6102.0 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2001  
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Contents >> Methods >> Household Surveys >> Chapter 20. Labour Force Supplementary Surveys >> 20.6. Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Migrants

INTRODUCTION

20.6.1 This survey provides data on the labour force status and other characteristics of persons who migrated to Australia, as adults, after 1980 and who obtained permanent residency status. The information collected enables an assessment of the labour market experience of this group of migrants. Similar surveys have been conducted on an irregular basis since 1984. The most recent survey was conducted in 1999, and the date of the next survey has not yet been determined. Note: surveys conducted in 1984 and 1987 collected information about migrants who arrived after 1960; and surveys conducted in 1990, 1993 and 1996 collected information about migrants who arrived after 1970.

20.6.2 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

20.6.3 Data from the survey are published in Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Migrants, Australia (Cat. no. 6250.0). More detailed data are available on request.

20.6.4 The main population of interest is migrants (defined as those persons who were not born in Australia, arrived in Australia after 1980, were aged 18 years and over on arrival, and obtained permanent residency status). 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, birthplace and year of arrival in Australia.
.
All personsLabour force status, full-time or part-time status, status in employment, industry and occupation.
.
MigrantsWhether had a job just before migration, whether worked full-time just before migration, occupation just before migration, whether had family or friends in Australia just before migration, whether all family in Australia just before migration, migration category (e.g. principal applicant or partner of principal applicant, sponsored by family, employer or other organisation, or unsponsored), age on arrival, country of last residence, educational attainment on arrival, highest qualification gained since arrival, main source of income, and whether occupation before migration was the same as occupation on survey date.
.
Migrants born in other than main English-speaking countries
.
Proficiency in spoken English.
.
Migrants with post-school qualificationsRegion of country in which qualification was obtained before migration, and whether qualification obtained before migration recognised in Australia.

20.6.5 Data collected in the survey are compiled according to concepts and definitions outlined in Chapter 2 (labour force status), Chapter 4 (employment characteristics) and Chapter 15 (socio-demographic information and industry).


SCOPE

20.6.6 The scope of this survey is restricted to persons aged 15 and over. The standard scope restrictions for supplementary surveys outlined in the overview part of Chapter 20 also apply to this survey.


DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME

20.6.7 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.

1984Initial survey conducted (March) - preliminary data published in Characteristics of Migrants Aged 18 Years and Over at Time of Arrival and Who Arrived After 1960, Australia, Preliminary (Cat. no. 6249.0) and final data in Characteristics of Migrants Aged 18 Years and Over at Time of Arrival and Who Arrived After 1960, Australia (Cat. no. 6250.0).
Scope restricted to adult migrants who arrived after 1960.
.
1987Survey conducted (March) - data published in Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Migrants, Australia (Cat. no. 6250.0).
Preliminary publication discontinued.
Survey expanded to collect more data from couples, enabling wife to be classified as principal applicant for migration if this was the case.
.
1990Survey conducted (September).
Scope revised - adult migrants who arrived in Australia after 1970.
Unit record data released (for this year only). For further information see Information Paper: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Migrants, Australia, September 1990, Unit Record File on Magnetic Tape (Cat. no. 6251.0)
.
1993Survey conducted (September).
.
1996Survey conducted (November).
Data item 'Field of qualification obtained before migration' no longer available.
Sample restricted to seven-eighths of the Labour Force Survey sample.
.
1999Survey conducted (November).
Scope revised - adult migrants who arrived in Australia after 1980 but excluding persons living in remote and sparsely settled areas.


FURTHER INFORMATION

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



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