Skip to Content

Resolution I. Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization, the 19 ICLS

Version 5.1 by Artur on 2025/06/26 11:32
Warning: For security reasons, the document is displayed in restricted mode as it is not the current version. There may be differences and errors due to this.

}tle="Содержание"}}
The [toc] macro is a standalone macro and it cannot be used inline. Click on this message for details.

Preamble

The 19th Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans,

Hav(i)ng rev(i)ewed the relevant texts of the resolut(i)on concern(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment and underemployment adopted by the 13th Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans (1982) and the amendment of (i)ts paragraph 5 adopted by the 18th Conference (2008); the resolut(i)on concern(i)ng the measurement of underemployment and (i)nadequate employment s(i)tuat(i)ons adopted by the 16th Conference (1998), as well as the gu(i)del(i)nes endorsed there(i)n concern(i)ng treatment (i)n employment and unemployment stat(i)st(i)cs of persons on extended absences from work; and the gu(i)del(i)nes on the (i)mpl(i)cat(i)ons of employment promot(i)on schemes on the measurement of employment and unemployment, endorsed by the 14th Conference (1987),

Recall(i)ng the requ(i)rements of the Labour Stat(i)st(i)cs Convent(i)on, 1985 (No. 160), and the accompany(i)ng Labour Stat(i)st(i)cs Recommendat(i)on, 1985 (No. 170), and the need for coherence w(i)th other (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards, part(i)cularly regard(i)ng the system of nat(i)onal accounts, work(i)ng t(i)me, employment-related (i)ncome, ch(i)ld labour, status (i)n employment and work (i)n the (i)nformal economy,

Recogn(i)z(i)ng the need to rev(i)se and broaden the ex(i)st(i)ng standards (i)n order to enable better stat(i)st(i)cal measurement of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on of all persons (i)n all forms of work and (i)n all sectors of the economy; of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on; and of (i)nteract(i)ons between d(i)fferent forms of work; as well as to prov(i)de gu(i)del(i)nes on a w(i)der set of measures than prev(i)ously def(i)ned (i)nternat(i)onally, thereby enhanc(i)ng the relevance and usefulness of the standards for countr(i)es and terr(i)tor(i)es1 at all stages of development,

Call(i)ng attent(i)on to the usefulness of these standards to enhance the (i)nternat(i)onal comparab(i)l(i)ty of the stat(i)st(i)cs, to the(i)r contr(i)but(i)on to the measurement of decent work and of well-be(i)ng of households and soc(i)ety (i)n general, thereby support(i)ng and fac(i)l(i)tat(i)ng the post-2015 development agenda, as well as to the ach(i)evement of gender just(i)ce,

Acknowledg(i)ng that the relevance of measures of work (i)n a g(i)ven country w(i)ll depend on the nature of (i)ts soc(i)ety, labour markets and all user needs, and that the(i)r (i)mplementat(i)on w(i)ll therefore, to a certa(i)n extent, be determ(i)ned by nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances,

Adopts th(i)s 11th day of October 2013 the follow(i)ng resolut(i)on (i)n subst(i)tut(i)on for the resolut(i)ons of 1982 and of 2008, and for paragraphs 8(1) and 9(1) of the resolut(i)on of 1998, as well as for the gu(i)del(i)nes from 1987 and 1998 c(i)ted above.

Object(i)ves and scope

1. Th(i)s resolut(i)on a(i)ms to set standards for work stat(i)st(i)cs to gu(i)de countr(i)es (i)n updat(i)ng and (i)ntegrat(i)ng the(i)r ex(i)st(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cal programmes (i)n th(i)s f(i)eld. It def(i)nes the stat(i)st(i)cal concept of work for reference purposes and prov(i)des operat(i)onal concepts, def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and gu(i)del(i)nes for:

2. These standards should serve to fac(i)l(i)tate the product(i)on of d(i)fferent subsets of work stat(i)st(i)cs for d(i)fferent purposes as part of an (i)ntegrated nat(i)onal system that (i)s based on common concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons.

3. Each country should a(i)m to develop (i)ts system of work stat(i)st(i)cs, (i)nclud(i)ng of the labour force, to prov(i)de an adequate (i)nformat(i)on base for the var(i)ous users of the stat(i)st(i)cs, tak(i)ng account of spec(i)f(i)c nat(i)onal needs and c(i)rcumstances. Such a system should be des(i)gned to ach(i)eve a number of object(i)ves, (i)n part(i)cular to:

  • (a) mon(i)tor labour markets and labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on (i)nclud(i)ng unemployment for the des(i)gn, (i)mplementat(i)on and evaluat(i)on of econom(i)c and soc(i)al pol(i)c(i)es and programmes related to employment creat(i)on, (i)ncome generat(i)on, sk(i)lls development (i)nclud(i)ng vocat(i)onal educat(i)on and tra(i)n(i)ng, and related decent work pol(i)c(i)es;
  • (b) prov(i)de comprehens(i)ve measurement of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n all forms of work (i)n order to est(i)mate volume of work or labour (i)nput for nat(i)onal product(i)on accounts, (i)nclud(i)ng ex(i)st(i)ng “satell(i)te” accounts, and the contr(i)but(i)on of all forms of work to econom(i)c development, to household l(i)vel(i)hoods and to the well-be(i)ng of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals and soc(i)ety;
  • (c) assess part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n d(i)fferent forms of work among populat(i)on groups such as women and men, young people, ch(i)ldren, m(i)grants and other groups of part(i)cular pol(i)cy concern; and study the relat(i)onsh(i)ps between d(i)fferent forms of work and the(i)r econom(i)c and soc(i)al outcomes.

4. To serve these object(i)ves, the system should be developed (i)n consultat(i)on w(i)th the var(i)ous users of the stat(i)st(i)cs and (i)n harmony w(i)th other econom(i)c and soc(i)al stat(i)st(i)cs and be des(i)gned so as to prov(i)de current stat(i)st(i)cs for short-term needs and stat(i)st(i)cs collected at longer (i)ntervals for structural and (i)n-depth analys(i)s and as benchmark data:

  • (a) cho(i)ces regard(i)ng the concepts and top(i)cs covered and the(i)r d(i)fferent frequenc(i)es of measurement and/or report(i)ng w(i)ll depend on the(i)r nat(i)onal relevance and the resources ava(i)lable;
  • (b) each country should establ(i)sh an appropr(i)ate strategy for data collect(i)on and report(i)ng, as recommended (i)n paragraph 56, that ensures the progress and susta(i)nab(i)l(i)ty of the system.

5. In develop(i)ng the(i)r work stat(i)st(i)cs, countr(i)es should endeavour to (i)ncorporate these standards (i)n order to promote (i)nternat(i)onal comparab(i)l(i)ty and to perm(i)t the evaluat(i)on of trends and d(i)fferences for the purpose of labour market and econom(i)c and soc(i)al analys(i)s, (i)n part(i)cular w(i)th respect to the measurement of the labour force, of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on and of the d(i)fferent forms of work.

Reference concepts

6. Work compr(i)ses any act(i)v(i)ty performed by persons of any sex and age to produce goods or to prov(i)de serv(i)ces for use by others or for own use.

  • (a) Work (i)s def(i)ned (i)rrespect(i)ve of (i)ts formal or (i)nformal character or the legal(i)ty of the act(i)v(i)ty.
  • (b) Work excludes act(i)v(i)t(i)es that do not (i)nvolve produc(i)ng goods or serv(i)ces (e.g. begg(i)ng and steal(i)ng), self-care (e.g. personal groom(i)ng and hyg(i)ene) and act(i)v(i)t(i)es that cannot be performed by another person on one’s own behalf (e.g. sleep(i)ng, learn(i)ng and act(i)v(i)t(i)es for own recreat(i)on).
  • (c) The concept of work (i)s al(i)gned w(i)th the General product(i)on boundary as def(i)ned (i)n the System of Nat(i)onal Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA) and (i)ts concept of econom(i)c un(i)t that d(i)st(i)ngu(i)shes between:
    • ( (i) ) market un(i)ts ((i).e. corporat(i)ons, quas(i)-corporat(i)ons and household un(i)ncorporated market enterpr(i)ses2);
    • ((i)(i)) non-market un(i)ts ((i).e. government and non-prof(i)t (i)nst(i)tut(i)ons serv(i)ng households); and
    • ((i)(i)(i)) households that produce goods or serv(i)ces for own f(i)nal use.
  • (d) Work can be performed (i)n any k(i)nd of econom(i)c un(i)t.

7. To meet d(i)fferent object(i)ves, f(i)ve mutually exclus(i)ve forms of work are (i)dent(i)f(i)ed for separate measurement. These forms of work are d(i)st(i)ngu(i)shed on the bas(i)s of the (i)ntended dest(i)nat(i)on of the product(i)on (for own f(i)nal use; or for use by others, (i).e. other econom(i)c un(i)ts) and the nature of the transact(i)on ((i).e. monetary or non-monetary transact(i)ons, and transfers), as follows:

  • (a) own-use product(i)on work compr(i)s(i)ng product(i)on of goods and serv(i)ces for own f(i)nal use;
  • (b) employment work compr(i)s(i)ng work performed for others (i)n exchange for pay or prof(i)t;
  • (c) unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work compr(i)s(i)ng work performed for others w(i)thout pay to acqu(i)re workplace exper(i)ence or sk(i)lls;
  • (d) volunteer work compr(i)s(i)ng non-compulsory work performed for others w(i)thout pay;
  • (e) other work act(i)v(i)t(i)es (not def(i)ned (i)n th(i)s resolut(i)on).

8. These “other work act(i)v(i)t(i)es” (i)nclude such act(i)v(i)t(i)es as unpa(i)d commun(i)ty serv(i)ce and unpa(i)d work by pr(i)soners, when ordered by a court or s(i)m(i)lar author(i)ty, and unpa(i)d m(i)l(i)tary or alternat(i)ve c(i)v(i)l(i)an serv(i)ce, wh(i)ch may be treated as a d(i)st(i)nct form of work for measurement (such as compulsory work performed w(i)thout pay for others).

9. Persons may engage (i)n one or more forms of work (i)n parallel or consecut(i)vely, (i).e. persons may be employed, be volunteer(i)ng, do(i)ng unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and/or produc(i)ng for own use, (i)n any comb(i)nat(i)on.

10. Own-use product(i)on of goods, employment, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work, a part of volunteer work and “other work act(i)v(i)t(i)es” form the bas(i)s for the preparat(i)on of nat(i)onal product(i)on accounts w(i)th(i)n the 2008 SNA product(i)on boundary. Own-use prov(i)s(i)on of serv(i)ces and the rema(i)n(i)ng part of volunteer work complete the nat(i)onal product(i)on accounts (i).e. beyond the 2008 SNA product(i)on boundary but (i)ns(i)de the General product(i)on boundary (d(i)agram 1).

D(i)agram 1. Forms of work and the System of Nat(i)onal Accounts 2008

png

11. The form of work (i)dent(i)f(i)ed as employment sets the reference scope of act(i)v(i)t(i)es for labour force stat(i)st(i)cs. The concept labour force refers to the current supply of labour for the product(i)on of goods and serv(i)ces (i)n exchange for pay or prof(i)t. The labour force (i)s computed as descr(i)bed (i)n paragraph 16.

Stat(i)st(i)cal and analyt(i)cal un(i)ts

12. D(i)fferent un(i)ts are relevant for the product(i)on of stat(i)st(i)cs on each form of work. For comp(i)l(i)ng and report(i)ng, three bas(i)c un(i)ts are persons, jobs or work act(i)v(i)t(i)es, and t(i)me un(i)ts:

  • (a) Persons are the bas(i)c un(i)t for produc(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs on the populat(i)on engaged (i)n each form of work.
  • (b) A job or work act(i)v(i)ty (i)s def(i)ned as a set of tasks and dut(i)es performed, or meant to be performed, by one person for a s(i)ngle econom(i)c un(i)t, as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 6(c):
    • ((i) ) The term job (i)s used (i)n reference to employment. Persons may have one or several jobs. Those (i)n self-employment w(i)ll have as many jobs as the econom(i)c un(i)ts they own or co-own, (i)rrespect(i)ve of the number of cl(i)ents served. In cases of mult(i)ple job-hold(i)ng, the ma(i)n job (i)s that w(i)th the longest hours usually worked, as def(i)ned (i)n the (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards on work(i)ng t(i)me.
    • ((i)(i)) Th(i)s stat(i)st(i)cal un(i)t, when relat(i)ng to own-use product(i)on work, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work, and volunteer work (i)s referred to as work act(i)v(i)ty.
  • (c) T(i)me un(i)ts are used for produc(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of volume of work (i)n reference to each form of work or to any comb(i)nat(i)on thereof. These un(i)ts may be short such as m(i)nutes or hours, or long such as half-days, days, weeks or months.

13. In add(i)t(i)on, act(i)v(i)ty clusters referr(i)ng to sub-sets of work act(i)v(i)t(i)es, (i)s a useful un(i)t for analys(i)s of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on of persons (i)n forms of work other than employment.

Class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons of the work(i)ng-age populat(i)on

14. Useful class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons of the work(i)ng-age populat(i)on, as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 65, may be prepared accord(i)ng to part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n the labour market and (i)n d(i)fferent forms of work.

15. Persons may be class(i)f(i)ed (i)n a short reference per(i)od, as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 19(a), accord(i)ng to the(i)r labour force status as be(i)ng:

16. Pr(i)or(i)ty (i)s g(i)ven to employment over the other two categor(i)es, and to unemployment over outs(i)de the labour force. The three categor(i)es of labour force status are, thus, mutually exclus(i)ve and exhaust(i)ve. The sum of persons (i)n employment and (i)n unemployment equals the labour force. Persons outs(i)de the labour force are those of work(i)ng age who were ne(i)ther (i)n employment nor (i)n unemployment (i)n the short reference per(i)od.

17. To support further soc(i)al analys(i)s, persons may also be class(i)f(i)ed accord(i)ng to the(i)r ma(i)n form of work as self-declared over a short or long reference per(i)od, as be(i)ng:

18. These categor(i)es of ma(i)n form of work are mutually exclus(i)ve. Pr(i)or(i)ty (i)s g(i)ven to any work act(i)v(i)ty over non-product(i)ve act(i)v(i)ty and, among the d(i)fferent forms of work, to the one cons(i)dered as the ma(i)n form.

Operat(i)onal def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and gu(i)del(i)nes

Forms of work

19. The var(i)ous forms of work are measured w(i)th respect to a short reference per(i)od. The appropr(i)ate reference per(i)od for each form (i)s based on the (i)ntens(i)ty of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on and work(i)ng t(i)me arrangements:

  • (a) seven days or one week, for employment and unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work;
  • (b) four weeks or one calendar month, for own-use product(i)on of goods, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and volunteer work;
  • (c) one or more 24-hour days w(i)th(i)n a seven-day or one-week per(i)od, for own-use prov(i)s(i)on of serv(i)ces.

20. To enable analys(i)s of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n mult(i)ple forms of work an overlap between these d(i)fferent reference per(i)ods (i)s needed. In add(i)t(i)on, these short reference per(i)ods may be comb(i)ned w(i)th measurement over a long observat(i)on per(i)od, as descr(i)bed (i)n paragraph 57(c).

21. A person (i)s cons(i)dered to have engaged (i)n a g(i)ven form of work when perform(i)ng such form of work for at least one hour dur(i)ng the relevant, short reference per(i)od. Use of th(i)s one-hour cr(i)ter(i)on ensures coverage of all the act(i)v(i)t(i)es engaged (i)n, (i)nclud(i)ng part-t(i)me, temporary, casual or sporad(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es, as well as comprehens(i)ve measurement of all (i)nputs of labour (i)nto product(i)on.

Own-use product(i)on work

22. Persons (i)n own-use product(i)on work are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who, dur(i)ng a short reference per(i)od, performed any act(i)v(i)ty to produce goods or prov(i)de serv(i)ces for own f(i)nal use, where:

  • a) “any act(i)v(i)ty” refers to work performed (i)n the var(i)ous act(i)v(i)t(i)es under paragraph 22(b) and (c) for a cumulat(i)ve total of at least one hour;
  • (b) product(i)on of “goods” (w(i)th(i)n the 2008 SNA product(i)on boundary) covers:
    • ((i) ) produc(i)ng and/or process(i)ng for storage agr(i)cultural, f(i)sh(i)ng, hunt(i)ng and gather(i)ng products;
    • ((i)(i)) collect(i)ng and/or process(i)ng for storage m(i)n(i)ng and forestry products, (i)nclud(i)ng f(i)rewood and other fuels;
    • ((i)(i)(i)) fetch(i)ng water from natural and other sources;
    • ((i)v) manufactur(i)ng household goods (such as furn(i)ture, text(i)les, cloth(i)ng, footwear, pottery or other durables, (i)nclud(i)ng boats and canoes);
    • (v) bu(i)ld(i)ng, or effect(i)ng major repa(i)rs to, one’s own dwell(i)ng, farm bu(i)ld(i)ngs, etc.;
  • (c) prov(i)s(i)on of “serv(i)ces” (beyond the 2008 SNA product(i)on boundary but (i)ns(i)de the General product(i)on boundary) covers:
    • ((i) ) household account(i)ng and management, purchas(i)ng and/or transport(i)ng goods;
    • ((i)(i)) prepar(i)ng and/or serv(i)ng meals, household waste d(i)sposal and recycl(i)ng;
    • ((i)(i)(i)) clean(i)ng, decorat(i)ng and ma(i)nta(i)n(i)ng one’s own dwell(i)ng or prem(i)ses, durables and other goods, and garden(i)ng;
    • ((i)v) ch(i)ldcare and (i)nstruct(i)on, transport(i)ng and car(i)ng for elderly, dependent or other household members and domest(i)c an(i)mals or pets, etc.;
  • (d) “for own f(i)nal use” (i)s (i)nterpreted as product(i)on where the (i)ntended dest(i)nat(i)on of the output (i)s ma(i)nly for f(i)nal use by the producer (i)n the form of cap(i)tal format(i)on, or f(i)nal consumpt(i)on by household members, or by fam(i)ly members l(i)v(i)ng (i)n other households:
    • ((i) ) the (i)ntended dest(i)nat(i)on of the output (i)s establ(i)shed (i)n reference to the spec(i)f(i)c goods produced or serv(i)ces prov(i)ded, as self-declared ((i).e. ma(i)nly for own f(i)nal use);
    • ((i)(i)) (i)n the case of agr(i)cultural, f(i)sh(i)ng, hunt(i)ng or gather(i)ng goods (i)ntended ma(i)nly for own consumpt(i)on, a part or surplus may nevertheless be sold or bartered.

23. Essent(i)al (i)tems that need to be collected, us(i)ng var(i)ous sources as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 67, to support nat(i)onal accounts, and for household and sectoral analyses of own-use product(i)on work are:

  • (a) the work(i)ng t(i)me of own-use producers assoc(i)ated w(i)th each relevant act(i)v(i)ty cluster collected us(i)ng short t(i)me un(i)ts (such as m(i)nutes or hours accord(i)ng to the source);
  • (b) the est(i)mated value of the product(i)on ((i).e. goods or serv(i)ces), and/or the amount of goods, consumed or reta(i)ned by the household and by fam(i)ly members (i)n other households;
  • (c) the est(i)mated amount and/or value of any part or surplus sold or bartered, where appl(i)cable; and
  • (d) the expenses (i)ncurred (i)n relat(i)on to th(i)s product(i)on.

24. Subs(i)stence foodstuff producers const(i)tute an (i)mportant subgroup of persons (i)n own-use product(i)on work. They are def(i)ned as:

  • (a) all those who performed any of the act(i)v(i)t(i)es spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 22(b)((i) ) (i)n order to produce foodstuff from agr(i)culture, f(i)sh(i)ng, hunt(i)ng or gather(i)ng that contr(i)bute to the l(i)vel(i)hood of the household or fam(i)ly;
  • (b) excluded are persons who engaged (i)n such product(i)on as recreat(i)onal or le(i)sure act(i)v(i)t(i)es.

25. For operat(i)onal purposes, an (i)mportant test to ver(i)fy the subs(i)stence nature of the act(i)v(i)ty (i)s that (i)t (i)s carr(i)ed out w(i)thout workers h(i)red for pay or prof(i)t.

26. For purposes of mon(i)tor(i)ng cond(i)t(i)ons of labour market performance as related to (i)nsuff(i)c(i)ent access to, or (i)ntegrat(i)on (i)n, markets, or to other factors of product(i)on, stat(i)st(i)cs of th(i)s group should be (i)dent(i)f(i)ed and reported separately to serve pol(i)cy needs, as recommended (i)n paragraph 73(a) and (b).

Employment

27. Persons (i)n employment are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who, dur(i)ng a short reference per(i)od, were engaged (i)n any act(i)v(i)ty to produce goods or prov(i)de serv(i)ces for pay or prof(i)t. They compr(i)se:

  • (a) employed persons “at work”, (i).e. who worked (i)n a job for at least one hour;
  • (b) employed persons “not at work” due to temporary absence from a job, or to work(i)ng-t(i)me arrangements (such as sh(i)ft work, flex(i)t(i)me and compensatory leave for overt(i)me).

28. “For pay or prof(i)t” refers to work done as part of a transact(i)on (i)n exchange for remunerat(i)on payable (i)n the form of wages or salar(i)es for t(i)me worked or work done, or (i)n the form of prof(i)ts der(i)ved from the goods and serv(i)ces produced through market transact(i)ons, spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n the most recent (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards concern(i)ng employment-related (i)ncome.

  • (a) It (i)ncludes remunerat(i)on (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd, whether actually rece(i)ved or not, and may also compr(i)se add(i)t(i)onal components of cash or (i)n-k(i)nd (i)ncome.
  • (b) The remunerat(i)on may be payable d(i)rectly to the person perform(i)ng the work or (i)nd(i)rectly to a household or fam(i)ly member.

29. Employed persons on “temporary absence” dur(i)ng the short reference per(i)od refers to those who, hav(i)ng already worked (i)n the(i)r present job, were “not at work” for a short durat(i)on but ma(i)nta(i)ned a job attachment dur(i)ng the(i)r absence. In such cases:

  • (a) “job attachment” (i)s establ(i)shed on the bas(i)s of the reason for the absence and (i)n the case of certa(i)n reasons, the cont(i)nued rece(i)pt of remunerat(i)on, and/or the total durat(i)on of the absence as self-declared or reported, depend(i)ng on the stat(i)st(i)cal source;
  • (b) the reasons for absence that are by the(i)r nature usually of short durat(i)on, and where “job attachment” (i)s ma(i)nta(i)ned, (i)nclude those such as s(i)ck leave due to own (i)llness or (i)njury ((i)nclud(i)ng occupat(i)onal); publ(i)c hol(i)days, vacat(i)on or annual leave; and per(i)ods of matern(i)ty or patern(i)ty leave as spec(i)f(i)ed by leg(i)slat(i)on;
  • (c) reasons for absence where the “job attachment” requ(i)res further test(i)ng, (i)nclude among others: parental leave, educat(i)onal leave, care for others, other personal absences, str(i)kes or lockouts, reduct(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty (e.g. temporary lay-off, slack work), d(i)sorgan(i)zat(i)on or suspens(i)on of work (e.g. due to bad weather, mechan(i)cal, electr(i)cal or commun(i)cat(i)on breakdown, problems w(i)th (i)nformat(i)on and commun(i)cat(i)on technology, shortage of raw mater(i)als or fuels):
    • ( (i) ) for these reasons, a further test of rece(i)pt of remunerat(i)on and/or a durat(i)on threshold should be used. The threshold should be, (i)n general, not greater than three months tak(i)ng (i)nto account per(i)ods of statutory leave ent(i)tlement spec(i)f(i)ed by leg(i)slat(i)on or commonly pract(i)ced, and/or the length of the employment season so as to perm(i)t the mon(i)tor(i)ng of seasonal patterns. Where the return to employment (i)n the same econom(i)c un(i)t (i)s guaranteed th(i)s threshold may be greater than three months;
    • ((i)(i)) for operat(i)onal purposes, where the total durat(i)on of the absence (i)s not known, the elapsed durat(i)on may be used.

30. Included (i)n employment are:

  • (a) persons who work for pay or prof(i)t wh(i)le on tra(i)n(i)ng or sk(i)lls-enhancement act(i)v(i)t(i)es requ(i)red by the job or for another job (i)n the same econom(i)c un(i)t, such persons are cons(i)dered as employed “at work” (i)n accordance w(i)th the (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards on work(i)ng t(i)me;
  • (b) apprent(i)ces, (i)nterns or tra(i)nees who work for pay (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd;
  • (c) persons who work for pay or prof(i)t through employment promot(i)on programmes;
  • (d) persons who work (i)n the(i)r own econom(i)c un(i)ts to produce goods (i)ntended ma(i)nly for sale or barter, even (i)f part of the output (i)s consumed by the household or fam(i)ly;
  • (e) persons w(i)th seasonal jobs dur(i)ng the off season, (i)f they cont(i)nue to perform some tasks and dut(i)es of the job, exclud(i)ng, however, fulf(i)lment of legal or adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve obl(i)gat(i)ons (e.g. pay taxes), (i)rrespect(i)ve of rece(i)pt of remunerat(i)on;
  • (f) persons who work for pay or prof(i)t payable to the household or fam(i)ly,
    • ((i) ) (i)n market un(i)ts operated by a fam(i)ly member l(i)v(i)ng (i)n the same or (i)n another household; or
    • ((i)(i)) perform(i)ng tasks or dut(i)es of an employee job held by a fam(i)ly member l(i)v(i)ng (i)n the same or (i)n another household;
  • (g) regular members of the armed forces and persons on m(i)l(i)tary or alternat(i)ve c(i)v(i)l(i)an serv(i)ce who perform th(i)s work for pay (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd.

31. Excluded from employment are:

  • (a) apprent(i)ces, (i)nterns and tra(i)nees who work w(i)thout pay (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd;
  • (b) part(i)c(i)pants (i)n sk(i)lls tra(i)n(i)ng or retra(i)n(i)ng schemes w(i)th(i)n employment promot(i)on programmes, when not engaged (i)n the product(i)on process of an econom(i)c un(i)t;
  • (c) persons who are requ(i)red to perform work as a cond(i)t(i)on of cont(i)nued rece(i)pt of a government soc(i)al benef(i)t such as unemployment (i)nsurance;
  • (d) persons rece(i)v(i)ng transfers, (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd, not related to employment;
  • (e) persons w(i)th seasonal jobs dur(i)ng the off season, (i)f they cease to perform the tasks and dut(i)es of the job;
  • (f) persons who reta(i)n a r(i)ght to return to the same econom(i)c un(i)t but who were absent for reasons spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 29(c), when the total durat(i)on of the absence exceeds the spec(i)f(i)ed threshold and/or (i)f the test of rece(i)pt of remunerat(i)on (i)s not fulf(i)lled. For analyt(i)cal purposes, (i)t may be useful to collect (i)nformat(i)on on total durat(i)on of absence, reason for absence, benef(i)ts rece(i)ved, etc.;
  • (g) persons on (i)ndef(i)n(i)te lay-off who do not have an assurance of return to employment w(i)th the same econom(i)c un(i)t.

32. To support job-level analyses, (i)nformat(i)on should be collected on the number of jobs held by persons (i)n employment (i)n the short reference per(i)od. Where the number of secondary jobs (i)n the country (i)s s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant, (i)t may be useful to collect (i)nformat(i)on about the(i)r character(i)st(i)cs, (i)nclud(i)ng (i)ndustry, occupat(i)on, status (i)n employment, type of econom(i)c un(i)t (formal market un(i)ts/(i)nformal market un(i)ts/non-market un(i)ts/households), work(i)ng t(i)me and employment-related (i)ncome.

Unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work

33. Persons (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who, dur(i)ng a short reference per(i)od, performed any unpa(i)d act(i)v(i)ty to produce goods or prov(i)de serv(i)ces for others, (i)n order to acqu(i)re workplace exper(i)ence or sk(i)lls (i)n a trade or profess(i)on, where:

  • (a) “short reference per(i)od” (i)s (i)nterpreted as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 19, and accord(i)ng to the source used;
  • (b) “any act(i)v(i)ty” refers to work for at least one hour;
  • (c) “unpa(i)d” (i)s (i)nterpreted as the absence of remunerat(i)on (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd for work done or hours worked; nevertheless, these workers may rece(i)ve some form of support, such as transfers of educat(i)on st(i)pends or grants, or occas(i)onal (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd support (e.g. a meal, dr(i)nks);
  • (d) product(i)on “for others” refers to work performed (i)n market and non-market un(i)ts that are owned by non-household or non-fam(i)ly members;
  • (e) acqu(i)r(i)ng “workplace exper(i)ence or sk(i)lls” may occur through trad(i)t(i)onal, formal or (i)nformal arrangements whether or not a spec(i)f(i)c qual(i)f(i)cat(i)on or cert(i)f(i)cat(i)on (i)s (i)ssued.

34. Included (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work are persons (i)n:

  • (a) tra(i)neesh(i)ps, apprent(i)cesh(i)ps, (i)nternsh(i)ps or other types of programmes accord(i)ng to nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances, when the(i)r engagement (i)n the product(i)on process of the econom(i)c un(i)t (i)s unpa(i)d; and
  • (b) unpa(i)d sk(i)lls tra(i)n(i)ng or retra(i)n(i)ng schemes w(i)th(i)n employment promot(i)on programmes, when engaged (i)n the product(i)on process of the econom(i)c un(i)t.

35. Excluded from unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work:

  • (a) per(i)ods of probat(i)on assoc(i)ated w(i)th the start of a job;
  • (b) general on-the-job or l(i)felong learn(i)ng wh(i)le (i)n employment, (i)nclud(i)ng (i)n market and non-market un(i)ts owned by household or fam(i)ly members;
  • (c) or(i)entat(i)on and learn(i)ng wh(i)le engaged (i)n volunteer work;
  • (d) learn(i)ng wh(i)le engaged (i)n own-use product(i)on work.

36. Essent(i)al (i)tems that need to be collected to support analys(i)s of the character(i)st(i)cs and cond(i)t(i)ons of work of persons (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work (i)nclude (i)ndustry, occupat(i)on, work(i)ng t(i)me, programme type and length, contract character(i)st(i)cs and coverage, ex(i)stence of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on fees and nature of cert(i)f(i)cat(i)on.

Volunteer work

37. Persons (i)n volunteer work are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who, dur(i)ng a short reference per(i)od, performed any unpa(i)d, non-compulsory act(i)v(i)ty to produce goods or prov(i)de serv(i)ces for others, where:

  • (a) “any act(i)v(i)ty” refers to work for at least one hour;
  • (b) “unpa(i)d” (i)s (i)nterpreted as the absence of remunerat(i)on (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd for work done or hours worked; nevertheless, volunteer workers may rece(i)ve some small form of support or st(i)pend (i)n cash, when below one th(i)rd of local market wages (e.g. for out-of-pocket expenses or to cover l(i)v(i)ng expenses (i)ncurred for the act(i)v(i)ty), or (i)n k(i)nd (e.g. meals, transportat(i)on, symbol(i)c g(i)fts);
  • (c) “non-compulsory” (i)s (i)nterpreted as work carr(i)ed out w(i)thout c(i)v(i)l, legal or adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve requ(i)rement, that are d(i)fferent from the fulf(i)lment of soc(i)al respons(i)b(i)l(i)t(i)es of a communal, cultural or rel(i)g(i)ous nature;
  • (d) product(i)on “for others” refers to work performed:
    • ((i) ) through, or for organ(i)zat(i)ons compr(i)s(i)ng market and non-market un(i)ts ((i).e. organ(i)zat(i)on-based volunteer(i)ng) (i)nclud(i)ng through or for self-help, mutual a(i)d or commun(i)ty-based groups of wh(i)ch the volunteer (i)s a member;
    • ((i)(i)) for households other than the household of the volunteer worker or of related fam(i)ly members ((i).e. d(i)rect volunteer(i)ng).

38. Excluded from volunteer work:

  • (a) commun(i)ty serv(i)ce and work by pr(i)soners ordered by a court or s(i)m(i)lar author(i)ty, compulsory m(i)l(i)tary or alternat(i)ve c(i)v(i)l(i)an serv(i)ce;
  • (b) unpa(i)d work requ(i)red as part of educat(i)on or tra(i)n(i)ng programmes ((i).e. unpa(i)d tra(i)nees);
  • (c) work for others performed dur(i)ng the work(i)ng t(i)me assoc(i)ated w(i)th employment, or dur(i)ng pa(i)d t(i)me off from an employee job granted by the employer.

39. Essent(i)al (i)tems that should be collected for nat(i)onal accounts and sectoral analyses of volunteer work (i)nclude the work(i)ng t(i)me assoc(i)ated w(i)th each relevant act(i)v(i)ty cluster, the (i)ndustry, occupat(i)on, and type of econom(i)c un(i)t (market un(i)ts/non-market un(i)ts/households).
Measures of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on

40. Labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on refers to m(i)smatches between labour supply and demand, wh(i)ch translate (i)nto an unmet need for employment among the populat(i)on. Measures of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on (i)nclude, but may not be restr(i)cted to:

41. These measures are the bas(i)s to produce headl(i)ne (i)nd(i)cators for labour market mon(i)tor(i)ng. For more comprehens(i)ve assessment they can be used w(i)th other (i)nd(i)cators relat(i)ng to the labour market, as recommended (i)n paragraph 76, (i)n part(i)cular sk(i)ll-related (i)nadequate employment and (i)ncome-related (i)nadequate employment as per the relevant (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards.

42. Other d(i)mens(i)ons of underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on of labour at the level of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals as well as the economy are sk(i)lls m(i)smatches and slack work, (i)n part(i)cular among the self-employed.

T(i)me-related underemployment

43. Persons (i)n t(i)me-related underemployment are def(i)ned as all persons (i)n employment who, dur(i)ng a short reference per(i)od, wanted to work add(i)t(i)onal hours, whose work(i)ng t(i)me (i)n all jobs was less than a spec(i)f(i)ed hours threshold, and who were ava(i)lable to work add(i)t(i)onal hours g(i)ven an opportun(i)ty for more work, where:

  • (a) the “work(i)ng t(i)me” concept (i)s hours actually worked or hours usually worked, dependent on the measurement object(i)ve (short or long-term s(i)tuat(i)ons) and (i)n accordance w(i)th the (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards on the top(i)c;
  • (b) “add(i)t(i)onal hours” may be hours (i)n the same job, (i)n an add(i)t(i)onal job(s) or (i)n a replacement job(s);
  • (c) the “hours threshold” (i)s based on the boundary between full-t(i)me and part-t(i)me employment, on the med(i)an or modal values of the hours usually worked of all persons (i)n employment, or on work(i)ng t(i)me norms as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n relevant leg(i)slat(i)on or nat(i)onal pract(i)ce, and set for spec(i)f(i)c worker groups;
  • (d) “ava(i)lable” for add(i)t(i)onal hours should be establ(i)shed (i)n reference to a set short reference per(i)od that reflects the typ(i)cal length of t(i)me requ(i)red (i)n the nat(i)onal context between leav(i)ng one job and start(i)ng another.

44. Depend(i)ng on the work(i)ng t(i)me concept appl(i)ed, among persons (i)n t(i)me-related underemployment ((i).e. who wanted and were “ava(i)lable” to work “add(i)t(i)onal hours”), (i)t (i)s poss(i)ble to (i)dent(i)fy the follow(i)ng groups:

  • (a) persons whose hours usually and actually worked were below the “hours threshold”;
  • (b) persons whose hours usually worked were below the “hours threshold” but whose hours actually worked were above the threshold;
  • (c) persons “not at work” or whose hours actually worked were below the “hours threshold” due to econom(i)c reasons (e.g. a reduct(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty (i)nclud(i)ng temporary lay-off and slack work or the effect of the low or off season).

45. In order to separately (i)dent(i)fy the three groups of persons (i)n t(i)me-related underemployment, (i)nformat(i)on (i)s needed on both hours usually worked and hours actually worked. Countr(i)es us(i)ng only one work(i)ng t(i)me concept w(i)ll cover, for hours usually worked, the sum of groups (a) and (b); for hours actually worked, the group (c), so long as the reasons for be(i)ng “not at work” or for work(i)ng below the “hours threshold” are also collected.

46. To assess further the pressure on the labour market exerted by persons (i)n t(i)me-related underemployment, (i)t may be useful to (i)dent(i)fy separately persons who carr(i)ed out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to seek “add(i)t(i)onal hours” (i)n a recent per(i)od that may compr(i)se the last four weeks or calendar month.

Unemployment

47. Persons (i)n unemployment are def(i)ned as all those of work(i)ng age who were not (i)n employment, carr(i)ed out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to seek employment dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)ed recent per(i)od and were currently ava(i)lable to take up employment g(i)ven a job opportun(i)ty, where:

  • (a) “not (i)n employment” (i)s assessed w(i)th respect to the short reference per(i)od for the measurement of employment;
  • (b) to “seek employment” refers to any act(i)v(i)ty when carr(i)ed out, dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)ed recent per(i)od compr(i)s(i)ng the last four weeks or one month, for the purpose of f(i)nd(i)ng a job or sett(i)ng up a bus(i)ness or agr(i)cultural undertak(i)ng. Th(i)s (i)ncludes also part-t(i)me, (i)nformal, temporary, seasonal or casual employment, w(i)th(i)n the nat(i)onal terr(i)tory or abroad. Examples of such act(i)v(i)t(i)es are:
    • ((i) ) arrang(i)ng for f(i)nanc(i)al resources, apply(i)ng for perm(i)ts, l(i)cences;
    • ((i)(i)) look(i)ng for land, prem(i)ses, mach(i)nery, suppl(i)es, farm(i)ng (i)nputs;
    • ((i)(i)(i)) seek(i)ng the ass(i)stance of fr(i)ends, relat(i)ves or other types of (i)ntermed(i)ar(i)es;
    • ((i)v) reg(i)ster(i)ng w(i)th or contact(i)ng publ(i)c or pr(i)vate employment serv(i)ces;
    • (v) apply(i)ng to employers d(i)rectly, check(i)ng at works(i)tes, farms, factory gates, markets or other assembly places;
    • (v(i)) plac(i)ng or answer(i)ng newspaper or onl(i)ne job advert(i)sements;
    • (v(i)(i)) plac(i)ng or updat(i)ng résumés on profess(i)onal or soc(i)al network(i)ng s(i)tes onl(i)ne;
  • (c) the po(i)nt when the enterpr(i)se starts to ex(i)st should be used to d(i)st(i)ngu(i)sh between search act(i)v(i)t(i)es a(i)med at sett(i)ng up a bus(i)ness and the work act(i)v(i)ty (i)tself, as ev(i)denced by the enterpr(i)se’s reg(i)strat(i)on to operate or by when f(i)nanc(i)al resources become ava(i)lable, the necessary (i)nfrastructure or mater(i)als are (i)n place or the f(i)rst cl(i)ent or order (i)s rece(i)ved, depend(i)ng on the context;
  • (d) “currently ava(i)lable” serves as a test of read(i)ness to start a job (i)n the present, assessed w(i)th respect to a short reference per(i)od compr(i)s(i)ng that used to measure employment:
    • ((i) ) depend(i)ng on nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances, the reference per(i)od may be extended to (i)nclude a short subsequent per(i)od not exceed(i)ng two weeks (i)n total, so as to ensure adequate coverage of unemployment s(i)tuat(i)ons among d(i)fferent populat(i)on groups.

48. Included (i)n unemployment are:

  • (a) future starters def(i)ned as persons “not (i)n employment” and “currently ava(i)lable” who d(i)d not “seek employment”, as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 47, because they had already made arrangements to start a job w(i)th(i)n a short subsequent per(i)od, set accord(i)ng to the general length of wa(i)t(i)ng t(i)me for start(i)ng a new job (i)n the nat(i)onal context but generally not greater than three months;
  • (b) part(i)c(i)pants (i)n sk(i)lls tra(i)n(i)ng or retra(i)n(i)ng schemes w(i)th(i)n employment promot(i)on programmes, who on that bas(i)s, were “not (i)n employment”, not “currently ava(i)lable” and d(i)d not “seek employment” because they had a job offer to start w(i)th(i)n a short subsequent per(i)od generally not greater than three months;
  • (c) persons “not (i)n employment” who carr(i)ed out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to m(i)grate abroad (i)n order to work for pay or prof(i)t but who were st(i)ll wa(i)t(i)ng for the opportun(i)ty to leave.

49. For a structural analys(i)s of unemployment (i)t may be useful to collect (i)nformat(i)on on the durat(i)on of the search for employment, measured from when unemployed persons began carry(i)ng out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to “seek employment”, or from the end of the(i)r last job, wh(i)chever (i)s shorter.

50. Among persons (i)n unemployment, (i)t may be useful to (i)dent(i)fy separately those (i)n long-term unemployment def(i)ned as those w(i)th a durat(i)on of search for employment, as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 49, last(i)ng 12 months or more, (i)nclud(i)ng the reference per(i)od. To mon(i)tor pol(i)c(i)es related to prov(i)s(i)on of soc(i)al benef(i)ts, a shorter durat(i)on l(i)m(i)t may be used ((i).e. s(i)x months or more).

Potent(i)al labour force (entrants)

51. Potent(i)al labour force (i)s def(i)ned as all persons of work(i)ng age who, dur(i)ng the short reference per(i)od, were ne(i)ther (i)n employment nor (i)n unemployment and:

  • (a) carr(i)ed out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to “seek employment”, were not “currently ava(i)lable” but would become ava(i)lable w(i)th(i)n a short subsequent per(i)od establ(i)shed (i)n the l(i)ght of nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances ((i).e. unava(i)lable jobseekers); or
  • (b) d(i)d not carry out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to “seek employment”, but wanted employment and were “currently ava(i)lable” ((i).e. ava(i)lable potent(i)al jobseekers).

52. Among those (i)n paragraph 51(b) (i)t may be useful to (i)dent(i)fy separately d(i)scouraged jobseekers, compr(i)s(i)ng those who d(i)d not “seek employment” for labour market-related reasons as l(i)sted (i)n paragraph 80(b).

53. A separate group w(i)th an expressed (i)nterest (i)n employment not (i)ncluded w(i)th(i)n the potent(i)al labour force but relevant for soc(i)al and gender analys(i)s (i)n spec(i)f(i)c contexts (i)s the w(i)ll(i)ng non-jobseekers, def(i)ned as persons “not (i)n employment” who wanted employment but d(i)d not “seek employment” and were not “currently ava(i)lable”.

54. In order to (i)dent(i)fy the two categor(i)es of the potent(i)al labour force as well as the w(i)ll(i)ng non-jobseekers, quest(i)ons on act(i)v(i)t(i)es to “seek employment” and “current ava(i)lab(i)l(i)ty” should be asked of all persons “not (i)n employment” (i)n the short reference per(i)od. The quest(i)on to determ(i)ne whether persons wanted employment should only be asked to those who d(i)d not carry out act(i)v(i)t(i)es to “seek employment”.

55. For purposes of comput(i)ng (i)nd(i)cators of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on (LU3 and LU4 as def(i)ned (i)n paragraph 73(c)), the reference populat(i)on used (i)s the extended labour force, def(i)ned as the sum of the labour force plus the potent(i)al labour force.

Programmes of data collect(i)on

Strateg(i)es for data collect(i)on and report(i)ng frequency

56. To meet the need for (i)nformat(i)on to mon(i)tor labour markets and work patterns, a nat(i)onal data collect(i)on strategy should be establ(i)shed that allows for d(i)fferent sets of stat(i)st(i)cs to be reported, as relevant, on:

  • (a) a sub-annual bas(i)s, ma(i)n aggregates of employment, the labour force, labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on, (i)nclud(i)ng unemployment, and subs(i)stence foodstuff producers, (i)n order to mon(i)tor short-term trends and seasonal var(i)at(i)ons (e.g. h(i)gh and low season, quarterly);
  • (b) an annual bas(i)s, deta(i)led stat(i)st(i)cs of the labour force and of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on, (i)nclud(i)ng unemployment, that perm(i)t the structural analys(i)s of labour markets and stat(i)st(i)cs of work(i)ng t(i)me (i)n relat(i)on to the total number of jobs/work act(i)v(i)t(i)es contr(i)but(i)ng to product(i)on w(i)th(i)n the SNA product(i)on boundary (i)n order to comp(i)le nat(i)onal accounts;
  • (c) a less frequent bas(i)s, depend(i)ng on nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances, for the purpose of (i)n-depth analys(i)s, benchmark(i)ng and comprehens(i)ve macro-soc(i)o-econom(i)c est(i)mat(i)ons, stat(i)st(i)cs on:
    • ((i) ) part(i)c(i)pat(i)on and work(i)ng t(i)me (i)n own-use product(i)on work, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and volunteer work;
    • ((i)(i)) part(i)cular top(i)cs, such as labour m(i)grat(i)on, ch(i)ld labour, trans(i)t(i)on (i)n and out of employment, youth, gender (i)ssues (i)n work, household character(i)st(i)cs, work (i)n rural areas, the relat(i)onsh(i)p between employment, (i)ncome and other econom(i)c and soc(i)al character(i)st(i)cs, etc.

Measurement over short and long observat(i)on per(i)ods

57. Stat(i)st(i)cs that support the analys(i)s of short-term trends and of the s(i)tuat(i)on of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals and the economy over a long observat(i)on per(i)od such as a year, may be produced by means of d(i)fferent data collect(i)on approaches:

  • (a) Measurement of the current s(i)tuat(i)on dur(i)ng the short reference per(i)ods spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 19, repeated over a long observat(i)on per(i)od, (i)s recommended to ach(i)eve opt(i)mal coverage of seasonal and other temporal var(i)at(i)ons (i)n work act(i)v(i)ty patterns for purposes of produc(i)ng sub-annual and annual est(i)mates for short-term trend and structural analyses. In part(i)cular:
    • ((i) ) repeated measurement by means e(i)ther of populat(i)on reg(i)sters w(i)th (i)nd(i)v(i)dual-level data or household surveys w(i)th panel samples or subsamples perm(i)ts the assessment of the current and long-term s(i)tuat(i)on of both (i)nd(i)v(i)duals and the economy;
    • ((i)(i)) measurement by means of a one-t(i)me survey w(i)th nat(i)onally representat(i)ve sample spread over the durat(i)on of the long observat(i)on per(i)od perm(i)ts assessments at the level of the economy.
  • (b) Where frequent data collect(i)on (i)s not poss(i)ble, the a(i)m should be to progress(i)vely (i)ncrease data collect(i)on (i)n the year so as to prov(i)de est(i)mates for at least the h(i)gh/low seasons, rather than expand(i)ng the reference per(i)ods of measurement.
  • (c) Alternat(i)vely, a one-t(i)me cross-sect(i)onal survey can be used to produce both current and annual est(i)mates comb(i)n(i)ng the recommended short reference per(i)od, as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 19, w(i)th retrospect(i)ve recall over a long observat(i)on per(i)od. Th(i)s serves to approx(i)mate levels of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on and related work(i)ng t(i)me (i)n employment, own-use product(i)on of goods, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and volunteer work. In such case, the long observat(i)on per(i)od and recall method used should be chosen so as to reduce respondent burden and memory recall errors to the extent poss(i)ble:
    • ((i) ) the long observat(i)on per(i)od may refer to the last 12 months, calendar year, agr(i)cultural, educat(i)on or tour(i)st season or any other season relevant to nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances;
    • ((i)(i)) retrospect(i)ve recall may relate to short, (i)nd(i)v(i)dual t(i)me per(i)ods (e.g. month-by-month) or to jobs/work act(i)v(i)t(i)es so as to establ(i)sh part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n the d(i)fferent forms of work based on broad categor(i)es of part-t(i)me/full-t(i)me ((i)nstead of the one-hour cr(i)ter(i)on); or to a s(i)ngle recall over the ent(i)re per(i)od so as to establ(i)sh the ma(i)n form of work of persons as recommended (i)n paragraph 17.

58. Measurement over a long observat(i)on per(i)od, part(i)cularly the last 12 months or calendar year, (i)s espec(i)ally (i)mportant for nat(i)onal accounts est(i)mates and to assess the relat(i)onsh(i)p of work stat(i)st(i)cs w(i)th other econom(i)c and soc(i)al stat(i)st(i)cs that use a long observat(i)on per(i)od, such as stat(i)st(i)cs on household (i)ncome, poverty, soc(i)al exclus(i)on and educat(i)on.

59. Countr(i)es us(i)ng repeated measurement or retrospect(i)ve recall on a per(i)od-by-per(i)od bas(i)s should a(i)m to:

  • (a) measure gross labour market flows (on a monthly, quarterly and/or yearly bas(i)s) reflect(i)ng nat(i)onal pol(i)cy pr(i)or(i)t(i)es, (i)n order to shed l(i)ght on labour market dynam(i)cs, job stab(i)l(i)ty and trans(i)t(i)ons between the d(i)fferent labour force statuses, status (i)n employment, forms of work, etc.; and
  • (b) prepare summary stat(i)st(i)cs by means of aggregat(i)on or averag(i)ng across the d(i)fferent per(i)ods, as appropr(i)ate, (i)n order to descr(i)be the s(i)tuat(i)on of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals and of the economy over a long observat(i)on per(i)od, for example, long-term employment s(i)tuat(i)on of persons and annual employment est(i)mates.

Populat(i)on coverage

60. In general, stat(i)st(i)cs of work should cover the res(i)dent populat(i)on compr(i)s(i)ng all persons who are usual res(i)dents of the country, regardless of sex, country of or(i)g(i)n, nat(i)onal(i)ty, c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p or geograph(i)c locat(i)on of the(i)r place of work. Th(i)s (i)ncludes usual res(i)dents who work outs(i)de the country (e.g. cross-border workers, seasonal workers, other short-term m(i)grant workers, volunteer workers, nomads).

61. In countr(i)es w(i)th a s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant (i)n-flow of short-term or temporary m(i)grant workers, employment stat(i)st(i)cs should be supplemented to the extent poss(i)ble w(i)th (i)nformat(i)on about the employment character(i)st(i)cs of non-usual res(i)dents work(i)ng (i)n the nat(i)onal terr(i)tory, so as to perm(i)t analys(i)s of the(i)r s(i)tuat(i)on and (i)mpact on the labour market.

62. For complete nat(i)onal product(i)on accounts, volume of work should cover all forms of work performed by persons work(i)ng (i)n res(i)dent producer un(i)ts, regardless of sex, country of or(i)g(i)n, nat(i)onal(i)ty, c(i)t(i)zensh(i)p or place of usual res(i)dence. Th(i)s compr(i)ses all jobs/work act(i)v(i)t(i)es, whether ma(i)n or secondary, (i)nclud(i)ng those performed by non-usual res(i)dents work(i)ng (i)n res(i)dent producer un(i)ts.

63. In spec(i)fy(i)ng the concepts of usual res(i)dence and res(i)dent producer un(i)ts, countr(i)es should a(i)m to ma(i)nta(i)n coherence w(i)th (i)nternat(i)onal standards for populat(i)on stat(i)st(i)cs and the system of nat(i)onal accounts. In pr(i)nc(i)ple, therefore, the scope of the stat(i)st(i)cs (i)ncludes the populat(i)on l(i)v(i)ng (i)n pr(i)vate households and (i)n collect(i)ve l(i)v(i)ng quarters, cover(i)ng both the c(i)v(i)l(i)an populat(i)on and the armed forces. Countr(i)es should endeavour to use all ava(i)lable sources to produce stat(i)st(i)cs w(i)th the w(i)dest populat(i)on coverage.

Age l(i)m(i)ts

64. In pr(i)nc(i)ple, the nat(i)onal system of work stat(i)st(i)cs w(i)ll cover the work act(i)v(i)t(i)es of the populat(i)on (i)n all age groups. To serve d(i)fferent pol(i)cy concerns, separate stat(i)st(i)cs are needed for the work(i)ng-age populat(i)on and, where relevant, for ch(i)ldren (i)n product(i)ve act(i)v(i)t(i)es as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n the (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards on the top(i)c.

65. To determ(i)ne the work(i)ng-age populat(i)on:

  • (a) the lower age l(i)m(i)t should be set tak(i)ng (i)nto cons(i)derat(i)on the m(i)n(i)mum age for employment and except(i)ons spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n nat(i)onal laws or regulat(i)ons, or the age of complet(i)on of compulsory school(i)ng;
  • (b) no upper age l(i)m(i)t should be set, so as to perm(i)t comprehens(i)ve coverage of work act(i)v(i)t(i)es of the adult populat(i)on and to exam(i)ne trans(i)t(i)ons between employment and ret(i)rement.

66. The lower age l(i)m(i)t for the collect(i)on of stat(i)st(i)cs, however, may d(i)ffer accord(i)ng to whether or not a separate programme ex(i)sts for ch(i)ld labour stat(i)st(i)cs.

Sources

67. Stat(i)st(i)cs of work may be comp(i)led us(i)ng a s(i)ngle or a var(i)ety of data sources. In general, household-based surveys are best su(i)ted for collect(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of work and of the labour force cover(i)ng the res(i)dent populat(i)on, the(i)r part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n all jobs and (i)n all forms of work – (i)n part(i)cular, work (i)n the (i)nformal economy, own-use product(i)on work, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and volunteer work.

  • (a) Labour force surveys are the ma(i)n source of stat(i)st(i)cs for mon(i)tor(i)ng labour markets, labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on (i)nclud(i)ng unemployment, and the qual(i)ty of jobs and work(i)ng cond(i)t(i)ons of persons (i)n employment and (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work. They are also a useful source when the object(i)ve (i)s to capture general patterns of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on of the populat(i)on (i)n d(i)fferent forms of work. For these purposes, short add-on modules or supplements on own-use product(i)on work, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and volunteer work may be attached to labour force surveys for complet(i)on by all or a subsample of respondents on a per(i)od(i)c or cont(i)nuous bas(i)s, as appropr(i)ate, w(i)th due regard to respondent burden and overall survey qual(i)ty, (i)nclud(i)ng sampl(i)ng and non-sampl(i)ng errors.
  • (b) Spec(i)al(i)zed household surveys on top(i)cs such as t(i)me-use, educat(i)on and tra(i)n(i)ng, volunteer(i)ng, agr(i)culture, ch(i)ld labour and labour m(i)grat(i)on may be more appropr(i)ate for comprehens(i)ve measurement and (i)n-depth analys(i)s of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n spec(i)f(i)c forms of work, or for focus(i)ng on part(i)cular subgroups of the populat(i)on. T(i)me-use surveys, (i)n part(i)cular, are a ma(i)n source of stat(i)st(i)cs on part(i)c(i)pat(i)on and t(i)me spent (i)n own-use product(i)on work and volunteer work for purposes of (i)nd(i)v(i)dual, household and macroeconom(i)c level analyses. The(i)r methodology, based on the use of deta(i)led t(i)me d(i)ar(i)es to record how respondents allocate the(i)r t(i)me over d(i)fferent act(i)v(i)t(i)es performed dur(i)ng one or several 24-hour days for a g(i)ven reference per(i)od, makes them part(i)cularly well-su(i)ted to capture work and non-work act(i)v(i)t(i)es performed s(i)multaneously or (i)nterm(i)ttently. They are thus a potent(i)ally useful source (i)n develop(i)ng est(i)mates of total work(i)ng t(i)me that cover the d(i)fferent forms of work. They may also be used for assess(i)ng the qual(i)ty of est(i)mates on employment and volume of work der(i)ved from other surveys, and for ref(i)n(i)ng other household-based survey quest(i)onna(i)res.
  • (c) General household surveys cover(i)ng related top(i)cs such as l(i)v(i)ng standards, household (i)ncome and expend(i)ture, and household budget can be used to meet the need for stat(i)st(i)cs of work and of the labour force by means of the (i)nclus(i)on of ded(i)cated modules, (i)n so far as the sample perm(i)ts computat(i)on of est(i)mates w(i)th an adequate level of prec(i)s(i)on. They are a cost-effect(i)ve alternat(i)ve when a ded(i)cated labour force survey (i)s not feas(i)ble and are an (i)mportant source to support analys(i)s of the relat(i)onsh(i)p between d(i)fferent forms of work and household l(i)vel(i)hoods, poverty and other econom(i)c and soc(i)al outcomes. Other household surveys that focus ma(i)nly on a top(i)c not d(i)rectly concerned w(i)th work, such as health and hous(i)ng, may serve to produce, (i)n part(i)cular, measures of employment, of labour force status or of ma(i)n form of work (i)n a short or long reference per(i)od, as explanatory var(i)ables.
  • (d) The populat(i)on census (i)s a ma(i)n source of stat(i)st(i)cs for benchmark(i)ng purposes, for prepar(i)ng sampl(i)ng frames for household surveys and for produc(i)ng est(i)mates for small geograph(i)c areas and small groups. Th(i)s (i)s part(i)cularly pert(i)nent (i)n respect of non-nat(i)onals l(i)v(i)ng (i)n the country, persons l(i)v(i)ng (i)n collect(i)ve l(i)v(i)ng quarters and persons w(i)thout f(i)xed prem(i)ses, as well as of deta(i)led occupat(i)onal groups. Quest(i)onna(i)re space and operat(i)onal cons(i)derat(i)ons, however, place a l(i)m(i)t on the work-related top(i)cs (i)ncluded, so measurement may be conf(i)ned to core quest(i)ons establ(i)sh(i)ng the labour force status and ma(i)n form of work of the populat(i)on and captur(i)ng essent(i)al character(i)st(i)cs of persons (i)n employment, (i)n own-use product(i)on work, and (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work, (i)n accordance w(i)th the latest (i)nternat(i)onal recommendat(i)ons for th(i)s source.

68. Adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve records, when developed for use as a stat(i)st(i)cal source, may be useful for produc(i)ng frequent and deta(i)led stat(i)st(i)cs to support analys(i)s of flows. Reg(i)sters such as those based on employment serv(i)ces, pens(i)on schemes, soc(i)al secur(i)ty and tax systems, and vocat(i)onal educat(i)on and tra(i)n(i)ng programmes prov(i)de stat(i)st(i)cs for persons covered by the scheme or reg(i)ster concerned for reference per(i)ods of one month, quarter or year. Depend(i)ng on nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances, the stat(i)st(i)cs may cover employed persons (i)n formal market and non-market un(i)ts, part(i)c(i)pants (i)n employment promot(i)on programmes, (i)n pa(i)d and unpa(i)d apprent(i)cesh(i)p schemes, and (i)n organ(i)zed pa(i)d and unpa(i)d tra(i)neesh(i)p programmes, as well as rec(i)p(i)ents of unemployment benef(i)ts. Stat(i)st(i)cs on usual res(i)dents who are cross-border workers, short-term workers or contract m(i)grant workers abroad may be obta(i)ned from overseas employment adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ons, and on work perm(i)t holders from labour off(i)ces.

69. Econom(i)c censuses are essent(i)al to develop l(i)st and area-based frames for establ(i)shment surveys. Establ(i)shment surveys are a relevant source of stat(i)st(i)cs, part(i)cularly on employees, (i)nclud(i)ng on non-usual res(i)dents work(i)ng (i)n res(i)dent producer un(i)ts, for reference per(i)ods of a week, month, year or other pay per(i)od. Along w(i)th adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve records, they are essent(i)al for produc(i)ng est(i)mates of total jobs by (i)ndustry (i)n the country, of job vacanc(i)es, of employee earn(i)ngs and of labour costs. In add(i)t(i)on, these surveys const(i)tute a potent(i)al source of (i)nformat(i)on on apprent(i)cesh(i)ps, (i)nternsh(i)ps and tra(i)neesh(i)ps, and on organ(i)zat(i)on-based volunteer(i)ng.

70. These d(i)fferent stat(i)st(i)cal sources should be treated as complementary, to be used (i)n comb(i)nat(i)on (i)n order to der(i)ve comprehens(i)ve sets of stat(i)st(i)cs, where feas(i)ble. The nat(i)onal programme of stat(i)st(i)cs should seek to ensure the use of common concepts, def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons and of overlapp(i)ng reference per(i)ods and should assess the coherence and comparab(i)l(i)ty of the results.

Ind(i)cators

71. A set of (i)nd(i)cators that serves the pr(i)nc(i)pal object(i)ves of the stat(i)st(i)cs should be selected by countr(i)es for d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on accord(i)ng to the relevant report(i)ng per(i)od(i)c(i)t(i)es, as recommended (i)n paragraph 56. Ind(i)cators should be computed for the populat(i)on as a whole and d(i)saggregated by sex, spec(i)f(i)ed age groups ((i)nclud(i)ng separate categor(i)es for youth), level of educat(i)onal atta(i)nment, geograph(i)c reg(i)on, urban and rural areas, and other relevant character(i)st(i)cs tak(i)ng account of the stat(i)st(i)cal prec(i)s(i)on of the est(i)mates.

72. To reflect nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances, the set should compr(i)se selected (i)nd(i)cators from among the three groups (i)dent(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraph 73 to mon(i)tor labour market performance, part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n own-use product(i)on work, unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work, volunteer work, and for assess(i)ng volume of work.

73. The three groups of (i)nd(i)cators for mon(i)tor(i)ng labour market performance are:

LU1: Unemployment rate:
[persons (i)n unemployment / labour force] x 100

LU2: Comb(i)ned rate of t(i)me-related underemployment and unemployment:
[(persons (i)n t(i)me-related underemployment + persons (i)n unemployment) / labour force] x 100

LU3: Comb(i)ned rate of unemployment and potent(i)al labour force:3
[(persons (i)n unemployment + potent(i)al labour force) / (extended labour force)] x 100

LU4: Compos(i)te measure of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on:
[(persons (i)n t(i)me-related underemployment + persons (i)n unemployment + potent(i)al labour force) / (extended labour force)] x 100

74. Ind(i)cators for the populat(i)on of work(i)ng age (i)n own-use product(i)on work, (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work and (i)n volunteer work (i)nclude:

  • (a) headcounts, part(i)c(i)pat(i)on rates and volume measures by act(i)v(i)ty cluster of own-use producers of goods;
  • (b) headcounts, part(i)c(i)pat(i)on rates and volume measures by act(i)v(i)ty cluster of own-use prov(i)ders of serv(i)ces;
  • (c) headcounts, part(i)c(i)pat(i)on rates and volume measures by programme type of unpa(i)d tra(i)nees;
  • (d) headcounts, part(i)c(i)pat(i)on rates and volume measures by type of econom(i)c un(i)t (market un(i)ts/non-market un(i)ts/households) of volunteer workers.

75. Ind(i)cators of volume of work should be prepared (i)n accordance w(i)th the (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards on work(i)ng t(i)me, for each form of work and for work act(i)v(i)t(i)es:

  • (a) w(i)th(i)n the 2008 SNA product(i)on boundary;
  • (b) beyond the 2008 SNA product(i)on boundary but (i)ns(i)de the General product(i)on boundary.

76. As part of the nat(i)onal (i)nd(i)cator set, countr(i)es should (i)nclude, add(i)t(i)onal measures for mon(i)tor(i)ng labour market performance relat(i)ng to, (i)n part(i)cular:

77. To mon(i)tor work(i)ng cond(i)t(i)ons and the relat(i)onsh(i)p between the d(i)fferent forms of work, poverty and l(i)vel(i)hoods, countr(i)es should endeavour to compute on a regular bas(i)s (i)nd(i)cators relat(i)ng to decent work and qual(i)ty of employment, (i)n l(i)ne w(i)th emerg(i)ng pol(i)cy needs, (i)n part(i)cular measures of (i)ncome poverty and (i)nequal(i)ty such as rates of low pay and work(i)ng poor, and d(i)str(i)but(i)on of (i)ncome.

Tabulat(i)on and analys(i)s

78. Stat(i)st(i)cs of work should be systemat(i)cally tabulated by s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant character(i)st(i)cs, part(i)cularly sex, spec(i)f(i)ed age groups, level of educat(i)onal atta(i)nment and by reg(i)on, (i)nclud(i)ng urban and rural areas.

79. For a descr(i)pt(i)ve analys(i)s of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n the labour market, tabulat(i)ons should be prepared of:

80. For analys(i)s of persons outs(i)de the labour force, the follow(i)ng alternat(i)ve class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons may be used separately or (i)n comb(i)nat(i)on to shed l(i)ght on spec(i)f(i)c subgroups affected by d(i)scouragement or by gender-based, econom(i)c or soc(i)al barr(i)ers to employment:

  • (a) degree of labour market attachment of persons outs(i)de the labour force:
    • ((i) ) persons “seek(i)ng employment” but not “currently ava(i)lable”;
    • ((i)(i)) persons not “seek(i)ng employment” but “currently ava(i)lable”;
    • ((i)(i)(i)) persons ne(i)ther “seek(i)ng employment” nor “currently ava(i)lable” but who want employment;
    • ((i)v) persons ne(i)ther “seek(i)ng employment” nor “currently ava(i)lable” who do not want employment;
  • (b) ma(i)n reason for not “seek(i)ng employment”, not be(i)ng “currently ava(i)lable” or not want(i)ng employment: personal reasons (own (i)llness, d(i)sab(i)l(i)ty, stud(i)es); fam(i)ly-related reasons (pregnancy, presence of small ch(i)ldren, refusal by fam(i)ly); labour market reasons (past fa(i)lure to f(i)nd a su(i)table job, lack of exper(i)ence, qual(i)f(i)cat(i)ons or jobs match(i)ng the person’s sk(i)lls, lack of jobs (i)n the area, cons(i)dered too young or too old by prospect(i)ve employers); lack of (i)nfrastructure (assets, roads, transportat(i)on, employment serv(i)ces); other sources of (i)ncome (pens(i)ons, rents); soc(i)al exclus(i)on;
  • (c) ma(i)n act(i)v(i)ty status, as self-declared, (i)n the follow(i)ng categor(i)es: own-use product(i)on of goods; own-use prov(i)s(i)on of serv(i)ces; unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work; volunteer work; stud(i)es; self-care (due to (i)llness or d(i)sab(i)l(i)ty); le(i)sure act(i)v(i)t(i)es (soc(i)al, cultural, recreat(i)onal).

81. For analys(i)s of the character(i)st(i)cs and cond(i)t(i)ons of work of persons (i)n unpa(i)d tra(i)nee work, tabulat(i)ons may be prepared by (i)ndustry, occupat(i)on, spec(i)f(i)ed work(i)ng-t(i)me hour bands, programme type and length, contract character(i)st(i)cs and coverage, ex(i)stence of part(i)c(i)pat(i)on fees and nature of cert(i)f(i)cat(i)on.

82. For part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n own-use product(i)on work and (i)n volunteer work and for assessments of the(i)r contr(i)but(i)on to the economy tabulat(i)ons should be presented by act(i)v(i)ty clusters and by spec(i)f(i)ed work(i)ng t(i)me hour bands; (i)n the case of volunteer work, they should also be presented by type of econom(i)c un(i)t (market un(i)ts/non-market un(i)ts/households).

83. Persons (i)n own-use product(i)on work may usefully be class(i)f(i)ed as:

  • (a) own-use producers of both goods and serv(i)ces;
  • (b) own-use prov(i)ders of serv(i)ces who do not produce any goods; or
  • (c) own-use producers of goods who do not prov(i)de any serv(i)ces.

84. To shed l(i)ght on the(i)r (i)ntegrat(i)on (i)nto the labour market, tabulat(i)ons of persons (i)n own-use product(i)on work, of subs(i)stence foodstuff producers and of persons (i)n volunteer work are needed by the(i)r labour force status, labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on category and related character(i)st(i)cs.

85. For macroeconom(i)c purposes and to (i)nform labour and other soc(i)al pol(i)c(i)es related to qual(i)ty of employment, tabulat(i)ons of the total number of jobs (i)n res(i)dent producer un(i)ts are needed by selected character(i)st(i)cs, (i)n part(i)cular by (i)ndustry, spec(i)f(i)ed work(i)ng-t(i)me hour bands and by type of econom(i)c un(i)t (formal market un(i)ts/(i)nformal market un(i)ts/non-market un(i)ts/households).

86. S(i)nce part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n employment and (i)n other forms of work often depends on fam(i)ly or household-level character(i)st(i)cs, part(i)cularly (i)n rural areas of develop(i)ng countr(i)es where work (i)s largely organ(i)zed on a household or extended fam(i)ly bas(i)s, (i)t (i)s essent(i)al to prepare tabulat(i)ons for:

  • (a) persons (i)n employment, by mar(i)tal status and by presence of dependents or persons requ(i)r(i)ng care (young ch(i)ldren, the elderly, others);
  • (b) households, by number of work(i)ng-age members accord(i)ng to the(i)r labour force status and ma(i)n form of work, by ma(i)n sources of (i)ncome ((i)ncome from self-employment, from wage employment, from own-use product(i)on work, and other sources), by bands of household (i)ncome;
  • (c) households w(i)thout members (i)n employment and households w(i)th members who are subs(i)stence foodstuff producers, by s(i)ze, compos(i)t(i)on, ma(i)n sources of (i)ncome and other relevant econom(i)c and soc(i)al character(i)st(i)cs.

Evaluat(i)on, commun(i)cat(i)on and d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on

87. In produc(i)ng work stat(i)st(i)cs, countr(i)es should adhere to stat(i)st(i)cal standards and other requ(i)rements as set out (i)n the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons Fundamental Pr(i)nc(i)ples of Off(i)c(i)al Stat(i)st(i)cs and the Gu(i)del(i)nes concern(i)ng d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on pract(i)ces for labour stat(i)st(i)cs endorsed by the 16th Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans (1998).

88. To fac(i)l(i)tate and promote a careful (i)nterpretat(i)on of the stat(i)st(i)cal results produced as part of the nat(i)onal programme of stat(i)st(i)cs, procedures should be put (i)n place to mon(i)tor the qual(i)ty of the stat(i)st(i)cal product(i)on process from plann(i)ng and des(i)gn to data collect(i)on, process(i)ng, est(i)mat(i)on and d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on, and to (i)nd(i)cate when changes (i)n t(i)me ser(i)es are of stat(i)st(i)cal s(i)gn(i)f(i)cance.

89. The (i)mplementat(i)on of a sound, publ(i)c(i)zed commun(i)cat(i)on strategy to d(i)ssem(i)nate off(i)c(i)al stat(i)st(i)cs (i)nvolv(i)ng government, soc(i)al partners and the publ(i)c (i)s as (i)mportant as the data collect(i)on programmes themselves. Th(i)s strategy must ensure that stat(i)st(i)cs of work are made ava(i)lable by the off(i)c(i)al stat(i)st(i)cal agency on an (i)mpart(i)al bas(i)s to all users of the stat(i)st(i)cs, (i)nclud(i)ng other government un(i)ts.

90. Off(i)c(i)al stat(i)st(i)cs on d(i)fferent forms of work, on the labour force and on labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on should be d(i)ssem(i)nated (i)n a var(i)ety of formats, (i)nclud(i)ng electron(i)c to the extent poss(i)ble and perm(i)ss(i)ble. They may be released (i)n stages, w(i)th rap(i)d, prel(i)m(i)nary reports for ma(i)n aggregates, followed by full reports of the deta(i)led, f(i)nal stat(i)st(i)cs (i)n recommended tabulat(i)ons. Ex(i)st(i)ng publ(i)c-use f(i)les that guarantee the conf(i)dent(i)al(i)ty of persons and establ(i)shments ((i).e. anonym(i)zed, conf(i)dent(i)al(i)zed m(i)cro-datasets) should also be made ava(i)lable to analysts and other (i)nterested users.

91. To enhance the transparency of the stat(i)st(i)cs, whether produced on a sub-annual, annual or less frequent bas(i)s, countr(i)es are urged to report them accompan(i)ed by the appropr(i)ate methodolog(i)cal (i)nformat(i)on, w(i)th part(i)cular regard to: scope and coverage; concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons; data collect(i)on methods used; sample s(i)ze and des(i)gn, where relevant; any est(i)mat(i)on or adjustment methods, (i)nclud(i)ng seasonal adjustments or (i)mputat(i)on procedures; and, where poss(i)ble, measures of data qual(i)ty and prec(i)s(i)on, (i)nclud(i)ng response rates, relat(i)ve standard errors that account for complex survey des(i)gns, where relevant, and non-sampl(i)ng errors.

92. The (i)mpact of rev(i)s(i)ons, new t(i)me ser(i)es or (i)nd(i)cators der(i)v(i)ng from th(i)s resolut(i)on and of changes (i)n h(i)stor(i)cal ser(i)es should be evaluated over a spec(i)f(i)ed per(i)od of t(i)me before the(i)r release. They should be adequately (i)nd(i)cated and documented, (i)nclud(i)ng through publ(i)cat(i)on of dual est(i)mates or ser(i)es, for at least one year, follow(i)ng the(i)r (i)mplementat(i)on.

Internat(i)onal report(i)ng

93.

For (i)nternat(i)onal report(i)ng, countr(i)es should rout(i)nely report stat(i)st(i)cs of work and the labour force, (i)n part(i)cular headl(i)ne (i)nd(i)cators of labour underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on (from among LU1, LU2, LU3 and LU4) for the populat(i)on as a whole, by sex, by urban/rural areas and, to the extent poss(i)ble, by broad levels of educat(i)onal atta(i)nment and by standard age ranges. F(i)ve-year age bands should be used for the ma(i)n aggregates, where the lowest age bracket refers to persons aged 15–19 years and the h(i)ghest age bracket to persons aged 75 years and above. Where concerns regard(i)ng the prec(i)s(i)on of the est(i)mates (i)mpede d(i)saggregat(i)on by f(i)ve-year age bands, broader bands may be used; (i)n all cases these should (i)nclude 15–24 years, 25–34 years, 35–54 years, 55–64 years, 65–74 years and 75 years and above.

94. The class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons appl(i)ed to the stat(i)st(i)cs of work and of the labour force should adhere to, or be convert(i)ble to, the most recent vers(i)on of (i)nternat(i)onal standard class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons, such as the Internat(i)onal Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Status (i)n Employment (ICSE), the Internat(i)onal Standard Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Occupat(i)ons (ISCO), the Internat(i)onal Standard Industr(i)al Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of All Econom(i)c Act(i)v(i)t(i)es (ISIC), the Internat(i)onal Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Act(i)v(i)t(i)es for T(i)me-Use Stat(i)st(i)cs (ICATUS), the Internat(i)onal Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Non-prof(i)t Organ(i)zat(i)ons (ICNPO), and the Internat(i)onal Standard Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Educat(i)on (ISCED), as appropr(i)ate.

95. To enhance and promote the transparency and comparab(i)l(i)ty of stat(i)st(i)cs reported (i)nternat(i)onally, countr(i)es are urged to comp(i)le and d(i)ssem(i)nate adequate (i)nformat(i)on on the source, coverage and methodolog(i)es used, (i)nclud(i)ng nat(i)onal concepts, def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and reference per(i)ods, not(i)ng any departures from the relevant (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards. Countr(i)es should, therefore, des(i)gn or adjust the(i)r data collect(i)on and process(i)ng procedures so as to perm(i)t them to document fully any d(i)fferences between relevant nat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal or adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and th(i)s resolut(i)on and, where poss(i)ble, to compute and report ma(i)n aggregates on the bas(i)s of both the nat(i)onal and the (i)nternat(i)onal def(i)n(i)t(i)ons.

Future work

96.

To promote the (i)mplementat(i)on of th(i)s resolut(i)on, the ILO should carry out (i)ts work through a collaborat(i)ve mechan(i)sm between countr(i)es, (i)nternat(i)onal, reg(i)onal and subreg(i)onal organ(i)zat(i)ons, and workers’ and employers’ representat(i)ves, focused on:

  • (a) w(i)de d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on and commun(i)cat(i)on of these standards, the(i)r (i)mpact and (i)nterpretat(i)on;
  • (b) t(i)mely development of techn(i)cal manuals and model data collect(i)on (i)nstruments, to be made ava(i)lable (i)n the three off(i)c(i)al languages, and (i)n other languages w(i)th the support of partner (i)nst(i)tut(i)ons;
  • (c) further conduct of conceptual and methodolog(i)cal work (i)nclud(i)ng test(i)ng;
  • (d) shar(i)ng good pract(i)ce among countr(i)es;
  • (e) techn(i)cal ass(i)stance through tra(i)n(i)ng and capac(i)ty bu(i)ld(i)ng, espec(i)ally to nat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal agenc(i)es and relevant stat(i)st(i)cal serv(i)ces (i)n l(i)ne m(i)n(i)str(i)es; and
  • (f) analys(i)s and presentat(i)on of work stat(i)st(i)cs.

97. The ILO should, (i)n collaborat(i)on w(i)th (i)nterested countr(i)es, (i)nternat(i)onal, reg(i)onal and subreg(i)onal organ(i)zat(i)ons, and workers’ and employers’ representat(i)ves, cont(i)nue methodolog(i)cal work (i)n reference to th(i)s resolut(i)on, on the measurement of underut(i)l(i)zat(i)on or (i)nadequate employment related to sk(i)lls, to employment-related (i)ncome, and to excess(i)ve work(i)ng t(i)me and report to the 20th Internat(i)onal Conference of Labour Stat(i)st(i)c(i)ans, w(i)th a v(i)ew to adopt(i)ng future (i)nternat(i)onal stat(i)st(i)cal standards.

  1. ^ Here(i)nafter referred to as “countr(i)es”
  2. ^ That encompasses, as a subset, (i)nformal sector un(i)ts.
  3. ^ Replaces opt(i)onal relaxat(i)on of the “seek(i)ng work” cr(i)ter(i)on (i)n the prev(i)ous standards.