EXPLANATORY NOTES

INTRODUCTION

1 This publication, Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families (cat. no. 6224.0.55.001), is produced from data collected in the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in June 2012–2016. It includes detailed family data not featured in the monthly Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) or Labour Force Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001) publications.

2 Since these products are all based on data collected in the LFS, the explanatory notes of publication Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) are relevant to all three publications. Additional information is provided in Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001).

SCOPE

3 Family data was collected for persons aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings and whose family status could be derived. It includes information on family relationships including age of children.

4 Persons interviewed in the LFS who were classed as visitors to private dwellings, and those living in non-private dwellings (including hotels, motels, hospitals and other institutions) were also excluded. After these exclusions are applied, the estimates in this publication for 2016 cover approximately 84% of the survey sample.

5 From October 2008, the method of producing family estimates from the LFS was improved to include the following:

• an expanded scope to include households containing permanent members of the Australian defence forces that are usually excluded from labour force estimates;
• an increased range of families in the LFS sample contributing to the family estimates; and
• improvements to the weighting method by utilising independent population benchmarks (of persons and households), ensuring the estimates more closely reflect the Australian population.

6 For more information, see the Information Paper: Improvements to Family Estimates from the Labour Force Survey, 2008 (cat. no. 6224.0.55.002).

DATA INTERPRETABILITY

7 The data contained in the additional tables contains cells with estimates with an RSE of greater than 50 percent and these are considered to be unreliable for general use, combined with estimates with an RSE of between 25 percent and 50 percent should be used with caution. The data used to compile families statistics contain complex family relationships which can add to the complexity of the aggregated estimates. The data in these tables are as reported by any responsible adult aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings and were selected in the LFS.

BENCHMARKING AND ESTIMATION

8 The LFS and Labour Force, Australia: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families (cat. no. 6224.0.55.001) estimates are calculated in such a way as to sum to the independent estimates of the civilian population aged 15 years and over (population benchmarks). These population benchmarks are updated quarterly based on Estimated Resident Population (ERP) data. Generally, revisions are made to population benchmarks for the LFS following the final rebasing of population estimates to the latest five-yearly Census of Population and Housing, or when the need arises.

9 For all years in this release, estimates have been compiled using population benchmarks based on the results of the 2011 Census. These benchmarks have been revised to include the ERP data as at May 2016. For more details on population benchmarks, see the Explanatory Notes in Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0).


COMPARABILITY WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATES

10 Care should be taken when comparing the estimates of previous years estimates with the current year as data has not be recompiled using latest population estimates.

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

11 The ABS has revised Datacube 7 - Families with children or dependants by labour force status and age of mother and age of youngest child - June 2012–2016 data due to a correction in population scope. This revision has also been reissued in the 2015 publication.

12 An additional Datacube (Datacube 10 - Families without children or dependants by labour force status and age of wives/partners and age of youngest child - June 2012–2016) has been created to account for the change to Datacube 7. This additional datacube has also been included in the 2015 publication.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

13 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act, 1905.


RELATED PUBLICATIONS

14 ABS publications which may also be of interest include:

• Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0);
• Labour Force Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001)
• Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001)
• Labour Force Survey Standard Products and Data Item Guide (cat. no. 6103.0)