Data from the monthly Labour Force Survey are released in two stages:
- Labour Force, Australia - which contains headline estimates of employment, unemployment, underemployment, participation and hours worked
- Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - which contains detailed data not included in the first release
This second release of Labour Force Survey data includes the latest detailed monthly and quarterly data. Some information, including industry, occupation, job duration, and retrenchment, is only available for February, May, August and November.
As a result, in the 'non-quarter' months, the quarterly spreadsheets and datacubes have a different reference period. For example, the May issue contains May monthly and May quarterly data, while the July issue will contain July monthly and May quarterly data.
For more information on the data contained in the first and second releases, see the Survey output section of the Labour Force Survey Methodology page.
The ABS has integrated Labour Force Survey data into the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA). LFS data from June 2023 to December 2025 is currently available, with each new month to be integrated following the release of Labour Force, Australia, Detailed.
PLIDA is a secure data asset combining information on health, education, government payments, income and taxation, employment, and population demographics (including the Census) over time.
PLIDA modules (integrated datasets) can be accessed via DataLab. Access to DataLab is managed under the Five Safes Framework, and incurs an annual charge. Please refer to the DataLab page for more information on who can access DataLab and how to apply.
Information about the data items that have been integrated, and advice on when to use this and other LFS products, can be found in the Labour Force Survey Products Guide.