Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Unit F3: Labour market and lifelong learning
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
28 January 2019
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 January 2019
2.3. Metadata last update
28 January 2020
3.1. Data description
The section 'LFS series - detailed quarterly survey results' reports detailed quarterly results going beyond the EU-LFS main aggregates, which have a separate data domain and some methodological differences.
This data collection covers all main labour market characteristics, i.e. the total population, activity and activity rates, employment, employment rates, self-employed, employees, temporary employment, full-time and part-time employment, population in employment having a second job, working time, total unemployment and inactivity.
General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Detailed information on the main features, the legal basis, the methodology and the data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
3.2. Classification system
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
3.3. Coverage - sector
As a general rule the EU-LFS covers all economic sectors.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) provides population estimates for the main labour market characteristics, such as employment, unemployment, inactivity, hours of work, occupation, economic activity and other labour related variables, as well as important socio-demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, education, household characteristics and regions of residence.
The definitions of employment and unemployment, as well as other survey characteristics follow the definitions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. The definition of unemployment is further precised in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/2000.
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
3.7. Reference area
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data are available from 1998 onwards for the quarterly series.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
8.1. Release calendar
A release calendar for the EU-LFS main indicators is in place, foreseeing the release of the main indicators four weeks after the data delivery deadline. In addition Eurostat continually updates the Eurostat online database with new data after final data processing in Eurostat.
For a detailed description of methods and concepts used, as well as for other documents related to the EU-LFS, please consult: EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
EU-LFS results are used by the DG Employment and a number of other Directorates of the Commission mainly for measurement and monitoring of policy agendas purposes. The European Central Bank (ECB) uses short term LFS statistics related to Euro area. Key users include NSI's, international organizations, news agencies and researchers which use of various aspects of EU-LSF data for international or intra EU comparisons. Finally, LFS data are used by Eurostat for compiling detailed regional indicators, for estimates on current education and education levels, higher education and research, and for accurate estimates of labour input of national accounts.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
12.3. Completeness
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
13.2. Sampling error
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
13.3. Non-sampling error
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
14.1. Timeliness
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
14.2. Punctuality
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
15.2. Comparability - over time
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
15.4. Coherence - internal
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Not available
17.1. Data revision - policy
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
18.3. Data collection
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
18.4. Data validation
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
18.5. Data compilation
EU and Euro area aggregates are calculated aggregating estimated population totals from Member States. For the data expressed in absolute values for each quarter (i.e. number of persons/households) no further Eurostat weighting is used. Rates/ratios are subsequently calculated from the data expressed in absolute values (i.e. number of persons/households).
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments are made to the EU-LFS data. Please note that Eurostat also publishes LFS adjusted series under the collection 'LFS main indicators'.
No notes.
employ_esms - Employment and unemployment (Labour force survey)
The section 'LFS series - detailed quarterly survey results' reports detailed quarterly results going beyond the EU-LFS main aggregates, which have a separate data domain and some methodological differences.
This data collection covers all main labour market characteristics, i.e. the total population, activity and activity rates, employment, employment rates, self-employed, employees, temporary employment, full-time and part-time employment, population in employment having a second job, working time, total unemployment and inactivity.
General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Detailed information on the main features, the legal basis, the methodology and the data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
28 January 2020
The European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) provides population estimates for the main labour market characteristics, such as employment, unemployment, inactivity, hours of work, occupation, economic activity and other labour related variables, as well as important socio-demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, education, household characteristics and regions of residence.
The definitions of employment and unemployment, as well as other survey characteristics follow the definitions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. The definition of unemployment is further precised in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/2000.
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
EU and Euro area aggregates are calculated aggregating estimated population totals from Member States. For the data expressed in absolute values for each quarter (i.e. number of persons/households) no further Eurostat weighting is used. Rates/ratios are subsequently calculated from the data expressed in absolute values (i.e. number of persons/households).
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Quarterly
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
Please refer to the ESMS page on 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)' (see link below in section 'related metadata').
