Employment and unemployment (Labour force survey) (employ)

National Reference Metadata in ESS Standard for Quality Reports Structure (ESQRS)

Compiling agency: Office for National Statistics


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Statistical presentation
3. Statistical processing
4. Quality management
5. Relevance
6. Accuracy and reliability
7. Timeliness and punctuality
8. Coherence and comparability
9. Accessibility and clarity
10. Cost and Burden
11. Confidentiality
12. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Office for National Statistics
1.2. Contact organisation unit

Labour Force Survey, Social Survey Division
1.5. Contact mail address

Office for National Statistics

Room 2.264

Government Buildings

Cardiff Road

Newport

NP10 8XG


2. Statistical presentation Top
Please take note of the abbreviations used in the report 
Abbreviation Explanation
CV Coefficient of variation (or relative standard error)
Y/N Yes / No
H/P Households/Persons
M? Member State doesn’t know
NA Not applicable/ Not relevant
UNA Information unavailable
NR Non-response: Member State doesn’t answer to Eurostat request for information. Blank is allowed only in boxes with comments
LFS Labour Force Survey
NUTS Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics or corresponding statistical regions in the EFTA and candidates countries
2.1. Data description
Coverage   
Coverage Definition of household for the LFS Inclusion/exclusion criteria for members of the household Questions relating to employment status are put to all persons aged ...
The survey covers private households, including persons who are temporarily absent. Students living in halls of residence are sampled via their parents living in private households. In Great Britain, an additional sample is drawn from among persons living in National Health Service/Hospital Trust accommodation.
The resident population comprises persons who regard the sample address as their main address. Persons who have lived in the dwelling for more than six consecutive months are also a member of the resident population even if they do not regard this as their principal dwelling. Persons absent for more than six months are not regarded as a member of the resident population.		  A household response unit is one person living alone or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address who share cooking facilities and share a living room or sitting room or dining area, this also includes students who live in halls of residence in term-time and residents in National Health Service. Include:

1) Children (aged 16 and over) working away from home in a temporary job and those under 16 attending boarding schools should be included in the parental home. On the LFS, university or college students who live in a hall of residence during term time are also included. HOWEVER this should be carefully checked because students who rent a room in a house owned by the university are excluded

2) Any respondent whose address in this country is a temporary one whilst they search for permanent accommodation. Refugees or migrant workers would be an example of this category.

Exclude:

1) Children aged 16 and over who live away from home for purposes of work or study and come home only for holidays should not be included at their parents address. This means for example that you would exclude students who are away at university or college during term time even if they are at home when you call unless they are living in a hall of residence in which case you should include them at this address (on LFS only). You should also exclude those aged 16 and over working away from home on a permanent basis and student nurses in NHS accommodation.

2) Anyone who has been away from the address continuously for 6 months or more should be excluded even if the respondent continues to think of it as their main residence. For example exclude individuals who have been in hospital or prison for 6 months or more, members of the Forces on long tours of duty and children in care for an extended period.

3) A respondent/household living at a temporary address in this country, here only for purposes of recreation, holiday, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage and who remain(s) resident abroad, should not be included.

4) Holiday homes and weekend retreats, such as addresses used only as second homes, should not be counted as a main residence and should be excluded.

  16+

 

Reference week
Fixed week (data collection refers to one reference week, to which the observation unit has been assigned prior to the fieldwork) Rolling week (data collection always refers to the week before the interview)                                  
The year is divided into quarters of 13 weeks Q1(January to March), Q2(April to June), Q3 (July to September) and Q4 (October to December).  
2.2. Classification system

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.3. Coverage - sector

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.5. Statistical unit

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.6. Statistical population

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.7. Reference area

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.8. Coverage - Time

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
2.9. Base period

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


3. Statistical processing Top
3.1. Source data
Sampling design & procedure
Sampling design (scheme; simple random sample, two stage stratified sample, etc.) Base used for the sample (sampling frame)  Last update of the sampling frame (continuously updated or date of the last update) Primary sampling unit (PSU)   Final sampling unit (FSU)
Stratified single stage systematic (single random in NI) probability sampling For most of Great Britain, the survey base is the Royal Mail's PAF (Postcode Address File), a database of all addresses receiving mail. The list is limited to addresses receiving fewer than 50 items of post per day, so as to exclude businesses. Because of the very low population density in the far north of Scotland (north of the Caledonian Canal), interviews are carried out by telephone because face-to-face interviews would be too expensive, and telephone directories are used as sampling frames. In Northern Ireland, the Rating and Valuation Lists (which serves for the administration of land taxes) is used.  updated every six months  NA  Households

 

Sampling design & procedure
First (and intermediate) stage sampling method   Final stage sampling method Stratification (variable used) Number of strata (if strata change quarterly, refer to Q4). Rotation scheme (2-2-2, 5, 6, etc.)
 NA  In Great Britain, a systematic sample is drawn each quarter from the three sampling bases, which yields 16,640 PAF addresses, 80 telephone numbers for the north of Scotland and nine units of National Health Service housing. As the PAF is broken down geographically, the systematic sampling ensures that the sample is representative at regional level. In Northern Ireland, a simple random sample is drawn, each quarter, from each of the three strata, giving 650 addresses in all. Additionally, 260 additional (‘booster’) new addresses are added to the sample in Quarter 2 of each year; these are spread equally across the five waves. Thus, in any one quarter, a total of about 17,380 addresses are newly-selected in the UK for the main LFS (excluding the Northern Ireland boosters). 
Two changes were made to the sample design in 2010 that mean the LFS samples in Great Britain and also in Northern Ireland are strictly no longer equal probability samples, although the effect of the changes is relatively small. These changes relate to multiple-occupancy addresses and to households found that have only adults aged 75 plus		  Most of Great Britain constitutes one stratum, while the far north of Scotland forms a separate stratum and Northern Ireland three strata: Belfast and eastern and western Northern Ireland.  The UK LFS does not have explicit stratification; as we use systematic random sampling, with the address being sorted by postcode, we have implicit stratification.  5

 

Yearly sample size & Sampling rate
Overall theoretical yearly sampling rate Size of the theoretical yearly sample
(i.e. including non-response) (i.e. including non-response)
 1.3%  The number of selected UK addresses in total in the LFS 348'400 households.

  

Quarterly sample size & Sampling rate

Overall theoretical quarterly sampling rate

Size of the theoretical quarterly sample

(i.e. including non-response)

(i.e. including non-response)
 0.33%   87 100 households

  

Use of subsamples to survey structural variables (wave approach)

Only for countries using a subsample for yearly variables
 Wave(s) for the subsample  Are the 30 totals for ILO labour status (employment, unemployment and inactivity) by sex (males and females) and age groups (15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+) between the annual average of quarterly estimates and the yearly estimates from the subsample all consistent? (Ref.: Commission Reg. 430/2005, Annex I) (Y/N) If not please list deviations List of yearly variables for which the wave approach is used (Ref.: Commission Reg. 377/2008, Annex II)
 1 Y   NA

51  FTPTREAS; 56  SHIFTWK; 57  EVENWK; 58  NIGHTWK;

59 SATWK; 60 SUNWK; 75 HOMEWK; 100 SEEKREAS;

120 NEEDCARE; 146 WSTAT1Y; 147 STATPRO1Y;

148-149 NACE1Y2D; 150-151 COUNTRY1Y;

152-153 REGION1Y; 154-155 INCDECIL; 177-182 COEFFY

 

Brief description of the method of calculating the quarterly core weights Is the sample population in private households expanded to the reference population in private households? (Y/N) If No, please explain which population is used as reference population Gender is used in weighting (Y/N) Which age groups are used in the weighting (e.g., 0-14, 15-19, ..., 70-74, 75+)? Which regional breakdown is used in the weighting (e.g. NUTS 3)? Other weighting dimensions
 The adjustment procedure is based on a three-stage a posteriori stratification. In each case, estimates are based on independent demographic estimates.
(a) The stratification variable for the first stage is the local authority district or unitary authority. This stage makes it possible to make adjustments for different rates of non-response in the various local authority areas and ensures that the results are geographically representative.
(b) The second-stage variables are sex and age group (0-15, each year of age in the 16-24 group and 25 +). This stratification is intended to ensure that the age profile of the important group of the 16-24 year olds is correct at national level.
(c) The variables in the third stage are region, sex and 5-year age group.
The three stages are applied by means of an iterative procedure designed to ensure that the estimates are consistent with the stratification variable sets.		  Y

(We sample from the UK Postoffice Address File but we apply weights to get to the target population defined by population estimates) 

  NA  Y See above   LAU  N

 

Brief description of the method of calculating the yearly weights (please indicate if subsampling is applied to survey yearly variables) Gender is used in weighting (Y/N) Which age groups are used in the weighting (e.g., 0-14, 15-19, ..., 70-74, 75+)? Which regional breakdown is used in the weighting (e.g. NUTS 3)? Other weighting dimensions
 Generalised Regression methodology is used to construct Wave 1 weights using different combinations of Eurostat constraints and quarterly constraints. Yearly variables are asked of a subsample comprising Wave 1 every quarter.  Y 0-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+   Local Authority Districts (population estimates) and Government Office Regions (sex and age groups)  Employment status (excluding 0-14)

 

Brief description of the method of calculating the weights for households External reference for number of households etc.? Which factors at household level are used in the weighting (number of households, household size, household composition, etc.) Which factors at individual level are used in the weighting (gender, age, regional breakdown etc.) Identical household weights for all household members? (Y/N)
The 'Integrated Weighting' method (Lemaitre and Dufour) is used. Sex, age and region specifications are applied using calibration, or generalised raking. A logit method is used, with the allowable range of weighting factors set to minimise the range, subject to avoiding significant 'bunching' of cases at the boundary.   The weighting method forces agreement with the population totals but it does not fix the weighted number of households (nor families), so these are survey estimates.  N  Gender, Age: 0-4, 5-9, 10-15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+  Y
3.2. Frequency of data collection

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
3.3. Data collection
Data collection methods: brief description Use of dependent interviewing (Y/N)? Participation is voluntary/compulsory?
   Interviews are carried out on a face-to-face basis with the help of portable computers (CAPI) for the interviews in the first wave. In the far north of Scotland (north of the Caledonian Canal) and for interviews in the second to fifth waves wherever possible, interviews are carried out by telephone (CATI). All information is obtained by interview.
Results for respondents who are not contacted in waves 2 to 5 or who refuse for circumstantial reasons are carried forward from the previous wave if an interview has been carried out in the previous wave.		  N  Voluntary

 

Final sampling unit collected by interviewing technique (%)
CAPI CATI PAPI CAWI POSTAL - OTHER
 47.20  52.80  NA  NA  NA
3.4. Data validation

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
3.5. Data compilation

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
3.6. Adjustment

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


4. Quality management Top
4.1. Quality assurance

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
4.2. Quality management - assessment

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


5. Relevance Top
5.1. Relevance - User Needs
Assessment of the relevance of the main LFS statistics at national level (e.g. for policy makers, other stakeholders, media and academic research)
The main purpose of the quarterly LFS is to provide information needed to develop, manage, evaluate and report on labour market policies.

Main indicators regularly published from the LFS include -

  • ILO unemployment, total employment, ILO unemployment rate and economic activity rate (employment and unemployment as a percentage of the total population), by age group;
  • employees and self-employed people, full- and part-time workers, second jobs and temporary workers, by industry and occupation;
  • average actual working hours and total hours worked in the economy;
  • redundancies;
  • reasons why people are economically inactive (not employed or unemployed) and whether they would like to work, including groups such as:
  • discouraged workers - those who say they would like to work but have not looked for work recently because they believe no jobs are available and therefore are excluded from measures of unemployment;
  • people (usually women) looking after the family or home;
  • students;
  • retired people;
  • people unable to work because they are sick or disabled.

Users of LFS data often combine it with related data from other sources to provide an overall view of the state of the labour market. One of the most important users of this sort of assessment is the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, which sets interest rates in order to meet the Government's inflation target.

Other key users of LFS data are HM Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions, because they are responsible for UK economic and labour market policy. Other users include Government departments (for example the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) , the Department for Education, the Home Office, the Health & Safety Executive, the Scottish Government, and the Welsh Government), local authorities, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Employer's Association, the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Employment Studies, the Institute for Public Policy Research, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, the Policy Studies Institute, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, academic researchers, the media and the general public.
5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
5.3. Completeness
 NUTS level of detail   
Regional level of an individual record (person) in the national data set Lowest regional level of the results published by NSI Lowest regional level of the results delivered to researchers by NSI Brief description of the method which is used to produce NUTS-3 unemployment and labour force data sent to Eurostat?
 LAU   NUTS2 or national equivalent   NUTS3 or national equivalent  NR 
5.3.1. Data completeness - rate

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


6. Accuracy and reliability Top
6.1. Accuracy - overall

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
6.2. Sampling error
Publication thresholds   
Annual estimates Annual estimates - wave approach 
(if different from full sample thresholds) 
 Limit below which figures cannot be published  Limit below which figures must be published with warning  Limit below which figures cannot be published Limit below which figures must be published with warning
  4000 grossed up persons  10000 grossed up persons   10000 grossed up persons  19000 grossed up persons
6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Coefficient of variation (CV) Annual estimates
Sampling error - indicators - Coefficient of variation (CV), Standard Error (SE) and Confidence Interval (CI)       
 

Number of employed persons

Employment rate as a percentage of the population

Number of part-time employed persons

Number of unemployed persons

Unemployment rate as a percentage of labour force

Youth unemployment rate as a percentage of labour force

Average actual hours of work per week(*)
 

Age group: 20 - 64

Age group: 20 - 64

Age group: 20 - 64

Age group: 15 -74

Age group: 15 -74

Age group: 15 -24

Age group: 20 - 64
 CV  0.15%  0.15%  0.56%  1.58%  1.57%  2.50%  0.12%
 SE  135980.08  0.12  118828.91  62085.50  0.06 0.30  0.04 
 CI(**)  91211400.04; 91744441.96  78.96; 79.42  20814177.34; 21279986.66  3812775.42; 4056150.58 3.74; 3.98  11.23; 12.39  36.63; 36.80 

 

Description of the assumption underlying the denominator for the calculation of the CV for the employment rate

The denominator for the CV calculation of the employment rate for those aged 20-64 is the number of those aged 20-64 (inclusive) in employment divided by those aged 20-64 (inclusive).

Those in employment have WSTATOR = 1 or 2.

The denominator in the calculation of the standard error (SE) of the employment rate is the total number of people aged 20-64. The survey weights are calibrated by age, such that the weights of all 20-64 will always sum to the 'known' total of 20-64 in the population. This means that, in our SE calculations, the SE for 20-64 employment rate is not treated as a domain or ratio estimate, since there is no sampling variability in the denominator.

 

Reference on software used: Reference on method of estimation:
 STATA  Holmes, D.J. & Skinner, C.J. Variance Estimation for Labour Force Survey Estimates of Levels and Changes. GSS Methodology Series no. 21.

 

Coefficient of variation (CV) Annual estimates at NUTS-2 Level        
NUTS-2  CV of regional (NUTS-2) annual aggregates (in %)     
Regional Code  Region

Number of employed persons

Employment rate as a percentage of the population

Number of part-time employed persons

Number of unemployed persons

Unemployment rate as a percentage of labour force

Youth unemployment rate as a percentage of labour force

 Average actual hours of work per week(*)
   

Age group: 20 - 64

Age group: 20 - 64

Age group: 20 - 64

Age group: 15 -74

Age group: 15 -74

Age group: 15 -24

Age group: 20 - 64 
C1 C1 Tees Valley and Durham  1.97 1.66  5.28  10.64  10.97  15.81  1.08 
C2 C2 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear  1.72 1.44  5.09  10.59  10.78  15.57  0.98 
D1 D1 Cumbria  4.06 1.92  8.27  26.13  27.14  38.42  1.80 
D3 D3 Greater Manchester  1.36 1.04  3.95  8.22  8.45  11.06  0.67 
D4 D4 Lancashire  2.08 1.39  5.12  12.05  12.61  18.41  0.90 
D6 D6 Cheshire  2.96 1.58  6.90  15.23  15.65  26.56  1.11 
D7 D7 Merseyside  2.53 1.53  6.01  13.53  14.18  20.15   0.98
E1 E1 East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire  2.75 1.92  6.35  14.53  14.84  23.61  1.43 
E2 E2 North Yorkshire  2.65 1.45  5.85  17.00  17.82   26.31 1.25 
E3 E3 South Yorkshire  2.24 1.54  5.32  11.87  12.19  17.97  1.06 
E4 E4 West Yorkshire  1.49 1.15  3.98  8.93  9.32  13.94  0.71 
F1 F1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire  1.75  1.09 4.14  9.38  9.73  14.51  0.77 
F2 F2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire  1.93 1.13  4.82  9.90  10.11  16.15  0.79 
F3 F3 Lincolnshire  3.74 1.96  7.91  18.58  18.27  29.29  1.43 
G1 G1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire  2.07 1.16  4.72  13.13  13.50  22.85  0.99 
G2 G2 Shropshire and Staffordshire  1.83 1.14  5.03  11.46  11.95  15.70  0.92 
G3 G3 West Midlands  1.18 1.18  3.94  7.32  7.50  12.30  0.74 
H1 H1 East Anglia  1.62 0.93  3.67  10.24  10.69  16.28  0.72 
H2 H2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire  2.03 1.04  4.79  12.31  12.64  19.00  0.79 
H3 H3 Essex  2.08 1.12  4.71  11.65  12.03  23.75  0.84 
I3 I3 Inner London - West  3.37 2.05 10.79  16.15  16.92  29.11 1.54 
I4 I4 Inner London - East  1.63 1.10  4.85  10.22  10.65  14.52  0.82 
I5 I5 Outer London - East and North East  2.28 1.31  5.32  12.84  13.11  20.15  0.92 
I6 I6 Outer London - South  2.60 1.25  6.09  12.29  12.56  17.78  0.94 
I7 I7 Outer London - West and North West  2.28 1.40  5.93  10.89  11.16  17.59  1.05 
J1 J1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire  1.68 0.85  4.03  10.97  11.19  17.06  0.66 
J2 J2 Surrey, East and West Sussex  1.77 0.92  3.69  10.15  10.72  16.62  0.75 
J3 J3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight  2.10 1.21  4.28  10.58  10.89  22.10  0.85 
J4 J4 Kent  2.66 1.31  5.20  12.64  12.85  20.37  1.02 
K1 K1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bath/Bristol area  1.44 0.84  3.54  9.91  10.34  15.81  0.72 
K2 K2 Dorset and Somerset  2.51 1.29  5.19  16.41  16.76  24.38  1.07 
K3 K3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly  4.17 2.29  8.83  28.08  29.47  49.04  1.92 
K4 K4 Devon  2.55 1.39  5.45  15.05  15.89  25.49  1.18 
L1 L1 West Wales and The Valleys  1.84 1.31  4.55  10.46  11.03  17.49  0.95 
L2 L2 East Wales  2.59 1.52  5.75  14.91  15.70  23.45  1.11 
M5 M5 North Eastern Scotland  4.18  2.18  10.30  19.19  20.27  44.10  1.93
M6 M6 Highlands and Islands 5.39  2.49  11.83  36.20  37.94  75.38  2.04 
M7 M7 Eastern Scotland 1.54  1.10  4.01  10.30  10.78  18.13  0.81 
M8 M8 West Central Scotland  1.80 1.45   5.30 11.12  11.69  22.55  0.88 
M9 M9 Southern Scotland 2.82  1.63  6.34   17.03  17.58 25.63  1.28 
N0 N0 Northern Ireland  0.82 0.82  4.16  8.45  8.78  14.11  0.85 

 

(*) The coefficient of variation for actual hours worked should be calculated for the sum of actual hours worked in 1st and 2nd jobs, and restricted to those who actually worked 1 hour or more in the reference week.

(**) The value is based on a CI of 95%. For the rates the CI should be given with 2 decimals.

 
6.3. Non-sampling error

 [not requested for the LFS quality report]
6.3.1. Coverage error
Frame quality (under-coverage, over-coverage and misclassifications(b))      
Under-coverage rate (%) Over-coverage rate (%) Misclassification rate (%)  Comments: specification and impact on estimates(a)   
 Undercoverage  Overcoverage  Misclassification(b)  Reference on frame errors
 Approximately 1.5% of the total GB population  UNA  UNA   The LFS coverage omits communal establishments, excepting NHS housing and students in halls of residence. Members of the armed forces are only included if they live in private accommodation.  The LFS, by not sampling from communal establishments, excludes approximately 1.5% of the total GB population  UNA  UNA  UNA

 

(a) Mention specifically which regions / population groups are not suitably represented in the sample.
(b) Misclassification refers to statistical units having an erroneous classification where both the wrong and the correct one are within the target population.
6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

[Over-coverage rate, please see concept 6.3.1 Coverage error in the LFS quality report]
6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
6.3.2. Measurement error
Errors due to the medium (questionnaire)   
Was the questionnaire updated for the 2019 LFS operation? (Y/N) Synthetic description of the update Was the questionnaire tested? (Y/N) If the questionnaire has been tested, which kind of tests has been applied (pilot, cognitive, internal check)?
 Y  Q1 only - new questions asking if respndent provides unpaid care and number of hours of care. Q1 only - new questions to assist with the revision of the UK Socio Economic Classification. 'Othe - please spcifiy' option added to worked fewer hours and earned less than usual questions. Q4 only - additional questions to record if translater used for interview and language used. Country coding frame amended to include 'North Macedonia'. QbyQ guidance updated to clarify eligibily of students for inclusion in survey.  Y  Pilot and Internal check.

 

Main methods of reducing measurement errors 
Error source  
Respondent  Letter introducing the survey (Y/N) Phone call for booking or introducing the survey (Y/N)
 Y  Y (if telephone number known)
Interviewer  Periodical training (at least 1 time per year) (Y/N)  Feedbacks from interviewer (reports, debriefings, etc.) (Y/N)
 Y (regular informal on-the-job training)  Y
Fieldwork  Monitoring directly by contacting the respondents after the fieldwork (Y/N) Monitoring directly by listening the interviews (Y/N) Monitoring remotely through performance indicators (Y/N)
 Y (via Field managers)  Y (both CAPI and CATI)  Y
Questionnaire  Questionnaire in several languages (Y/N)  On-line checks (for computer assisted interviews (Y/N)
 N (Translators are employed when neccessary)  Y
Other / Comments  

 

 
6.3.3. Non response error

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

IN THIS SECTION INFORMATION REFERS TO THE FINAL SAMPLING UNITS *

Methods used for adjustments for statistical unit non-response
Adjustment via weights (Y/N) Variables used for non-response adjustment Description of method
 Y Sex, Region, Individual response code (to identify non-responders)   LFS data is weighted using population totals for each local authority area, with five-year age bands by sex.
Substitution of non-responding units (Y/N) Substitution rate Criteria for substitution
 N   NA   NA
Other methods (Y/N) Description of method
 N   NA

  

Non-response rates by survey mode. Annual average (% of the theoretical yearly sample by survey mode)
Survey
CAPI CATI  PAPI  CAWI  POSTAL
 26.19  2.86 NA   NA  NA

 

Divisions of non-response into categories. Quarterly data and annual average
Quarter Non-response rate
Total (%)             of which:
 Refusals (%)     Non-contacts (including people who migrated (or moved) internally or abroad) (%)  of which people who migrated (or moved) internally or abroad (%)
1  52.2 44.6 7.6 UNA
2  52.2 44.6 7.6 UNA 
3  53.3 45.6 7.7 UNA 
4  53.9 45.8 8.1 UNA 
Annual  46.8  39.0  7.8 UNA 

 

Units who refused to participate in the survey  (Please indicate the number of the units concerned in the cells where the wave is mentioned)
Subsample Quarter1_2019 Quarter2_2019 Quarter3_2019 Quarter4_2019
Subsample_Q1_2018 6447      
Subsample_Q2_2018 5767 6418    
Subsample_Q3_2018 5687 6042 5951  
Subsample_Q4_2018 5331 5917 6170 6195
Subsample_Q1_2019 5564 5445 6107 6432
Subsample_Q2_2019   5298 5561 6178
Subsample_Q3_2019     5356 5362
Subsample_Q4_2019       5602
Total in absolute numbers 28796 29120 29145 29769
Total in % of theoretical quarterly sample  36.93 37.31  37.50  38.91 

 

Units who were not contacted (including people who migrated (or moved) internally or abroad) (Please indicate the number of units only in the cells where the wave is mentioned)
Subsample Quarter1_2019 Quarter2_2019 Quarter3_2019 Quarter4_2019
Subsample_Q1_2018 1129      
Subsample_Q2_2018 1078 1221    
Subsample_Q3_2018 1101 1231 1386  
Subsample_Q4_2018 1120 1121 1140 1426
Subsample_Q1_2019 1827 945 980 1023
Subsample_Q2_2019   1820 900 1018
Subsample_Q3_2019     1975 895
Subsample_Q4_2019       1969
Total in absolute numbers 6255 6338 6381 6331
Total in % of theoretical quarterly sample  8.02 8.12  8.21  8.15 

 

of which people who migrated (or moved) internally or abroad) (Please indicate the number of units only in the cells where the wave is mentioned)
Subsample Quarter1_2019 Quarter2_2019 Quarter3_2019 Quarter4_2019
Subsample_Q1_2018 UNA      
Subsample_Q2_2018 UNA UNA    
Subsample_Q3_2018 UNA UNA UNA  
Subsample_Q4_2018 UNA UNA UNA UNA
Subsample_Q1_2019 UNA UNA UNA UNA
Subsample_Q2_2019   UNA UNA UNA
Subsample_Q3_2019     UNA UNA
Subsample_Q4_2019       UNA
Total in absolute numbers UNA UNA UNA UNA
Total in % of theoretical quarterly sample UNA  UNA  UNA  UNA 

 

Non-response rates. Annual averages (% of the theoretical yearly sample)
NUTS-2 region (code + name)  Non response rate (%)

 UKC1 Tees Valley and Durham

 

 18.80

UKC2 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear

 17.19 

UKD1 Cumbria

 14.56 

UKD3 Greater Manchester

 17.20 

UKD4 Lancashire

 16.30 

UKD6 Cheshire

 15.11 

UKD7 Merseyside

 16.79 

UKE1 East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

 16.24 

UKE2 North Yorkshire

 15.66 

UKE3 South Yorkshire

 16.76 

UKE4 West Yorkshir

 16.93 

UKF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

 16.73 

UKF2 Leicetsershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire

 15.70 

UKF3 Lincolnshire

 13.08 

UKG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire

 16.06 

UKG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire

 14.67 

UKG3 West Midlands

 13.13 

UKH1 East Anglia

 14.89 

UKH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

 14.05 

UKH3 Essex

 16.36 

UKI3 Inner London - West

 18.11 

UKI4 Inner London - East

 18.54 

UKI5 Outer London - East and North East

 16.71 

UKI6 Outer London - South

 17.62 

UKI7 Outer London - West and North West

 17.94 

UKJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

 17.13 

UKJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex

  14.75

UKJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight

 13.56 

UKJ4 Kent

 14.67 

UKK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bath/Bristol Area

 15.03 

UKK2 Dorset and Somerset

 14.84 

UKK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

 13.59 

UKK4 Devon

 14.74 

UKL1 West Wales

 15.73 

UKL2 East Wales

 15.97 

UKM5 North Eastern Scotland

 16.39 

UKM6 Highlands and islands

 14.69 

UKM7 Eastern Scotland

 17.30 

UKM8 West Central Scotland

 18.08 

UKM9 Southern Scotland

 16.50 

UKN0 Northern Ireland

 9.15 

* If the final sampling unit is the household it must be considered as responding unit even in case of some household members (not all) do not answer the interview

 
6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Item non-response - Quarterly data (Compared to the variables defined by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 377/2008)       

Variable status

 Column Identifier Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Short comments on reasons for non-available statistics and prospects for future solutions

Compulsory / optional
compulsory Col_054 TEMPDUR 56.5 53.4 51.4 50.3 High level of non-response owing to a relatively small proportion of the employed sample in a temporary job in the reference week. 
compulsory Col_065/66 HWOVERP 90.4 90.6 90.9 . High level of non-response owing to a relatively small proportion of the employed sample working overtime in the reference week. These observations imputed to 0  from Q4 2019 on.
compulsory Col_067/68 HWOVERPU 85.3 85.6 86.6 . High level of non-response owing to a relatively small proportion of the employed sample working overtime in the reference week. These observations imputed to 0  from Q4 2019 on.
compulsory Col_073/74 HWWISH 91.4 91.3 91.1 . Variable only computed for respondents recorded as wishing to work more hours; this group equates to only 4% of the employed sample. This variable has been imputed for persons who do wish to work the same hours (HHWISH=HWUSUAL) from Q4 2019 on.
compulsory Col_109 - Employed METHODG . C C C The UK-LFS does not ask if respondents took a test, interview or examination. Therefore only 'No' responses can be calculated. 
compulsory Col_109 - Not employed METHODG C C C C The UK-LFS does not ask if respondents took a test, interview or examination. Therefore only 'No' responses can be calculated. 
compulsory Col_113 - Employed METHODK . C C C The UK-LFS does not ask if respondents are waiting for a call from a public employment office.
compulsory Col_113 - Not employed METHODK C C C C The UK-LFS does not ask if respondents are waiting for a call from a public employment office.
compulsory Col_114 - Employed METHODL . C C C The UK-LFS does not ask if respondents are waiting for the results of a competition for recruitment to the public sector
compulsory Col_114 - Not employed METHODL C C C C The UK-LFS does not ask if respondents are waiting for the results of a competition for recruitment to the public sector
compulsory Col_129/131 COURLEN 73.4 74.2 73.7 73.3  Not all respondents who participated in education/training are asked how many hours of instruction they have had.
compulsory Col_197/199 HAT11LEV 11.9 12.2 12.1 12.1  Education questions are not asked of persons aged 15 or >= 70 economically inative. If fciltered for 16 - 69 then INR = 0.4%/
compulsory Col_210 EDUCVOC 27 27.3 30 28.8  Education questions are not asked of persons aged 15. If filtered for >= 16 then INR = 0%.

 

Item non-response (*) - Annual data (Compared to the variables defined by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 377/2008)    
Variable status Column Identifier This reference year Short comments on reasons for non-available statistics and prospects for future solutions
compulsory Col_053 TEMPREAS 33.3 The current calculation of TEMPREAS assigns WHYTMP6 = 5 (some other reason) to 'Blank' (no answer). The Eurostat codification allows only four values (covered by the first four response categories). It is not clear how those respondents who answer 'some other reason' should be coded. 
compulsory Col_055 TEMPAGCY 74 TEMPAGCY is derived from national q'aire variable TMPCON (contract with employment agency). TMPCON is asked only if HOWGET = 5 (private employment agency).
compulsory Col_118 - Employed AVAIREAS 72.6 The high INR for AVAIREAS (employed) is caused by respondents who are coded WISHMORE = 1 Yes, wish to work more hours but crucially, wish to work more hours in the current job. Consequently, because these respondents are not looking for another job then they are not asked if they could start another job within 2 weeks (START/AVAILBLE) which results in YSTART/AVAIREAS = missing or blank. I suggest the solution is to exclude respondents who are not looking for another job (even though wishing to work more hours) from AVAILBLE – consequently making them ineligible for AVAIREAS.
compulsory Col_118 - Not employed AVAIREAS 38.4 Calculation of variable under review. 
compulsory Col_120 NEEDCARE 45.5 Calculation of variable under review. 
compulsory Col_154/155 INCDECIL 25.1  
optional Col_122 MAINSTAT 100 Not currently included in UK-LFS.
optional Col_132 COURPURP 78 The filter for COURPURP is COURATT. COURATT is derived from SCHM12, ED4WK, FUTUR4 and NONFORM4. COURPURP is derived solely from T4PURP which is asked only of respondents coming via NONFORM4=Yes. All respondents coded YES at COURATT are not asked T4PURP and consequently COURPUR is coded as blank.
optional Col_136 COURWORH 78 Similar to COURPURP. COUWORH is filtered from COURATT and is derived solely from T4WORK which only applies to cases coming via NONFORM4.  

(*) "C" means all the records have the same value different from missing.

 
6.3.4. Processing error

 

Editing of statistical item non-response

Do you apply some data editing procedure to detect and correct errors? (Y/N)

 Overall editing rate (Observations with at least one item changed / Total Observations )
 Y

Hard and soft checks are written into the questionnaire to identify inconsistent and/or contradictory answers. During data processing a validation stage identifies further potential errors.

  3%
6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate

 

Imputation of statistical item non-response
Are all or part of the variables with item non response imputed? (Y/N) Overall imputation rate (Observations with at least one item imputed / Total Observations )
Y, if respondents from one quarter are non-respondents in the subsequent quarter then data is carried forward.  15.0% (4Q average)
 Main variables Imputation rate  Describe method used, mentioning which auxiliary information or stratification is used 
 All except wave- or quarter-specific variables  15.0% (4Q average)  Data brought forward
6.3.5. Model assumption error

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
6.4. Seasonal adjustment
Do you apply any seasonal adjustment to the LFS Series? (Y/N) If Yes, is your adopted methodology compliant with the ESS guidelines on seasonal adjustment? (ref. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/research-methodology/seasonal-adjustment) (Y/N) If Yes, are you compliant with the Eurostat/ECB recommendation on Jdemetra+ as software for conducting seasonal adjustment of official statistics. (ref. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/ess/-/jdemetra-officially-recommended-as-software-for-the-seasonal-adjustment-of-official-statistics) (Y/N) If Not, please provide a description of the used methods and tools
 N  NA  NA  NA
6.5. Data revision - policy
Do you adopt a general data revision policy fully compliant with the ESS Code of Practice principles? (in particular see the 8th principle) (Y/N) Are you compliant with the ESS guidelines on revision policy for PEEIs? (ref. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3859598/5935517/KS-RA-13-016-EN.PDF) (Y/N)
 N  NR
6.6. Data revision - practice

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
6.6.1. Data revision - average size

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


7. Timeliness and punctuality Top
7.1. Timeliness
Restricted from publication
7.1.1. Time lag - first result
Restricted from publication
7.1.2. Time lag - final result
Restricted from publication
7.2. Punctuality
Restricted from publication
7.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Restricted from publication


8. Coherence and comparability Top
8.1. Comparability - geographical

Divergence of national concepts from European concepts

(European concept or National proxy concept used) List all concepts where any divergences can be found

    
Is there a divergence between the national and European concepts for the following characteristics? (Y/N) Give a description of difference and provide an assessment of the impact of the divergence on the statistics
Definition of resident population (*)  Y  Persons resident in NHS/Health Trust accommodation and students in institutions are included in national survey results
Identification of the main job (*)  N NA 
Employment  N NA 
Unemployment  Y All those waiting to start a job already obtained are counted as ILO unemployed. The restriction of job starting within a period of three months is not applied to national estimates. All job search methods counted including passive methods. Differences not large. 
8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
8.2. Comparability - over time
Changes at CONCEPT level introduced during the reference year and affecting comparability with previous reference periods (including breaks in series)
Changes in (Y/N) Description of the impact of the changes Statistics also revised backwards (if Y: year / N) Variables affected Break in series to be flagged (if Y: year and quarter/N)  
concepts and definition  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
coverage (i.e. target population)  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
legislation  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
classifications  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
geographical boundaries  N   NA   NA   NA   NA

 

Changes at MEASUREMENT level introduced during the reference year and affecting comparability with previous reference periods (including breaks in series)
Changes to (Y/N) Description of the impact of the changes Statistics also revised backwards (if Y: year / N) Variables affected Break in series to be flagged (if Y: year and quarter/N)
sampling frame  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
sample design  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
rotation pattern  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
questionnaire  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
instruction to interviewers  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
survey mode  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
weighting scheme  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
use of auxiliary information  N   NA   NA   NA   NA
8.2.1. Length of comparable time series

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
8.3. Coherence - cross domain
Coherence of LFS data with Business statistics data    
  Description of difference in concept Description of difference in measurement Give an assessment of the effects of the differences Give references to description of differences
Total employment  The LFS provides an estimate of people in employment, whereas the workforce jobs data count the number of jobs.  The LFS is a sample survey of people. Workforce jobs are compiled quarterly from a series of surveys of employers.  In principle, the two measures should be equal. However in December 2005, the difference between the two series was 1.076,000. After taking measurable factors into account, the adjusted difference was 98,000.  See e.g.: ‘Comparisons of statistics on jobs: December 2005’,pp147-156, Labour Market Trends, May 2006. Comparisons between the two measures are now being updated quarterly.  
Total employment by NACE  See above  LFS industrial classification is derived from employees' own perception of the industry they work in. WFJ industry is provided by the Interdepartmental Business Register, updated through administrative data and an annual register inquiry.  See above  See above
Number of hours worked  LFS measures hours worked. The New Earnings Survey measures hours paid.  LFS is a sample survey with significant proxy response. NES is a business survey.  A difference of ~3% is observed in the LFS hours returned from proxy responses. Hours worked is a difficult variable for respondents to recall  See 'Hours worked: a comparison of estimates from the Labour Force and New Earnings Surveys', pp429-442, Labour Market Trends, August 2002

 

Coherence of LFS data with registered unemployment  
Description of difference in concept Description of difference in measurement Give references to description of differences
Difference between LFS unemployment using ILO definition and the Jobseeker's Allowance claimant count ( those registered as claiming unemployment-related benefits) arises mainly because many unemployed people are not eligible for, or do not claim, Jobseeker's Allowance. The difference is also affected, in the opposite direction, by a (usually smaller) number of claimants who are not strictly unemployed according to the LFS measure, eg they may be employed for just a few hours per week.  The claimant count is a full count from administrative records of those of working age claiming Jobseeker's Allowance on the second Thursday of each month. The LFS is a sample survey conducted on a continuing basis, and unemployment is defined in terms labour market status for those aged 16 or over: there is no upper age limit.  See  ‘Comparisons between unemployment and the claimant count’,pp59-62, Labour Market Trends, February 2004.

 

Assessment of the effect of differences of LFS unemployment and registered unemployment     
Give an assessment of the effects of the differences          
Overall effect Men under 25 years Men 25 years and over Women under 25 years Women 25 years and over Regional distribution (NUTS-3)
 UNA UNA  UNA  UNA  UNA  UNA 
8.4. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
8.5. Coherence - National Accounts
Coherence of LFS data with National Accounts data    
  Description of difference in concept Description of difference in measurement Give an assessment of the effects of the differences Give references to description of differences
Total employment  Employment figures in National Accounts are mainly used for calculating compensation to employees.   National Accounts employment figures are normally taken from the business survey.This is largely due to the need for industrial breakdowns.  See 8.3 on differences between business surveys and LFS.  See 8.3
Total employment by NACE  UNA  National Accounts employment figures by NACE are taken from the business survey.  See 8.3 on differences between business surveys and LFS.  UNA
Number of hours worked  UNA  Hours worked in NA productivity calculations are based on average hours from the LFS multiplied  by employment estimates from the business survey. Again this is due to the need for industrial breakdowns.  UNA  UNA 

 

Which is the use of LFS data for National Account Data?   
Country uses LFS as the only source for employment in national accounts. Country uses mainly LFS, but replacing it in a few industries (or labour status), on a case-by-case basis Country not make use of LFS, or makes minimal use of it Country combines sources for labour supply and demand giving precedence to labour supply sources (i.e. LFS) Country combines sources for labour supply and demand not giving precedence to any labour side Country combines sources for labour supply and demand giving precedence to labour demand sources (i.e. employment registers and/or enterprise surveys)
 N Y   N  N  N  N
8.6. Coherence - internal

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


9. Accessibility and clarity Top
9.1. Dissemination format - News release

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
9.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Please provide a list of type and frequency of publications
The data are widely available, generally free of charge, through a range of media. First Releases and Time Series data contained within the releases are available to download, free of charge, from the National Statistics website. Paper copies are available through subscription from the

ONS Press Office, telephone 020 7533 5707. 

A highly disaggregated dataset, which covers a wealth of data for local areas, is available free from NOMIS: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk 

First Releases and Labour Market Trends both contain additional textual analysis and charts that supplement the data in the tables.

A more detailed set of data are published each month in Economic and Labour Market Review: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150904111451/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Labour+Market#tab-sum-pub  

The Labour Market Guide can be accessed from the website: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/methodologies/aguidetolabourmarketstatistics#abstract

The Summary Quality Report for Labour Market data releases can be accessed from the website: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/quality/quality-information/labour-market/index.html
9.3. Dissemination format - online database
Documentation, explanations, quality limitations, graphics etc.    
Web link to national methodological publication Conditions of access to data Accompanying information to data Further assistance available to users
http://www.data.ac.uk 

 Microdatasets are provided to government departments once they have signed a Data Access Agreement, which describes the conditions that apply to use of the data.  The UK Data Archive at Essex University provides free access to the various LFS datasets and can be contacted via the website: http://www.data.ac.uk                                                                                                                                                                  

The LFS Data Service provides LFS data for a fee, and can be contacted by phone (01633 812256).

 The LFS Performance and Quality Monitoring (PQM) report is published quarterly. This report contains various quality indicators such as response rates and standard errors.                                                                                                    

Customers who receive microdatasets are sent quarterly updates on questionnaire changes.

  Telephone numbers for LFS contacts are published on the ONS and Nomis web sites, and on the monthly labour market first releases, so users can access the people responsible for the data and surveys.
9.3.1. Data tables - consultations

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
9.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Accessibility to LFS national microdata (Y/N) Who is entitled to the access (researchers, firms, institutions)? Conditions of access to data Accompanying information to data Further assistance available to users
 Y  Academic researchers and government organisations 1. An Approved Researcher scheme is used to grant access to data that cannot be published openly, for statistical research purposes, as permitted under the Statistics and Registration Act 2007. An individual must hold ONS Researcher Accreditation and have their research proposal approved by the ONS Microdata Release Panel.

2. A Virtual Microdata Laboratory (VML) provides secure access to sensitive detailed data for Approved Researchers working on defined and approved non-commercial projects, which serve the public good. VML data cannot be downloaded but users can access the data at their desk, if in a government organisation, or in a 'safe room' at an ONS site. Analysis results will not disclose sensitive information. VML operates within a legal framework and there are penalties for breaking these rules.  

  UK LFS User Guides, Vols 1 - 11  N
9.5. Dissemination format - other

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
9.6. Documentation on methodology
References to methodological notes about the survey and its characteristics
  Labour Force Survey User Guide (Vol 1) - LFS Background & Methodology
9.7. Quality management - documentation

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
9.7.1. Metadata completeness - rate

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
9.7.2. Metadata - consultations

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


10. Cost and Burden Top
Restricted from publication


11. Confidentiality Top
11.1. Confidentiality - policy

[not requested for the LFS quality report]
11.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Restricted from publication


12. Comment Top

[not requested for the LFS quality report]


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top