EXPLANATORY NOTES


EXPLANATORY NOTES

INTRODUCTION

1 The statistics in this publication were compiled from data collected in the Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland Survey that was conducted in Queensland in October 2010 as a supplement to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). The major aim of the survey was to collect data to support analysis of how flexible working arrangements affect caring responsibilities, volunteering, and work preferences.

2 The publication Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) contains information about survey design, sample redesign, scope, coverage and population benchmarks relevant to the monthly LFS, which also applies to supplementary surveys. It also contains definitions of demographic and labour force characteristics, and information about telephone interviewing.


SCOPE

3 The scope of this supplementary survey was restricted to people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings and excludes the following:

• members of the Australian permanent defence forces;
• certain diplomatic personnel of overseas governments, customarily excluded from censuses and surveys;
• overseas residents in Australia;
• members of non-Australian defence forces (and their dependents);
• residents of other non-private dwellings such as hospitals, hotels and motels;
• people living in very remote areas;
• anyone permanently unable to work;
• people aged 65 years and over who never intend to return to work.

4 Students at boarding schools, patients in hospitals, residents of homes (e.g. retirement homes, homes for people with disabilities) and inmates of prisons are excluded from all supplementary surveys.

5 The exclusion of people living in very remote areas will have only a minor impact on any aggregate estimates.


COVERAGE

6 The estimates in this publication relate to households covered by the survey in October 2010. In the LFS, coverage rules are applied to ensure that each person is associated with only one dwelling, and hence has only one chance of selection in the survey. See Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) for more details.


METHODOLOGY

Concepts, sources and methods

7 For more information about the Labour Force Survey and Labour Force Supplementary Surveys can be found in Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001) which is available on the ABS web site https://www.abs.gov.au. Comprehensive discussion and description of the concepts and definitions underpinning Australian labour statistics and the data sources and methods used in the collection and compilation of these statistics are included.

Data collection

8 Information was collected from any responsible adult (ARA) in the household who was asked to respond on behalf of the household on persons aged 15 years and over.

9 Information was sought from 3612 private dwellings, of which 92.9% fully responded.

Survey Vehicle

10 The Labour Force Survey is based on a multi-stage area sample of private dwellings (houses, flats, etc.) and a list sample of non-private dwellings (hotels, motels, etc.).

11 This supplementary survey comprised a series of additional questions asked at the end of each Labour Force Survey interview. The interviews were conducted over a two-week period during October 2010.

12 Most interviews were conducted by telephone, with the remainder conducted face-to-face.

Estimation

13 The estimation process for this survey ensures that estimates calibrate exactly to independently produced population totals at broad levels. The known population totals, commonly referred to as 'benchmarks', are produced according to the scope of the survey.


LABOUR FORCE REGIONS

14 The Labour Force Statistical Regions used within this publication are based on the 2006 Australian Standard Geographical Classification system. For further information please see Statistical Region Structure in the Statistical Geography Volume 1 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), Jul 2006 (cat. no. 1216.0).


DATA COMPARABILITY

15 Time series comparisons between the Flexible Working Arrangements in Queensland Survey and various data resources within Australia and international statistical agencies are not recommended due to differences in sampling methodologies.

Volunteering

16 The overall volunteering rate in this survey is in general agreement with the rate observed for Queensland in the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. The estimates for volunteering in the General Social Survey, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4159.0) were higher and the difference can be explained due to the different methodologies used.


RELIABILITY OF THE ESTIMATES

17 Estimates in this publication are subject to sampling and non-sampling errors. For further information refer to the Technical Notes.


EFFECTS OF ROUNDING

18 Estimates have been rounded so discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Published percentages are calculated prior to rounding of the figures and therefore some discrepancy may occur between these percentages and those that could be calculated from the rounded figures.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

19 ABS surveys draw extensively on information provided 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

20 Users may also wish to refer to the following ABS publications:

Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)
Working Time Arrangements, Australia (cat. no. 6342.0)
Employment Arrangements, Retirement and Superannuation, User Guide, Australia, April to July 2007 (cat. no. 6361.0.55.002)
Managing Caring Responsibilities and Paid Employment, Queensland, Oct 2002 (cat. no. 4903.3)
General Social Survey, Queensland, 2006 (cat. no. 4159.3.55.001)
Workforce Participation and Workplace Flexibility, Western Australia, October 2010 (cat. no. 6210.5)

KEY REFERENCES

21 Further key references on working arrangements and caring responsibilities can be found through the following web sites:

Office for Women http://www.women.qld.gov.au
Department of Communities (Queensland Government)
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/department-of-communities

22 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are available from the Statistics page on the ABS web site. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.


ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

23 As well as the statistics included in this publication, the ABS may have other relevant data available on request. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.