months;
      • whether changed hours or location with current employer;
      • whether studied or attended formal training; and
      • whether has child(ren) under 12 years.

    Country of birth data have been classified according to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) 1998 (cat. no. 1269.0). Previous issues of Career Experience used the Australian Standard Classification of Countries for Social Statistics (ASCCSS) 1990 (cat. no. 1269.0).


FURTHER INFORMATION

21.1.9 For further details contact the Labour Market Statistics Section, on Canberra (02) 6252 7206 or email <labour.statistics@abs.gov.au>.



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