1288.0 - Standards for Labour Force Statistics, Issue For Dec 2014  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/12/2014   
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COLLECTION METHODS

COLLECTION OF VARIABLE

Scope

The variable Full-time/part-time status is applicable to the statistical unit 'Person' and is relevant to all employed persons. It can also relate to the status of a previous job for a person not currently employed. It is also applicable for employee jobs when collected in business surveys.

Questionnaire modules

HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS

In household collections, Full-time/part-time status is derived for employed persons by asking, as appropriate, the questions on hours actually worked and/or hours usually worked (as described in the Underlying Concepts section of this standard). The questions used to collect hours actually worked and hours usually worked are shown in the Hours Worked standard.

Where the single question (subjective) approach to Full-time/part-time status is used, the following question can be used:

DO/DOES ... WORK FULL-TIME?

Yes
No
Varies/Don’t know

In business surveys, the following question is used:

DOES THIS EMPLOYEE WORK FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME?

Full-time
Part-time

Note:

  • Full-time employees usually work the agreed or award hours for a full-time employee in their occupation.
    If agreed or award hours do not apply, employees should be regarded as full-time if they usually work 35
    hours or more a week (including casuals).


Derivation procedures

The derivation process to determine Full-time/part-time Status depends on which question set is being used.

Where the Labour Force Survey Questionnaire Module is in use, and both usual hours worked and actual hours worked are collected, the following derivation is used:

      Full-time/part-time status
= 1 (Full-time)if usual hours ≥ 35
or actual hours ≥ 35
= 2 (Part-time)if usual hours < 35
and actual hours < 35


Where the Household Survey Questionnaire Module is in use, and only usual hours worked is collected, the following derivation is used:

      Full-time/part-time status
= 1 (Full-time)if usual hours ≥ 35
= 2 (Part-time)if usual hours < 35



Where only actual hours worked are collected (Census of Population and Housing Questionnaire Module), the following derivation is used:

      Full-time/part-time status
= 1 (Full-time)if actual hours ≥ 35
= 2 (Part-time)0 < actual hours <35
= 3 (Employed, not at work)if actual hours = 0 (Employed, not at work)


Supporting variables

The variables needed to derive 'Full-time/part-time status' in household surveys are 'labour force status', 'usual hours worked' and 'actual hours worked' (as described above).

APPLICATION OF THE CLASSIFICATION TO OTHER VARIABLES

The variable Full-time/part-time status generally relates to the hours worked by employed persons (in all jobs). The classification may also be applied to a person's full-time/part-time status in relation to 'main job', 'last job' or 'second job', or to whether a person is looking for full-time or part-time work. It is also relevant to a person's previous job if they are not currently employed.