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
[4D1_F3] Eurostat - Labour market and skills
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Havard.LIEN@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
6 February 2018
2.2. Metadata last posted
6 February 2018
2.3. Metadata last update
6 February 2018
3.1. Data description
The ad-hoc module "young people on the labour market" provides supplementary information on the correlation between work-based learning and labour market outcomes.
3.2. Classification system
The EU-LFS results are produced in accordance with the relevant international classification systems. The main classifications used are NACE Rev. 2 for economic activity, ISCO 08 for occupation, and ISCED 2011 for level of education. For more details please consult EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - Methodology.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Target population of the survey
The LFS ad hoc module 2016 covers persons aged 15-34 living in private households. Some of the variables in the survey were limited further, thus dealing with sub-groups of the target population.The full technical definitions are available in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/459
In order to show all valid cases under one drop-down menu in the tables, the variable work experience while studying in the tables is a composite of the two regulation variables WORKEXP and WORKSTUD. Curriculum/education/qualification always refers to the respondent's highest completed education (HATLEVEL).
There are two types of breakdowns of this variable: one based on payment and one based on links to education
The work/education breakdown is:
no work experience: not carried out any form of work (neither paid nor unpaid) while being a student or pupil
outside curriculum: did carry out work while being a student or pupil, but the work was not connected to the person's ongoing studies
apprenticeship: had working experience which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, the work lasted at least 6 months and it was paid
mandatory traineeship: had working experience which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, the work lasted at least 6 months and it was not paid
mandatory work-based learning: had working experience which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, but we have no further information on the length of time, or if it was paid or not
optional traineeship: had working experience which was an optional part of the curriculum, and we have no further information on the length of time, or if it was paid or not
The category work-based learning is the sum of apprenticeship, mandatory traineeship, mandatory work-based learning, and optional traineeship.
The payment breakdown is:
no work experience: not carried out any form of work (neither paid nor unpaid) while being a student or pupil
paid work experience
unpaid work experience
both paid and unpaid work experience
Commuting is in this survey defined as at least one hour travel time each way between work and home.
Detailed information on the relevant methodology for the ad-hoc module (including the Commission regulation and explanatory notes) as well as documentation from each participating country (national questionnaires and interviewers instructions) can be found on EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - Ad-hoc modules.
3.5. Statistical unit
Persons.
3.6. Statistical population
Persons in the resident population, aged 15 – 34, living in private households.
3.7. Reference area
EU-28 + IS, NO, CH, TR.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2016. Differences between countries: either second quarter, or first to fourth quarter, or first and fourth quarter, or first and second quarter.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Number of persons, expressed in thousands. Number of persons, expressed in per cent. Employment rate. Unemployment rate. Inactivity rate.
2016
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), 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 confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
EU-LFS micro data as received by Eurostat from the national statistical institutes does not contain any administrative information such as names or addresses that would allow direct identification. Access to this micro data is nevertheless strictly controlled and limited to specified Eurostat staff. After data treatment, records are aggregated for all further use. For more information on publications guidelines and thresholds, please consult: EU-LFS - Data and publications.
8.1. Release calendar
LFS data for ad-hoc modules are released after the end of the reference period once data processing and validation is terminated. This is not scheduled in a release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 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.
Not applicable
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The evaluation report summarizes the main definitions and findings of the 2016 Labour Force Survey ad hoc module. To access the report, please consult EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - ad-hoc modules.
The concern for the quality of labour statistics in general and of the Labour Force Survey in particular has been expressed in Regulations, reflected in harmonised definitions and discussed in Working groups (such as the Labour Markey Statistics Working Group and its predecessor the Employment Statistics Working Group), workshops and seminars within the European statistical system.
Concerning the Labour Force Survey, major milestones in the improvement of its quality have been the adoption of Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 on the organisation of a continuous, quarterly sample survey in the Community; the adoption of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/2000 concerning the operational definition of unemployment and the 12 principles for formulating questions on labour status; the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 1991/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council making the continuous survey mandatory from 2003 onwards (except Italy from 2004 and Germany from 2005) and the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 2257/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council extending the survey characteristics and introducing the distinction between structural and quarterly variables.
Eurostat and the Member States have continuously worked also on a voluntary basis to improve the quality of the Labour Force Survey. Annual quality reports were introduced in 2002 and quarterly accuracy reports were introduced in 2004. Standards and rules for preparing ad hoc modules were adopted in 2004. At the initiative of Member States, a programme of annual LFS workshops was started in 2005.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The overall quality of LFS statistics is considered as high. LFS surveys are considered as reliable sources applying high standards with regard to the methodology. However, the LFS, like all surveys, is based upon a sample of the population. The results are therefore subject to the usual types of errors associated with random sampling. Based on the sample size and design in the various Member States, Eurostat implements basic guidelines intended to avoid publication of figures that are unreliable or to give warning of the unreliability of the figures.
A multiannual ad hoc module programme is agreed between Eurostat, the National Statistical Institutes and the main policy users (basically Commission services).
EU-LFS results are used mainly by the DG Employment and a number of other Directorates of the Commission (in the case of this ad hoc module, mainly DG EAC and CEDEFOP) for measurement and monitoring of policy agendas purposes. Key users include National Statistics Institutes (NSIs), international organisations, news agencies and researchers, which use of various aspects of EU-LFS data for international or intra EU comparisons. Finally, LFS data are used by Eurostat for compiling detailed regional indicators, for estimates on current education and education levels, higher education and research, and for accurate estimates of labour input of national accounts.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Eurostat does not carry out any satisfaction survey targeted at users of labour markets statistics. All new requests for labour market statistics are subject to scrutiny by the national experts and representatives of the NSIs and in particular for major topics of interest, for social research the instrument of ad hoc modules is used. The main institutional users other than the Commission are also known to the unit for Labour Market Statistics. Many of them are frequently consulted on various aspects of development and dissemination of labour force statistics.
12.3. Completeness
Even if otherwise adhering to the EU-regulations on the EU-LFS, countries do not always provide data for all the variables. This can be for various reasons, such as assessment that the variable in question is irrelevant to the labour market situation in the country or (temporary) inability to implement the variable in the national questionnaire.
The overall accuracy is considered as high. The LFS covers persons aged 15 years and over, living in private households, to ensure a comparable coverage for all countries. The sampling designs in the LFS are chosen on a country by country basis (sampling rates vary between 0.2 % and 1.6 %). Most of the National Statistics Institutes employ multi-staged stratified random sample design, especially those that do not have central population registers available. As the results are based on a sample of population they are subject to the usual types of errors associated with sampling techniques and interviews.
The deadline for data transmissions to Eurostat was 31 March 2017. The release of EU-LFS data is not bound by an advance calendar of publication.
14.2. Punctuality
Six countries did not deliver data on time. Initial validation of the data sets was finished in May 2017, with the subsequent revision round finishing 16 October 2017.
The 2000 and 2009 LFS ad hoc modules also covered this topic.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Published estimates stemming from the LFS are considered fully internally coherent, since arithmetic and accounting identities in the production of LFS datasets are observed.
Information on average interview lengths is available in the evaluation report - see LFS ad hoc modules.
17.1. Data revision - policy
These historical data are no longer updated nor revised.
17.2. Data revision - practice
These historical data are no longer updated nor revised.
18.1. Source data
The source of the data is the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS). The EU LFS is a rotating random sample survey of persons in private households. It is organised in thirteen modules, covering their demographic background, labour status, employment characteristics of the main job, hours worked, employment characteristics of the second job, time-related underemployment, search for employment, education and training, previous work experience of persons not in employment, situation one year before the survey, main labour status, income, and technical items relating to the interview. An additional so-called ad-hoc module can be added to address specific subjects that change from year to year. For details see Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 of 9 March 1998 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in the Community (OJ No L 77/3).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data collection is quarterly or annual.
18.3. Data collection
The data is acquired by interviewing the sampled individuals directly. For the sample design and rotation patterns applied in each country, please consult the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.
18.4. Data validation
Prior to the dissemination of national data, LFS results are validated by the Member States and checked for plausibility by Eurostat.
18.5. Data compilation
Aggregate figures are calculated by adding up all the national data series. Rates/Ratios are subsequently calculated from the data expressed in absolute values (i.e. number of persons).
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments.
No notes
The ad-hoc module "young people on the labour market" provides supplementary information on the correlation between work-based learning and labour market outcomes.
6 February 2018
Target population of the survey
The LFS ad hoc module 2016 covers persons aged 15-34 living in private households. Some of the variables in the survey were limited further, thus dealing with sub-groups of the target population.The full technical definitions are available in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/459
In order to show all valid cases under one drop-down menu in the tables, the variable work experience while studying in the tables is a composite of the two regulation variables WORKEXP and WORKSTUD. Curriculum/education/qualification always refers to the respondent's highest completed education (HATLEVEL).
There are two types of breakdowns of this variable: one based on payment and one based on links to education
The work/education breakdown is:
no work experience: not carried out any form of work (neither paid nor unpaid) while being a student or pupil
outside curriculum: did carry out work while being a student or pupil, but the work was not connected to the person's ongoing studies
apprenticeship: had working experience which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, the work lasted at least 6 months and it was paid
mandatory traineeship: had working experience which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, the work lasted at least 6 months and it was not paid
mandatory work-based learning: had working experience which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, but we have no further information on the length of time, or if it was paid or not
optional traineeship: had working experience which was an optional part of the curriculum, and we have no further information on the length of time, or if it was paid or not
The category work-based learning is the sum of apprenticeship, mandatory traineeship, mandatory work-based learning, and optional traineeship.
The payment breakdown is:
no work experience: not carried out any form of work (neither paid nor unpaid) while being a student or pupil
paid work experience
unpaid work experience
both paid and unpaid work experience
Commuting is in this survey defined as at least one hour travel time each way between work and home.
Detailed information on the relevant methodology for the ad-hoc module (including the Commission regulation and explanatory notes) as well as documentation from each participating country (national questionnaires and interviewers instructions) can be found on EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) - Ad-hoc modules.
Persons.
Persons in the resident population, aged 15 – 34, living in private households.
EU-28 + IS, NO, CH, TR.
2016
The overall accuracy is considered as high. The LFS covers persons aged 15 years and over, living in private households, to ensure a comparable coverage for all countries. The sampling designs in the LFS are chosen on a country by country basis (sampling rates vary between 0.2 % and 1.6 %). Most of the National Statistics Institutes employ multi-staged stratified random sample design, especially those that do not have central population registers available. As the results are based on a sample of population they are subject to the usual types of errors associated with sampling techniques and interviews.
Number of persons, expressed in thousands. Number of persons, expressed in per cent. Employment rate. Unemployment rate. Inactivity rate.
Aggregate figures are calculated by adding up all the national data series. Rates/Ratios are subsequently calculated from the data expressed in absolute values (i.e. number of persons).
The source of the data is the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS). The EU LFS is a rotating random sample survey of persons in private households. It is organised in thirteen modules, covering their demographic background, labour status, employment characteristics of the main job, hours worked, employment characteristics of the second job, time-related underemployment, search for employment, education and training, previous work experience of persons not in employment, situation one year before the survey, main labour status, income, and technical items relating to the interview. An additional so-called ad-hoc module can be added to address specific subjects that change from year to year. For details see Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 of 9 March 1998 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in the Community (OJ No L 77/3).
Not applicable
The deadline for data transmissions to Eurostat was 31 March 2017. The release of EU-LFS data is not bound by an advance calendar of publication.
