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
Eurostat, C1, National accounts methodology - Indicators
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Office address:
Joseph Bech building
5, rue Alphonse Weicker
2721 Luxembourg
Functional mail box: ESTAT-MIP@ec.europa.eu
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
17 July 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
17 July 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
17 July 2025
3.1. Data description
The MIP scoreboard indicator from the Unemployment - LFS adjusted series domain is Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74. Furthermore, the indicatorsLong-term unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 and Youth unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-24 are part of the MIP auxiliary indicators set. Additional indicators published in this domain are:
Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 (3 year average).
Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 (quarterly data), seasonally adjusted.
Long-term unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 (3 year average).
Youth unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-24 (3 year average).
The Unemployment - LFS adjusted series (including also Harmonised long-term unemployment) is a collection of monthly, quarterly and annual series based on the quarterly results of the EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), which are, where necessary, adjusted and enriched in various ways, in accordance with the specificities of an indicator. The EU-LFS covers the resident population in private households.
For the MIP purposes, the source data used for the indicator's calculation are also published: annual and quarterly data on unemployment rate and annual figures on youth and long-term unemployment rate.
3.2. Classification system
Since 1 January 2021, the EU-LFS is based on Regulation (EU) 2019/1700, also called the Integrated European Social Statistics Framework Regulation (IESS FR), and its Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2240.
According to the regulations in force since 1 January 2021, the EU-LFS is organised in 9 topics:
Technical items Person and household characteristics; Labour market participation; Educational attainment and background; Job tenure, work biography and previous work experience; Working conditions including working hours and working time arrangements; Participation in education and training; Health: status and disability, access to, availability and use of health care and health determinants; Income, consumption and elements of wealth, including debts. The survey's target population consists of all persons usually residing in private households in the territory of the reporting country.
The EU-LFS results are produced in accordance with relevant international classification systems. The main classifications used are NACE Rev. 1 (NACE Rev. 1.1 from 2005) and NACE Rev. 2 (from 2008) for economic activity, ISCO 88 (COM) and ISCO 08 (from 2011) for occupation, ISCED 2011 for level of education (from 2014) and ISCED-F 2013 for field of education (from 2016), replacing the former ISCED 1997 codes. For sub-national data, the EU-LFS uses the NUTS (Eurostat Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) and the classification of degree of urbanisation.
Actual coding in the EU-LFS may deviate to some extent from those general standards; for more details on classifications (including the comparability between the revised classifications) and levels of aggregation, please consult: EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - Methodology >> classifications.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The MIP scoreboard indicators are:
The unemployment rate. The indicative threshold is 10%. The indicator monitors high and persistent rates of unemployment and it helps to better understand the potential severity of macroeconomic imbalances. It points towards a potential misallocation of resources and a general lack of adjustment capacity in the economy.
The MIP scoreboard indicators are:
The long-term unemployment rate.
the youth unemployment rate.
The definitions and other survey characteristics follow the definitions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), they are further specified in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/2000. The domain comprises collections of monthly, quarterly and annual averages of unemployed persons and unemployment rates. The relevant definitions are as follows:
Unemployed persons are all persons 15 to 74 years of age (16 to 74 years in ES and IT) who were not employed during the reference week, had actively sought work during the past four weeks and were available to begin working immediately or within two weeks.
The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force. The labour force, or in other terms active population, is the total number of persons employed and unemployed.
The long-term unemployment rate is the share of unemployed persons for one year or more in the active population in the labour market.
The youth unemployment rate is the unemployment rate of persons aged 15 to 24 as a percentage of the labour force of the same age group.
The EU LFS results cover the total population usually residing in Member States, except for persons living in collective or institutional households. While demographic data are gathered for all age groups, questions relating to labour market status are restricted to persons in the age group of 15 years or older. For more details and exceptions, please consult the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - Methodology.
3.7. Reference area
The MIP scoreboard presents data for each EU Member State, as well as for euro area (EA) and the European Union as a whole.
Data for Cyprus refer only to the areas of Cyprus controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Data for France include the Overseas departments and Regions (DROM).
Unemployment rates are expressed in percentage and percentage point change (t, t-3). The MIP headline indicator Unemployment rate is expressed in percentage of the labour force aged 15-74. The MIP auxiliary indicators Long-term unemployment rate and Youth unemployment rate are exressed in percentage of the labour force aged 15-74, and in percentage of the labour force aged 15-24, respectively.
The reference periods are the calendar months, quarters or years, depending on the indicator. They are defined by building up time periods based on the EU-LFS reference week.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Regulation 2015/759 of 29 April 2015, amending Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics of 11 March 2009 [recital 24 and Article 20(4)], stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those data.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
EU-LFS microdata as received by Eurostat from the national statistical institutes do not contain any administrative information such as names or addresses that would allow direct identification. Access to this microdata is nevertheless strictly controlled and limited to specified Eurostat staff. After data treatment, records are aggregated for all further use.
8.1. Release calendar
Monthly unemployment data and other data in the domain 'LFS main indicators' are bound by a release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
A release calendar for MIP scoreboard indicators is not available. Monthly unemployment figures and data belonging to the 'LFS main indicators' domain are published in accordance with the Eurostat release calendar.
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see §10 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
The MIP related indicators are updated and released in accordance to the dissemination of the underlying statistics.
The MIP Scoreboard indicators are used to identify emerging or persistent macroeconomic imbalances in EU countries. The Scoreboard is part of an annual exercise, where the first step is the compilation of an Alert Mechanism Report (AMR).
Eurostat's mission is to provide the European Union with a high-quality statistical information service - see Eurostat quality framework.
Moreover, the statistics underlying the Scoreboard indicators are subject to a specific quality assurance framework developed within the MIP context.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality is assured by the application of concepts according to a common methodology (as described under §10.6) and a thorough validation of the data delivered by Member States.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Data are collected from reliable sources, ensuring high comparability and applying high standards with regard to a harmonised methodology.
The quality assurance framework for the Macroeconomic imbalance procedure (MIP) follows a three-level structure:
The first level assesses the reliability and comparability of MIP underlying statistics and addresses relevant quality issues; it also enhances the communication on quality assurance of MIP statistics towards the European Parliament and Council, policy makers and the public at large. This level draws on the information gathered in levels two and three (see below).
The second level consists of domain-specific quality reports produced by Eurostat and the ECB summarising the main findings for the euro area or the EU Member States. Reports assess the underlying compilation process and its robustness, describe its legal basis and evaluate whether the statistics are in line with international statistical standards.
The third level consists of national quality reports (self-assessments) produced by the institution compiling the national statistics. Most of these reports are voluntarily published by Members States on the CMFB’s website and their availability depends upon the statistical domain.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The indicator Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 is part of the headline indicators of the MIP Scoreboard. The MIP Scoreboard is used as an early warning system in the context of macroeconomic surveillance of the EU Member states. The MIP Scoreboard consists of a set of thirteen indicators, covering the major sources of macroeconomic imbalances. The aim of the scoreboard is to trigger in-depth studies, which will do analyses to determine whether potential imbalances identified in the early-warning system are benign or problematic.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
The lengths of the time series vary from country to country and are related to the date of implementation of EU-LFS rules (national LFS not compliant with EU-LFS rules may have existed previously, e.g. previous to EU accession). However, time series are complete from the moment they start.
The Introduction of the Statistical Annex of each Alert Mechanism Report provides detailed information on data completeness.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy is considered as high. Unemployment is arguably the most important variable collected by EU-LFS, the survey design is optimized to measure unemployment.
13.2. Sampling error
Participating countries provide Eurostat with an estimate of the relative standard error of the following characteristics: rate of unemployment and youth unemployment rate. These relative standard errors can also be expressed as confidence limits, i.e. the range of values that 95% of times would capture the true value in the population. It is also relatively straightforward to provide similar statistics on the aggregate level. Estimates and confidence limits are calculated for each country and documented in the Quality Report of the EU-LFS (see § 10.6).
13.3. Non-sampling error
Coverage errors Non-existent or uninhabited houses or population no longer living in the country are the main causes of over-coverage, especially for countries that use a Census list. Under-coverage problems are caused by the time lag in registering new residents or newly constructed dwellings. Field work problems during the survey also occur with multiple households that are recorded as one household in the framing list or the opposite. Measurement errors No estimates of measurement errors are available. However, the number of proxy interviews, the average number of interviews per interviewer and statistics on last updates of the questionnaire, are all related to the error sources listed above. Processing errors Between data collection and the beginning of statistical analysis for the production of statistics, data must undergo a certain processing: coding, data entry, data editing, imputation, etc. There are no estimates available on the rate of processing errors in the EU-LFS. Non-response errors
Most of countries calculate non-response on the basis of the household unit, except Denmark, Estonia, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, which compute non-response at the level of individuals.
The quarterly series are updated 4 times a year approximately 150 days after the end of the reference quarter. Annual averages are published along with quarter 4 data.
14.2. Punctuality
For 2018 throughout all EU-LFS countries data were transmitted to Eurostat within an average of 63 days and published on Eurostat's website within an average of 76 days.
Overall, comparability over time is considered high. However, methodological improvements in the sampling design, changes in nomenclature, and the shift to IESS can lead to breaks in time series. These are flagged in the database, and detailed information on each break is available on the website. In particular, the updated definitions of labour status under the IESS framework may cause breaks in the quarterly and market annual LFS main indicators , as these are derived from EU-LFS microdata.
For some series—especially employment and activity—estimates have been made for years in which data for all quarters had not yet been collected. These estimates, which do not use other indicators but rely on available quarterly data and seasonal patterns, are flagged accordingly.
To ensure continued data comparability and provide relevant labour market policy indicators, Member States and Eurostat produce and disseminate break-corrected series.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Often questions concerning coherence with registered unemployment are raised. The two indicators are not comparable. Indeed, they have different definitions, registration rules are not harmonised internationally and do not correspond to ILO standards. Moreover, other reasons for differences such as different geographical coverage (e.g. regions excluded), different time coverage, etc. can occur.
See related metadata employ_esms for more details.
15.4. Coherence - internal
No issues of internal coherence. See related metadata employ_esms for more details.
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
All data disseminated consist of data already disseminated in Eurobase by the following domains:
The revision policy is therefore effectively the revision policy of those domains.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision practice of the domains listed under sub‑concept 17.1 (data revision – policy).
18.1. Source data
Different methods are used for the estimation of monthly unemployment rates and other quarterly or annual data. In all cases the EU-LFS is the main data source.
Data are calculated on a monthly basis. However, there is no legal basis regulating the production and dissemination of monthly unemployment data, as the EU-LFS is a quarterly survey. There are legislative acts of the European Council and Parliament and of the European Commission that govern the EU-LFS and result in the production of quarterly labour force statistics. Eurostat is complementing this quarterly data with a monthly indicator from LFS or from public employment offices' administrative registers delivered by Member States on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement. Results of the complementary calculations yield the harmonised monthly unemployment data. Quarterly and annual averages are calculated from these harmonised time series.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
For EU-LFS: quarterly and annual.
18.3. Data collection
The EU-LFS data collection is carried out through mainly four modes: personal visits, telephone interviews, web interviews and self-administered questionnaires. About half of the participating countries conduct the first interview always or mainly via CAPI while in subsequent waves the interviews are performed by CATI, if a telephone contact is available.
Most countries conduct the interview only with computerized questionnaires. Seven use both computerized and paper questionnaires and three countries rely solely on paper questionnaires.
For more information please consult the corresponding quality report under LFS quality.
18.4. Data validation
Quarterly LFS data: Eurostat checks the quality and consistency of microdata data transmitted by National Statistical Institutes. Eurostat calculates aggregate LFS results which are then validated by the Member States.
18.5. Data compilation
The EU LFS is a quarterly survey. The following method is used in order to produce monthly unemployment rates: for all countries, non-seasonally adjusted quarterly averages of the monthly series are benchmarked to the quarterly LFS figures. However, calculation models to produce individual months and provisional figures (for the period when LFS data are not yet available) depend on the availability and specific characteristics of the sources generated in each individual Member State. Eurostat aims at harmonizing the calculation process as much as possible. Apart from quarterly figures, some Member States exhibit monthly and/or 3 month moving averages from the LFS as well. Registered unemployment data are used for many Member States as an auxiliary source. The length of the series and specific correlation with unemployment figures measured with quarterly LFS vary from country to country.
More information is available under the Related metadata.
18.6. Adjustment
Annual results are derived from the populations obtained at the annual level. Annual averages of the quarterly data are produced as simple averages of the quarterly populations.
For the period when the survey was run annually in spring, annual averages were calculated as follows: first, the spring quarter was used in combination with a simple regression model to estimate the missing quarters; then the annual averages were calculated from these quarterly estimates.
Interpolations for quarterly missing country data are flagged accordingly and published, and used for the compilation of annual averages.
Seasonal adjustment is performed indirectly, i.e. on the lowest available breakdown, and higher aggregates are derived from these series. Models are estimated once a year, while parameters are re-estimated with the inclusion of each quarterly data point.
The MIP scoreboard indicator from the Unemployment - LFS adjusted series domain is Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74. Furthermore, the indicatorsLong-term unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 and Youth unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-24 are part of the MIP auxiliary indicators set. Additional indicators published in this domain are:
Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 (3 year average).
Unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 (quarterly data), seasonally adjusted.
Long-term unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-74 (3 year average).
Youth unemployment rate - % of labour force aged 15-24 (3 year average).
The Unemployment - LFS adjusted series (including also Harmonised long-term unemployment) is a collection of monthly, quarterly and annual series based on the quarterly results of the EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), which are, where necessary, adjusted and enriched in various ways, in accordance with the specificities of an indicator. The EU-LFS covers the resident population in private households.
For the MIP purposes, the source data used for the indicator's calculation are also published: annual and quarterly data on unemployment rate and annual figures on youth and long-term unemployment rate.
17 July 2025
The MIP scoreboard indicators are:
The unemployment rate. The indicative threshold is 10%. The indicator monitors high and persistent rates of unemployment and it helps to better understand the potential severity of macroeconomic imbalances. It points towards a potential misallocation of resources and a general lack of adjustment capacity in the economy.
The MIP scoreboard indicators are:
The long-term unemployment rate.
the youth unemployment rate.
The definitions and other survey characteristics follow the definitions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), they are further specified in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/2000. The domain comprises collections of monthly, quarterly and annual averages of unemployed persons and unemployment rates. The relevant definitions are as follows:
Unemployed persons are all persons 15 to 74 years of age (16 to 74 years in ES and IT) who were not employed during the reference week, had actively sought work during the past four weeks and were available to begin working immediately or within two weeks.
The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force. The labour force, or in other terms active population, is the total number of persons employed and unemployed.
The long-term unemployment rate is the share of unemployed persons for one year or more in the active population in the labour market.
The youth unemployment rate is the unemployment rate of persons aged 15 to 24 as a percentage of the labour force of the same age group.
The EU LFS results cover the total population usually residing in Member States, except for persons living in collective or institutional households. While demographic data are gathered for all age groups, questions relating to labour market status are restricted to persons in the age group of 15 years or older. For more details and exceptions, please consult the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - Methodology.
The MIP scoreboard presents data for each EU Member State, as well as for euro area (EA) and the European Union as a whole.
Data for Cyprus refer only to the areas of Cyprus controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Data for France include the Overseas departments and Regions (DROM).
The reference periods are the calendar months, quarters or years, depending on the indicator. They are defined by building up time periods based on the EU-LFS reference week.
The overall accuracy is considered as high. Unemployment is arguably the most important variable collected by EU-LFS, the survey design is optimized to measure unemployment.
Unemployment rates are expressed in percentage and percentage point change (t, t-3). The MIP headline indicator Unemployment rate is expressed in percentage of the labour force aged 15-74. The MIP auxiliary indicators Long-term unemployment rate and Youth unemployment rate are exressed in percentage of the labour force aged 15-74, and in percentage of the labour force aged 15-24, respectively.
The EU LFS is a quarterly survey. The following method is used in order to produce monthly unemployment rates: for all countries, non-seasonally adjusted quarterly averages of the monthly series are benchmarked to the quarterly LFS figures. However, calculation models to produce individual months and provisional figures (for the period when LFS data are not yet available) depend on the availability and specific characteristics of the sources generated in each individual Member State. Eurostat aims at harmonizing the calculation process as much as possible. Apart from quarterly figures, some Member States exhibit monthly and/or 3 month moving averages from the LFS as well. Registered unemployment data are used for many Member States as an auxiliary source. The length of the series and specific correlation with unemployment figures measured with quarterly LFS vary from country to country.
More information is available under the Related metadata.
Different methods are used for the estimation of monthly unemployment rates and other quarterly or annual data. In all cases the EU-LFS is the main data source.
Data are calculated on a monthly basis. However, there is no legal basis regulating the production and dissemination of monthly unemployment data, as the EU-LFS is a quarterly survey. There are legislative acts of the European Council and Parliament and of the European Commission that govern the EU-LFS and result in the production of quarterly labour force statistics. Eurostat is complementing this quarterly data with a monthly indicator from LFS or from public employment offices' administrative registers delivered by Member States on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement. Results of the complementary calculations yield the harmonised monthly unemployment data. Quarterly and annual averages are calculated from these harmonised time series.
The MIP related indicators are updated and released in accordance to the dissemination of the underlying statistics.
The quarterly series are updated 4 times a year approximately 150 days after the end of the reference quarter. Annual averages are published along with quarter 4 data.
Overall, comparability over time is considered high. However, methodological improvements in the sampling design, changes in nomenclature, and the shift to IESS can lead to breaks in time series. These are flagged in the database, and detailed information on each break is available on the website. In particular, the updated definitions of labour status under the IESS framework may cause breaks in the quarterly and market annual LFS main indicators , as these are derived from EU-LFS microdata.
For some series—especially employment and activity—estimates have been made for years in which data for all quarters had not yet been collected. These estimates, which do not use other indicators but rely on available quarterly data and seasonal patterns, are flagged accordingly.
To ensure continued data comparability and provide relevant labour market policy indicators, Member States and Eurostat produce and disseminate break-corrected series.
