6102.0.55.001 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Aug 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/12/2006   
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Contents >> Methods >> Household Collections >> Chapter 22. Multi-Purpose Household Survey >> Chapter 22.2. Retirement and Retirement Intentions

Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods was originally released in 2001 in both electronic and paper versions (cat. no. 6102.0). The paper publication will not be rereleased. However, the web version (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001) is being updated on an ongoing basis. This chapter was first released on 8 February, 2006.



INTRODUCTION

22.2.1 The Retirement and Retirement Intentions topic is included in the Multi Purpose Household Survey (MPHS) every two years, beginning with 2004-05. Data on retirement and retirement intentions were previously collected in a survey conducted as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey. The Retirement and Retirement Intentions supplementary survey was conducted on an irregular basis between 1980 and 1997 (see Chapter 21.11 for further details).

22.2.2 Data from the MPHS Retirement and Retirement Intentions topic are used to examine changes in retirement trends over time, factors which influence retirement and the income arrangements retirees and potential retirees have made to provide for their retirement.

22.2.3 This section describes only those aspects of the methodology that are unique to this survey topic so it should be used in conjunction with Chapter 22, which outlines the survey methodology used in the MPHS.


SURVEY OUTPUT

22.2.4 Data from the survey are published in Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia (cat. no. 6238.0). An expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) will be made available from the 2004–05 Multi Purpose Household Survey via the Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL). Other estimates are available on request.

22.2.5 The survey collects information about the retirement and retirement intentions of people aged 45 years and over who have, at some time, worked for two weeks or more. Estimates are available on an original basis only (i.e. not seasonally adjusted) and include:

Socio-demographic informationSex, age, marital status, relationship in household, whether household has children aged under 15 years, state or territory of usual residence, country of birth and period of arrival in Australia, education (e.g. level of highest educational attainment) and income (e.g. weekly gross income, sources of income, partner's income and household income).
People who have retired from the labour forceDetails of last job (e.g. full-time or part-time status, status in employment, occupation, industry, reason for ceasing last job), age at retirement from the labour force, time since retirement, sources of income at retirement, details about superannuation (e.g. whether contributed to a superannuation scheme, time contributing, methods of disbursement of lump sum payment).
People who intend to retire from the labour forceDetails of current job (e.g. full-time or part-time status, status in employment, occupation, industry), age intends to retire, expected time until retirement, factors influencing decision about when to retire from the labour force, expected sources of income at retirement, previous retirement status (whether had previously retired from work or not), reasons for returning to work (for those who had previously retired) and details about superannuation (e.g. whether contributed to a superannuation scheme, time contributing).

22.2.6 All data collected are compiled according to concepts and definitions outlined in Chapter 2 (labour force status), Chapter 4 (employment characteristics) and Chapter 16 (socio-demographic information and industry).


SCOPE

22.2.7 The scope of this survey is restricted to people aged 45 and over. The standard scope restrictions for the Multi Purpose Household Survey outlined in the overview part of Chapter 22 also apply to this survey.


RELATED SURVEYS

22.2.8 Data on retirement and retirement intentions were previously collected in a survey conducted as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey. The Retirement and Retirement Intentions supplementary survey was conducted on an irregular basis between 1980 and 1997. Data from the supplementary survey and the MPHS topic are not directly comparable as there are differences in the concepts measured, scope, collection methodology and sample design (including sample size). For example, the November 1997 supplementary survey definition of 'retired from the labour force' comprised 'persons who had retired from work or looking for work of more than 10 hours per week, and did not intend to work in the future' and 'persons that have never worked more than 10 hours per week', whereas the MPHS definition is 'persons who had previously worked for two weeks or more and had retired from work or looking for work, and did not intend to look for, or take up, work at any time in the future'. See chapters 21 and 22 for more information.


DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME

22.2.9 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. Changes affecting the Labour Force Survey may also affect this survey. Such changes are outlined in Chapter 20 and are not repeated here.


2004–05Initial survey conducted (August 2004 to June 2005) - data published in Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia (cat. no. 6238.0).


FURTHER INFORMATION

22.2.10 For further details contact the Labour Market Statistics Section, on Canberra (02) 6252 7206.




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