Methodologies: Sources of information on labour statistics (focus on the economically active population) statistics (focus on the economically active population) Monica D. Castillo Chief Decent Work Data Production Unit Chief, Decent Work Data Production Unit ILO Department of Statistics – Geneva castillom@ilo.org National Labour Market Information Training Programme Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 31 October – 11 November 2011 ILO Department of Statistics
Contents • Overview of key official sources of labour statistics: – Advantages, disadvantages of each type • Integrated labour statistics system g y • Integrated national statistics system • National programme for statistics of the • National programme for statistics of the economically active population (EAP) • Labour force survey: key instrument for measuring L b f k i t t f i the EAP ILO Department of Statistics 2
Official sources of labour statistics • Population and housing census • Household surveys (LFS, HIES, …) • Economic census • Establishment surveys (current and long-term needs) • Administrative records Ad i i i d • Agricultural census and surveys • Agricultural census and surveys ILO Department of Statistics 3
Official sources: Differences in coverage Differences in coverage Differences in geographic, worker/enterprise, job coverage Universal coverage of civilian population living in P&H Census households Sample of the population living in households; Household Surveys coverage depends on objective & sample design Census of establishments, coverage depends on Economic Census objective and frame Establishment Surveys Sample of establishments, coverage depends on objective, frame, sample design Administrative Sources Defined by legal or administrative obligations: D fi d b l l d i i t ti bli ti Ad i i t ti S Registered/contributing population ILO Department of Statistics 4
Official sources: Differences in periodicity Differences in periodicity Every 5-10 years P&H Census Recommended every 10 years Recommended every 10 years Usually more frequent than censuses Household Surveys Depending on priorities and resources: For LFS could be Depending on priorities and resources: For LFS could be continuous, monthly, quarterly, or annually Every 5-10 years Economic Census Recommended every 5-10 years R d d 5 10 Monthly, quarterly, annually Establishment Surveys Recommendation depends on purpose/resources: monthly or quarterly for time series; annually or 3-5 years structural data C Continuous ti Administrative Sources -updating as per administrative procedures ILO Department of Statistics 5
Population census p • Population census: is the official procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of the population, (normally) at d di i f ti b t th b f th l ti ( ll ) t regular, long-term intervals (e.g. every 10 years) Importance of collecting data on the economic characteristics of the population through a population census: – In some countries is the only source – Produces broad-based estimates on selected economic characteristics – Provides benchmark data on economic characteristics to which statistics from other sources can be related – Complements the other sources of data on economic characteristics Department of Statistics 6
Population and housing census: Strengths and Limitations Strengths and Limitations Advantages as data source for economic characteristics: • National scope and consistent geography • Inclusion of all persons – Permits extensive and detailed cross-tabulations – Produce summary statistics for all civil or administrative divisions Produce summary statistics for all civil or administrative divisions – Generate finely detailed statistics for small geographical areas, small population groups, or finely classified groups of industries or occupations • Permits cross-tabulation of economic characteristics with other demographic and socio-economic variables Limitations as data source for economic characteristics: • Conducted only once every 10 years C d t d l 10 • High cost and sometimes heavy reporting burden • Compete with demands for coverage of other topics; placement of questions on the questionnaire. • Some of the concepts related to economic characteristics are very complex for censuses to handle • Accurate information on certain characteristics not known to proxy respondent (true also of HH surveys) A t i f ti t i h t i ti t k t d t (t l f HH ) ILO Department of Statistics 7
Labour Force Surveys Labour Force Surveys: • • Surveys carried out using a sample of households Surveys carried out using a sample of households • Constitute the main data collection instrument for statistics on employment and unemployment worldwide • P Permit the collection of coherent information on the total working age population it th ll ti f h t i f ti th t t l ki l ti and its components, in particular the economically active population. • Concept of employment in household surveys refers to persons employed rather than to jobs, since a person may have several jobs and work in different th t j b i h l j b d k i diff t establishments • Large range of topics can be included. Examples: – Employment, unemployment, not in labour force E l t l t t i l b f – Time-related underemployment – Informal employment – Occupational segregation by sex (also captured by establishment surveys) – Youth not in education and not in employment, 15-24 years – Hours actually worked ILO Department of Statistics 8
Labour force surveys: Strengths and Limitations Strengths and Limitations Advantages: – Flexible can cover a large set of labour topics Flexible, can cover a large set of labour topics – Allows personal interviews – Detailed questioning permits precise measurement of concepts – If frequent, can provide data to monitor short-term labour force trends q , p – Provides data on persons & their households – Can be designed to provide both stock and flows estimates – Covers all workers, including all self-employed – Allows disaggregations by demographic factors: by sex, age group, ethnic group Limitations: – Sampling often prevents reliable estimates for small groups/areas p g p g p – Sometimes have limited geographic coverage (cost considerations) – Sampling and non-sampling errors Still: is considered – Reliability of estimates regarding data by industry or occupation; and the best source for sensitive information (e.g., employment-related income) labour force statistics ILO Department of Statistics 9
Establishment surveys y Employment-based establishment surveys : • • Surveys based on a sample of establishments that seek to obtain statistical information on Surveys based on a sample of establishments that seek to obtain statistical information on employment, hours and earnings. • They may have a short-term (current statistics, trends) or longer term purpose (structural statistics, distribution of earnings, etc) , g , ) • Employment measures the number of jobs held by persons working in establishments, not the number of employed persons • Generally cover employees (i.e., not all workers are covered) • Examples of indicators and topics: – Average hourly earnings in selected occupations – Manufacturing wage index – Employment by branch of economic activity* – Wage/earnings inequality* – Labour cost – – Hours paid for Hours paid for *Can also be covered in a LF survey ILO Department of Statistics 10
Advantages and Limitations of Employment- Related Establishment Surveys Related Establishment Surveys Advantages: – Permit the collection of coherent data on employees who work in sampled establishments Permit the collection of coherent data on employees who work in sampled establishments – Often best source of periodic data on wages & hours statistics – Good coverage of medium sized and larger establishments – Estimates disaggregated by economic activity are generally considered more reliable than those from household surveys • Limitations: – May exclude small establishments from sampling frame – Difficult to obtain reliable estimates for small industries – May not allow data disaggregation by demographic variables (age, sex, ethnic group, etc.) – S Sampling and non-sampling errors li d li – Excludes self-employed workers not covered in sampled establishments • In developing countries can represent a high percentage of total employment – Generally exclude the agricultural sector Generally exclude the agricultural sector • A sector with a high concentration of employment in most developing countries ILO Department of Statistics 11
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