1.1. Contact organisation
Federal Statistical Office Germany
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Labour market (F25)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
7 September 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
7 September 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
7 September 2026
3.1. Data description
| The EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) is the largest European household sample survey. Its main statistical objective is to classify the population of working age (15 years and over) into three mutually exclusive and exhaustive groups: employed persons, unemployed persons, which together represent the ‘labour force’, and the people outside the labour force.
|
3.2. Classification system
ISCED International Standard Classification of Education
ISCO 2008 International Standard Classification of Occupation, Ausgabe 2008
ISO Country classification of the EU
KldB 2010 Classifications of professions (2010 edition)
NUTS Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics
WZ 2008 classification of branch oft he economy (2008 edition)
3.3. Coverage - sector
See below
3.3.1. Coverage
The survey covers private and collective households (military quarters are not assigned to the collective households).
3.3.2. Inclusion/exclusion criteria for members of the household
The members of a private household are characterized by the same dwelling and common housekeeping. Concripts on compulsory military service are included in the household of their parents rsp. the household they belong to.The resident population (statistical population) comprises all inhabitants with their main place of residence and their secondary residence in the territory of Germany. Foreign armed forces, members of diplomatic corps and their families are excluded.
3.3.3. Questions relating to labour status are put to all persons aged
15 or older
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See below
3.4.1. Household concept
Housekeeping
3.4.2. Definition of household for the EU-LFS
Members living together in the same dwelling with common housekeeping
3.4.3. Population concept
Registered population, including people living in institutions
3.4.4. Specific population subgroups
| Population concept |
Specific population subgroups |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary/secondary students |
Tertiary students |
People working out of family home for an extended period for the purpose of work |
People working away from family home but returning for weekends |
Children alternating two places of residence |
|
| Registered population, including people living in institutions |
Family home |
Term address (if private) |
Family home |
Family home |
depends on 1. whether or not the childred are registered at the adress and 2. are perceived as part of the household by the adult members. |
3.5. Statistical unit
The data collection shall be carried out in each Member State for a sample of observation units constituted by private households or by persons belonging to private households who have their usual residence in that Member State.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population shall consist of all persons having their usual residence in private households in each Member State.
3.7. Reference area
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data is available from 2024.
3.9. Base period
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
The LFS produces different indicators with different measures:
- Numbers;
- Percentages.
• Quarter
• Year
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
EU level:
The EU-LFS is based on European legislation since 1973. The principal legal acts, currently in force, are the Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 establishing a common framework for European social statistics, the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/256 establishing a multiannual rolling planning, the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2181 regarding items common to several datasets, and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2240 which specifies the implementation rules, technical items and contents of the EU-LFS.
National level:
- German Microcensus law (Gesetz zur Durchführung einer Repräsentativstatistik über die Bevölkerung und die Arbeitsmarktbeteiligung sowie die Wohnsituation der Haushalte (Mikrozensusgesetz - MZG))
- Federal Statistical Act ((BStatG) 20 October 2016 (BGBl. I S. 2394))
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Member States shall make available to the Commission (Eurostat) the data and metadata required under the Regulation 2019/2240 using the statistical data and metadata exchange standards specified by the Commission (Eurostat) and the Single Entry Point.
The Commission (Eurostat) shall, in cooperation with Member States, publish the aggregated data on the Commission (Eurostat) website, in a user‐friendly way, as soon as possible and within six months of the transmission deadline for annual and infra‐annual data collection.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
EU level:
Regulation (EU) No 557/2013 17 June 2013 as regards access to confidential data for scientific purposes and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002. It implements the Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Statistics, which sets criteria for confidentiality of data.
National level:
- Federal Statistical Act ((BStatG) 20 October 2016 (BGBl. I S. 2394))
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
| Please provide information on the policy for anonymizing microdata in your country |
|---|
| Click for more information |
8.1. Release calendar
Yes, a release calender that includes LFS data /publications exists.
8.2. Release calendar access
Public Access via Destatis website.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Standard tables for free access are published on the NSI's website.
Results are disseminated to all users at the same time.
quarterly (4x), yearly (2x)
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Yearly: press conference, press publications, press releases, publications with detailed tables ("Statistischer Bericht"), further results in articles in "Wirtschaft und Statistik", detailed results in Destatis-website and Genesis-online" (online database).
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Publications 2023:
Marder-Puch, Katharina. Die Erfassung der Erwerbstätigkeit unter den neuen europäischen Rechtsgrundlagen ab 2021. In: WISTA Wirtschaft und Statistik. Ausgabe 3/2023, Seite 97 ff
Marder-Puch, Katharina. Die Erfassung der Erwerbstätigkeit ab 2021 in Mikrozensus und Arbeitskräfteerhebung. In: WISTA Wirtschaft und Statistik. Ausgabe 3/2023, Seite 111ff
Publications 2022:
Rengers, Martina and Johann Fuchs. Stille Reserve in Deutschland: Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede zweier Konzepte. Ergebnisse für das Jahr 2019. In: AStA Wirtsch Sozialstat Arch (2022) 16, Seite 189–230
Yearly: press conference, press publications, press releases, publications with detailed tables ("Statistischer Bericht"), further results in articles in "Wirtschaft und Statistik", detailed results in Destatis-website and Genesis-online" (online database).
Quarterly: Destatis-website.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Genesis online as the primary dissemination outlet.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
10.3.2. Web link to national methodological publication
Methodological publications can be accessed here.
10.3.3. Conditions of access to data
Tables on website and database openly available
tailor made extractions
10.3.4. Accompanying information to data
quality report, additional information on website
additional information for monthly figures
10.3.5. Further assistance available to users
service team available via phone and mail
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Through research data centres, the Federal Statistical Office and the statistical offices of the Länder provide exclusively institutions of higher education or other institutions tasked with independent scientific research with various forms of access to selected stocks of official statistics for scientific purposes. Persons or institutions that do not belong to the relevant scientific community are given access to official statistical data through the information services of the statistical offices of the Federation and the Länder
10.4.1. Accessibility to EU-LFS national microdata (Y/N)
Y, LFS Scientific Use File available at Eurostat
10.4.2. Who is entitled to the access (researchers, firms, institutions)?
researcher
10.4.3. Conditions of access to data
Through research data centres, the Federal Statistical Office and the statistical offices of the Länder provide exclusively institutions of higher education or other institutions tasked with independent scientific research with various forms of access to selected stocks of official statistics for scientific purposes. Persons or institutions that do not belong to the relevant scientific community are given access to official statistical data through the information services of the statistical offices of the Federation and the Länder
10.4.4. Accompanying information to data
Link for additional information.
10.4.5. Further assistance available to users
Institutions of higher education or other institutions tasked with independent scientific research: Consulting by research data centres
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
See below.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
10.6.2. References to methodological notes about the survey and its characteristics
Information on the new microcensus design.
Additional information about the terminology and methods used in context of the labour force survey.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Quality report for the microcensus as a whole can be accessed here
11.1. Quality assurance
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
| Description of users with respect to the statistical data |
|---|
| In Germany, the Labour Force Survey (together with the Microcensus, in which the LFS data collection is integrated), is one of the main statistics to monitor the German labour market regarding level, structure and trends. The LFS is also of key importance in other subject matter areas including education, migration and integration as well as households and families. Indicators based on LFS data are of high importance in numerous indicator frameworks to monitor labour market policy not only at the European level, but also nationally. Examples include the national sustainable development indicators, the indicators of the national dialogue on well-being and quality of life, the short-term economic indicators, as well as statistical indicator reports on education, quality of employment and other topics. Important policy monitoring indicators based on the LFS include the employment rate, the rate of part-time employment, the underemployment rate, the unemployment rate, the long-term unemployment rate, the rate of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), the potential additional labour force, and the hours worked per week. The main users cover the entire spectrum of users of data from official statistics, including governments, international organisations, employers’ associations and trade unions, researchers, media and the general public, all at national as well as regional level. Institutional users include national and regional governments (e.g. the ministries of labour and social affairs), the German Federal Bank, the Federal Employment Agency, the European Commission (e.g. Eurostat and DG employment, social affairs and inclusion), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Central Bank (ECB) and other international organisations. Also foreign governments frequently use LFS data for international comparisons. LFS data are widely used by employers’ associations, trade unions, trade associations, and individual enterprises both at national or regional level, for their decision making. Market, social and economic research companies use LFS results both as a basis for analysis and as input for weighting and calibration of commercial surveys. Universities and research institutions make frequent use of LFS data both in form of tables provided by the Federal Statistical Office upon request and via micro data access for research purposes made available via the research data centres of official statistics. Results from LFS data are finally frequently disseminated by general and specialised media, both at national and at regional level and requested by the general public. In 2016, more than 2,000 user requests were received from these user groups. Since 2016 the number of requests can not be withdrawn from the software, as the information service is centralized within the statistical office. Furthermore, the number of request is reducing as more information can be found online. The data requirements of the users are taken into consideration via different channels and are mirrored in national legislation - including the LFS. The ministries of the Federation and the Federal States can directly influence the list of variables included in the Microcensus through national legislation. The sub-committee “Employment/Labour Market” of the German Statistical Council brings together representatives from major user groups including government ministries, employers’ associations and trade unions, trade associations and chambers, environmental and conservation organisations, universities, the head organisations of the municipalities and the council for social and economic data. The sub-committee “Employment/Labour market” meets biennially and provides users a forum in which new developments are being presented and where new or changed data requirements can be discussed. |
| Indication of the needs and uses for which users want the statistical outputs; information on unmet user needs and any plans to satisfy them in the future |
|---|
| 'Flow statitics |
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
12.3. Completeness
data sent to Eurostat
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
12.3.2. NUTS level of detail
NUTS2
12.3.2.1. Regional level of an individual record (person) in the national data set
NUTS3
12.3.2.2. Lowest regional level of the results published by NSI
NUTS2
12.3.2.3. Lowest regional level of the results delivered to researchers by NSI
NUTS2
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
13.2. Sampling error
see Annex
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
see Annex
13.2.1.1. Coefficient of variation (CV) Annual estimates %
References to Annex File.
13.2.1.2. Coefficient of variation (CV) Annual estimates at NUTS-2 Level %
References to Annex File.
13.2.1.3. Description of the assumption underlying the denominator for the calculation of the CV for the employment rate
Population forcast based on census and microcensus data
13.2.1.4. Reference on software used
SAS Enterprise Guide, ETOS
13.2.1.5. Reference on method of estimation
Variance formula for GREG-estimation in stratified samples
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
13.3.1. Coverage error
References to Annex File.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
See in the 13.3.1. Coverage error section in Annex.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
13.3.1.3. Misclassification errors – detection of mismatches of identifiers
See in the 13.3.1. Coverage error section in Annex.
13.3.1.4. Misclassification errors –description of the main misclassification problems encountered in collecting the data and the methods used to process misclassifications
References to Annex File.
13.3.2. Measurement error
See below.
13.3.2.1. Errors due to the media (questionnaire)
References to Annex File.
13.3.2.2. Main methods of reducing measurement errors
References to Annex File.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
See below.
13.3.3.1.1. Methods used for adjustments for statistical unit non-response
References to Annex File.
13.3.3.1.2. Non-response rates. Annual averages (% of the theoretical yearly sample)
References to Annex File.
13.3.3.1.2.1. Non-response rates. Annual averages (% of the theoretical yearly sample) – NUTS-2 level
References to Annex File.
13.3.3.1.3. Units who did not participate in the survey
References to Annex File.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
see Annex
13.3.3.2.1. Item non-response (INR) in % * - Quarterly data (Compared to the variables defined by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 2019/2240)
References to Annex File.
13.3.3.2.2. Item non-response (INR) in % * - Annual data (Compared to the variables defined by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 2019/2240)
References to Annex File.
13.3.3.2.3. Item non-response for INCGROSS variable
References to Annex File.
13.3.4. Processing error
see Annex
13.3.4.1. Editing and imputation process
References to Annex File.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
14.1. Timeliness
References to Annex File.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
14.2. Punctuality
1 april 2025
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Statistics between geograohical areas are fully comparable.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
15.1.2. Divergence of national concepts from European concepts
|
|
15.2. Comparability - over time
The last break in series in respect to the LFS occured in 2021 when new European regulations regarding social statistics, and particularly the Labour Force Survey, entered into force. They stipulate changes and amendments to the questionnaire for the German microcensus, which have an impact on the results for employment. For more details see:
Marder-Puch, K. (2023): Erfassung der Erwerbstätigkeit ab 2021 im Mikrozensus und EU-Arbeitskräfteerhebung (link to pdf here )
A bigger break in series occured in 2020 when the LFS and the microscensus as a whole were subject to large organizational and methodological changes (new rotation-scheme , new method of extrapolating the data, introduction of CAWI and a new software solution that was plagued by technical issued during the first year of release). Further the Covid-19 pandemic drastically reduced the share of face-to-face interviews.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
3 years (2021)
15.2.1.1. Length of time series
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
15.2.1.2. Length of comparable time series
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
15.2.2. Changes at CONCEPT level introduced during the reference year and affecting comparability with previous reference periods (including breaks in series)
References to Annex File.
15.2.3. Changes at MEASUREMENT level introduced during the reference year and affecting comparability with previous reference periods (including breaks in series)
References to Annex File.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
|
|
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 |
Employed persons living in collective households (not in the LFS); Treatment of persons with a job on long-term absence (only included in LFS if duration of absence <3 months or continued receipt of at least 50% of employment-related income); Employees below the age threshold of the LFS |
Measurement differences compared to sources used by National Accounts (LFS underestimation of marginal part-time employment); Adjustments in National Accounts (informal employment). Domestic and national concept. |
|
Differences between employment figures of Labour Force Survey and national accounts estimates - German Federal Statistical Office (at: Link to publication) |
| Total employment by NACE |
The National Accounts use the enterprise concept, the LFS the local unit/establishment concept; differences regarding employment, see above |
Methodological differences (LFS captures industry as indicated by respondents; National Accounts rely on register information). Domestic concept. |
Labour Force Survey results underestimate the Agricultural -0.09 million and Service Sector -3.8 million and overestimate industry (except construction) +0.05 million |
Körner, Thomas and Katharina Puch: Coherance of German Labour Market Statistics. In: Statistik und Wissenschaft, Band 19, 2011. Link to publication |
| Number of hours worked |
No conceptual significant differences regarding the concept of hours actually worked; differences regarding employment, see above |
The calculation of hours worked within the framework of the National Accounts is based on a differentiated component wise accounting concept, where calendar effects, collectively agreed standards, business cycle influences as well as personal and other components are considered. The accounting model uses a total of 20 different statistics, including the LFS (which nevertheless plays only a limited role); LFS underestimation of marginal part-time employment; LFS underestimation of absences during the reference week, e.g. due to holidays. Domestic concept. |
In contrast to many other countries, the working time estimation of National Accounts makes only limited use of LFS data in the German case (the most important use being the estimation of the working time of the self-employed). The estimation of working time for National Accounts is based on a differentiated component wise accounting approach that combines 20 different statistics (see Susanne Wanger, Tobias Hartl, Markus Hummel, Yasemin Yilmaz: Überarbeitung der IAB-Arbeitszeitrechnung im Rahmen der Generalrevision 2024 der Volkswirtschaftlichen Gesamtrechnungen. In: IAB-Forschungsbericht 20,2024. Available at Link to publication ). |
Körner, Thomas and Loup Wolff: Do the Germans really work six weeks more than the French ? – Measuring working time with the Labour Force Survey in France and Germany. In: Journal of Official Statistics 32. |
15.3.3. Which is the use of EU-LFS data for National Account Data?
| 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 doesn’t 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. employ- ment registers and/or enterprise surveys) |
| N |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
15.3.4. Coherence of EU-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 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| Total employment by NACE |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| Number of hours worked |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
15.3.5. Coherence of EU-LFS data with registered unemployment
| Description of difference in concept |
Description of difference in measurement |
Give references to description of differences |
|---|---|---|
| Criteria for ILO-unemployment and registered unemployment are different. Registered unemployed can have a job with less than 15 working hours; then in compliance with ILO they have to be classified as employed. Criteria for registered unemployment are: Working less then 15 hours per week, registered at the employment agency, available for the employment agency. Registration at the employment agency is not an ILO-criterion. |
Registered unemployed can only be persons who registered with the public employment agency. ILO-unemployment is measured by a survey; it is independent of being registered or not. |
Körner, Thomas and Katharina Puch: "Der Mikrozensus im Vergleich mit anderen Arbeitsmarktstatistiken. Ergebnisunterschiede und ihre Hintergründe seit 2011." In: Wirtschaft und Staitsik 4/2015. |
15.3.6. Assessment of the effect of differences of EU-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) |
|
'- -1.3 million (less unemployed than registered) 15-64 years |
+ 0.03 million(more unemployed than registered) |
'- 0.72 million (less unemployed than registered) |
+ 0.02 million (more unemployed than registered) |
'- 0.64 million (less unemployed than registered) |
na |
15.3.7. Comparability and deviation for the INCGROSS variable
References to Annex File.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
The German LFS constitutes a subsample of the microcensus of approximately 40%. Budgeting is conducted for the microcesus as a whole. Assigning parts of personnel and non-personnel cost-components to the individual subsamples can only be done by a very rough estimation.
Annual operational costs for the German microcensus as a whole (=core program plus subsamples LFS, SILC, ICT):
German FSO: approx. 4 million Euro (staff costs)
Offices of the 16 Federal States: approx. 27 million Euro of which approx. 15.5 million are personnel costs and approx. 11.5 million Euro are non-personnel costs
Respondent burden:
The estimates for the respondent burden add up to approx. 266.149 hours. These estimates include a small number of questions only relevant to the national microcensus.
16.1. Number of staff involved in the EU-LFS in central and regional offices, excluding interviewers. Consider only staff directly employed by the NSI.
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
16.2. Duration of the interview by Final Sampling Unit
| Duration of the interview by Final Sampling Unit | Minutes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | First wave | Later waves | |
| Average duration of the interview | 30 | 30 (no differntiation to later waves) | 30 |
| Core questionnaire (pr person) | 22 | 22 (no differntiation to later waves) | 22 |
| Ad hoc Modules (pr person) | 8 | 8 (no differntiation to later waves) | 8 |
| Note: This table should only show the burden on the respondents, not time spent in the field to contact the household or fill in adminstrative forms. | |||
17.1. Data revision - policy
Y
17.1.1. Is the general data revision policy fully compliant with the ESS Code of Practice principles? (in particular see the 8th principle) (Y/N)
Y
17.1.2. Is the country revision policy compliant with the ESS guidelines on revision policy for PEEIs?
Y
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
18.1. Source data
Data is based on a survey (see below for more inforamtion on sample design, etc.)
18.1.1. Source data - frame population
| 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) |
Date of sample selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The basic concept of sampling methodology is one-stage cluster sampling (area sampling). Explanations on the rotation design applied are given below. |
The census data from 2011 is the survey base for the sample. |
The annual update of the sampling frame is realized by using information on building licences. These information was available in all Federal States in autumn 2017. |
Sampling districts consisting of 9 dwellings on average (area sampling). All buildings are assigned to one of three size classes, depending on the number of dwellings they comprise. Buildings with less than 5 dwellings belong to the first size class. In this size class, each sampling district comprises 12 dwellings on average (usually in neighbouring houses in rural areas). The second size class comprises medium-sized buildings with five to 10 dwellings. Each of these buildings constitutes a sampling district. The buildings in the third size class comprise 11 dwellings or more. In this size class sampling districts are subdivisions of the building, the target size being 6 dwellings. An additional stratum covers the population living in collective households. Collective households are divided into sampling units with a target size of 15 persons. New buildings reported are allocated to the size classes specified above. Compared with the selection based on the 1987 population census, the following modifications have been made: The sample districts formed by buildings with 1 to 4 dwellings have a target number of 6 dwellings (instead of 12). The minimum number of dwellings per building is 9 in the third size class. This means that the sample districts of all building classes have roughly the same size. |
Households, persons and dwellings Census sample was selected in 2015. Updated part of the sample each sommer/autumn |
|
18.1.2. Sampling design & Procedure method
|
18.1.3. Yearly sample size & Sampling rate
References to Annex File.
18.1.4. Quarterly sample size & Sampling rate
References to Annex File.
18.1.5. 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. 2019/2240) (Y/N) |
If not please list deviations |
List of yearly variables for which the wave approach is used (Ref.: Commission Reg. 2019/2240, Annex I) |
| 1st and 3rd wave and 4th wave if the reference week is in Q1. Households in the 4th wave and Q1 are surveyed because the German microcensus law states that these structural variables are to be gathered from each LFS household each year. |
Consistency of ILO labour status in combination with age-brackets and gender between the yearly and quarterly sub-samples has to be met by the extrapolation of the LFS data. |
NA |
Y |
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
18.3. Data collection
| Data collection methods: brief description |
Use of dependent interviewing (Y/N)? |
In case of Computer Assisted Methods adoption for data collection, could you please indicate which software is used? |
|---|---|---|
|
Before data can be compiled, in a first step all households living in a sampling district must be identified. At the beginning of the week following the reference week, sampled housholds are informed via a letter that they form part of the microcensus sample. They are given the choice to participate by way of CAWI (login information included in the letter) or a telephone interview conducted by an interviewer or a clerk of the regional statistical institute. If neither option fits the respondent’s situation than a PAPI is offered. In some cases, an interviewer can visit the respondent at his welling and conduct the survey via CAPI. If the sample household has not responded after approx. 2-3 weeks, a letter reminding him of his obligation to participate in the survey will be sent. As long as the respondent does not react and participate, he/she will continue to receive reminders – eventually introducing and escalating fines – until he/she complies. When conducting the survey via an electronical mode (CAWI,CATI, CAPI) each entry will trigger plausibility checks and respondents are only able to advance in the questionnaire if all erroneous entries are corrected. If the responded has conducted the survey via paper questionnaire then the same plausibility checks will be applied after the data submitted is copied into the electronic entry mask. In case of missing data the statistical institute will reach out to the respondent. When the regional statistical institute clears the compiled data of a respondent household in order to granting access to the national statistical institute once again several checks for plausibility and completeness of the data are applied. |
Y |
Self-administered software solution |
18.3.1. Final sampling unit collected by interviewing technique (%)
References to Annex File.
18.3.2. Info from registers
| Are any LFS data collected from registers (Y/N)? |
If Yes, please indicate which registers. |
|---|---|
| N |
|
18.3.3. Description of data collection and reference period for INCGROSS variable
References to Annex File.
18.3.4. Description of percentiles and bands used for INCGROSS variable
References to Annex File.
18.4. Data validation
Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with other data. Before data dissemination, the internal coherence of the data is checked.
18.5. Data compilation
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
References to Annex File.
18.5.1.1. Editing and imputation process for INCGROSS variable
References to Annex File.
18.5.2. Brief description of the method of calculating the quarterly core weights
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A two-stage adjustment procedure is used: (a) Due to Covid-19 and technical issue it was not possible to access sufficient information on households who failed to respond. As a proxy the structure of 2019 LFS-sample was adjusted by regional sampling ratios of 2020. The net-sample was calibrated to this proxy based on education (low, medium, high), nationality (German, non-German), age (65 and under, over 65). and household size (1person or more). Non-Response weights were calculated as the inverse of the received calibration weight. (b) The final sampling weights are calculated with GREG-estimator using auxiliary variables compromised of combinations in different dimensions of nationality, sex, age group, region NUTS-2, employment status |
Y |
NA |
Y |
0-14,15-24,25-34, ..., 65-74,75+ |
NUTS2 |
Education, nationality, employment status |
18.5.3. Brief description of the method of calculating the yearly weights (please indicate if subsampling is applied to survey yearly variables)
| 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. NUTS3)? |
Other weighting dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A two-stage adjustment procedure is used: (a) If possible, limited data are collected for households which fail to respond. The weighting of responding households to take account for non response includes calibration towards number of persons of the household, nationality (German/foreign) and for households comprising only one person: age (under or over 60 years) and sex. The weighting is part of a composite estimation with the second part being log.regression of response rates of previous years. Due to Covid-19 and technical issue it was not always possible to access sufficient information on households who failed to respond. As a proxy the structure of 2019 LFS-sample was adjusted by regional sampling ratios of 2020. The net-sample was calibrated to this proxy as well as the response rates for 2021 based on education (low, medium, high), nationality (German, non-German), age (65 and under, over 65) and household size (1person or more). Final Non-Response weights were calculated as the inverse of the received composite estimation weight. (b) The final sampling weights are calculated with GREG-estimator using auxiliary variables compromised of combinations in different dimensions of nationality, sex, age group, region NUTS-2, employment status
|
Y |
Y |
NUTS2 |
Education, nationality, employment status, number of private households, size of household |
18.5.4. Brief description of the method of calculating the weights for households
|
18.6. Adjustment
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
18.6.1. 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. ESS guidelines on seasonal adjustment - Products Manuals and Guidelines - Eurostat (europa.eu) (Y/N) |
If Yes, are you compliant with the Eurostat/ECB recommendation on Jdemetra+ as software for conducting seasonal adjustment of official statistics. (ref. Overview ESS) (Y/N) |
If Not, please provide a description of the used methods and tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| N |
|
|
|
| The EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) is the largest European household sample survey. Its main statistical objective is to classify the population of working age (15 years and over) into three mutually exclusive and exhaustive groups: employed persons, unemployed persons, which together represent the ‘labour force’, and the people outside the labour force.
|
7 September 2026
See below
The data collection shall be carried out in each Member State for a sample of observation units constituted by private households or by persons belonging to private households who have their usual residence in that Member State.
The statistical population shall consist of all persons having their usual residence in private households in each Member State.
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
• Quarter
• Year
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
The LFS produces different indicators with different measures:
- Numbers;
- Percentages.
Not requested for the LFS quality report.
Data is based on a survey (see below for more inforamtion on sample design, etc.)
quarterly (4x), yearly (2x)
References to Annex File.
Statistics between geograohical areas are fully comparable.
The last break in series in respect to the LFS occured in 2021 when new European regulations regarding social statistics, and particularly the Labour Force Survey, entered into force. They stipulate changes and amendments to the questionnaire for the German microcensus, which have an impact on the results for employment. For more details see:
Marder-Puch, K. (2023): Erfassung der Erwerbstätigkeit ab 2021 im Mikrozensus und EU-Arbeitskräfteerhebung (link to pdf here )
A bigger break in series occured in 2020 when the LFS and the microscensus as a whole were subject to large organizational and methodological changes (new rotation-scheme , new method of extrapolating the data, introduction of CAWI and a new software solution that was plagued by technical issued during the first year of release). Further the Covid-19 pandemic drastically reduced the share of face-to-face interviews.
