Recall(i)ng the ex(i)st(i)ng (i)nternat(i)onal standards concern(i)ng stat(i)st(i)cs of the labour force employment and unemployment conta(i)ned (i)n Resolut(i)on I adopted by the E(i)ghth Conference (1954) and concern(i)ng measurement and analys(i)s of underemployment and underut(i)l(i)sat(i)on of manpower conta(i)ned (i)n Resolut(i)on III adopted by the Eleventh Conference (1966),

Recogn(i)s(i)ng the need to rev(i)se and broaden the ex(i)st(i)ng standards (i)n order to enhance the(i)r usefulness (i)n the prov(i)s(i)on of techn(i)cal gu(i)del(i)nes to all countr(i)es and part(i)cularly those w(i)th less developed stat(i)st(i)cs and recogn(i)s(i)ng the usefulness of such standards (i)n enhanc(i)ng the (i)nternat(i)onal comparab(i)l(i)ty of the stat(i)st(i)cs,

Adopts th(i)s twenty-n(i)nth day of October 1982 the follow(i)ng resolut(i)on (i)n subst(i)tut(i)on for Resolut(i)on I of the E(i)ghth Conference and paragraphs 4 to 9 and 13 of Resolut(i)on III of the Eleventh Conference:

Object(i)ves and scope

1. Each country should a(i)m at develop(i)ng a comprehens(i)ve system of stat(i)st(i)cs on the econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty of the populat(i)on (i)n order to prov(i)de an adequate stat(i)st(i)cal base for the var(i)ous users of the stat(i)st(i)cs tak(i)ng account of the spec(i)f(i)c nat(i)onal needs and c(i)rcumstances. In part(i)cular the system should prov(i)de for needs (i)n connect(i)on w(i)th the measurement of the extent of ava(i)lable and unused labour t(i)me and human resources for purposes of macro-econom(i)c mon(i)tor(i)ng and human resources development plann(i)ng and the measurement of the relat(i)onsh(i)ps between employment (i)ncome and other soc(i)al and econom(i)c character(i)st(i)cs for purposes of formulat(i)ng and mon(i)tor(i)ng employment pol(i)c(i)es and programmes, (i)ncome-generat(i)ng and ma(i)ntenance schemes, vocat(i)onal tra(i)n(i)ng and other s(i)m(i)lar programmes.

2. In order to fulf(i)l the above object(i)ves the programme of stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on should (i)n pr(i)nc(i)ple cover all branches of econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty, all sectors of the economy and all status groups (employees, own-account workers, etc.) and should be developed to the fullest extent poss(i)ble (i)n harmony w(i)th other econom(i)c and soc(i)al stat(i)st(i)cs. The programme should spec(i)f(i)cally prov(i)de for both short-term and longer-term needs, (i).e. stat(i)st(i)cs for current purposes comp(i)led frequently on a recurrent bas(i)s and stat(i)st(i)cs comp(i)led at longer (i)ntervals for structural (i)n-depth analys(i)s and as benchmark data:

• (a) the current stat(i)st(i)cs programme should encompass stat(i)st(i)cs of the currently act(i)ve populat(i)on and (i)ts components (i)n such a way that trends and seasonal var(i)at(i)ons can be adequately mon(i)tored. As a m(i)n(i)mum programme, countr(i)es should collect and comp(i)le stat(i)st(i)cs on the currently act(i)ve populat(i)on tw(i)ce a year, (i)f poss(i)ble co(i)nc(i)d(i)ng w(i)th the agr(i)cultural peak and slack seasons wherever cons(i)dered appropr(i)ate;
• (b) the non-current stat(i)st(i)cs programme wh(i)ch may (i)nclude censuses and surveys should prov(i)de comprehens(i)ve data on the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, ((i)(i)) (i)n-depth stat(i)st(i)cs on the act(i)v(i)ty pattern of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on over the year and the relat(i)onsh(i)ps between employment, (i)ncome and other soc(i)al and econom(i)c character(i)st(i)cs, and ((i)(i)(i)) data on other part(i)cular top(i)cs (e.g. ch(i)ldren and youth, women, households) as determ(i)ned by the long-term and cont(i)nu(i)ng needs.

3. Populat(i)on censuses and sample surveys of households or (i)nd(i)v(i)duals generally const(i)tute a comprehens(i)ve means of collect(i)on of data on the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on wh(i)ch can be l(i)nked w(i)th data on other related top(i)cs. Establ(i)shment surveys and adm(i)n(i)strat(i)ve records may also serve as sources for obta(i)n(i)ng (i)n some cases more prec(i)se, more frequent and more deta(i)led stat(i)st(i)cs on part(i)cular components of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on. The d(i)fferent sources of (i)nformat(i)on should be regarded as complementary and may be used (i)n comb(i)nat(i)on for der(i)v(i)ng where necessary (i)ntegrated sets of stat(i)st(i)cs. In des(i)gn(i)ng populat(i)on censuses, surveys of households or (i)nd(i)v(i)duals or other means of data collect(i)on on the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, efforts should be made (i)n so far as poss(i)ble to (i)ncorporate the (i)nternat(i)onal standards.

4. In order to promote comparab(i)l(i)ty of the stat(i)st(i)cs among countr(i)es where nat(i)onal concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons do not conform closely to the (i)nternat(i)onal standards, explanat(i)ons should be g(i)ven and the ma(i)n aggregates should (i)f poss(i)ble be computed on the bas(i)s of both the nat(i)onal and the (i)nternat(i)onal standards. Alternat(i)vely, the necessary components should be (i)dent(i)f(i)ed and prov(i)ded separately (i)n order to perm(i)t convers(i)on from the nat(i)onal to the (i)nternat(i)onal standards.

Concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons

The econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on

5. The econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on compr(i)ses all persons of e(i)ther sex who furn(i)sh the supply of labour for the product(i)on of econom(i)c goods and serv(i)ces as def(i)ned by the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons systems of nat(i)onal accounts and balances dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)ed t(i)me-reference per(i)od. Accord(i)ng to these systems the product(i)on of econom(i)c goods and serv(i)ces (i)ncludes all product(i)on and process(i)ng of pr(i)mary products whether for the market for barter or for own consumpt(i)on, the product(i)on of all other goods and serv(i)ces for the market and, (i)n the case of households wh(i)ch produce such goods and serv(i)ces for the market, the correspond(i)ng product(i)on for own consumpt(i)on.

6. Two useful measures of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on are the usually act(i)ve populat(i)on measured (i)n relat(i)on to a long reference per(i)od such as a year and the currently act(i)ve populat(i)on or equ(i)valently the "labour force" measured (i)n relat(i)on to a short reference per(i)od such as one week or one day.

The usually act(i)ve populat(i)on

7. (1) The usually act(i)ve populat(i)on compr(i)ses all persons above a spec(i)f(i)ed age whose ma(i)n act(i)v(i)ty status as determ(i)ned (i)n terms of number of weeks or days dur(i)ng a long spec(i)f(i)ed per(i)od (such as the preced(i)ng 12 months or the preced(i)ng calendar year) was employed or unemployed as def(i)ned (i)n paragraphs 9 and 10.

(2) Where th(i)s concept (i)s cons(i)dered useful and feas(i)ble the usually act(i)ve populat(i)on may be subd(i)v(i)ded as employed and unemployed (i)n accordance w(i)th the ma(i)n act(i)v(i)ty.

The labour force (the currently act(i)ve populat(i)on)

8. The labour force or "currently act(i)ve populat(i)on" compr(i)ses all persons who fulf(i)l the requ(i)rements for (i)nclus(i)on among the employed or the unemployed as def(i)ned (i)n paragraphs 9 and 10 below.

Employment

9. (1) The "employed" compr(i)se all persons above a spec(i)f(i)ed age who dur(i)ng a spec(i)f(i)ed br(i)ef per(i)od, e(i)ther one week or one day, were (i)n the follow(i)ng categor(i)es:

(a) "pa(i)d employment":

• (a1) "at work": persons who dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od performed some work for wage or salary, (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd;
• (a2) "w(i)th a job but not at work": persons who, hav(i)ng already worked (i)n the(i)r present job, were temporar(i)ly not at work dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od and had a formal attachment to the(i)r job.

Th(i)s formal job attachment should be determ(i)ned (i)n the l(i)ght of nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances, accord(i)ng to one or more of the follow(i)ng cr(i)ter(i)a:

• ((i) ) the cont(i)nued rece(i)pt of wage or salary;
• ((i)(i)) an assurance of return to work follow(i)ng the end of the cont(i)ngency, or an agreement as to the date of return;
• ((i)(i)(i)) the elapsed durat(i)on of absence from the job wh(i)ch, wherever relevant, may be that durat(i)on for wh(i)ch workers can rece(i)ve compensat(i)on benef(i)ts w(i)thout obl(i)gat(i)ons to accept other jobs;

(b) "self-employment":

• (b1) "at work": persons who dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od performed some work for prof(i)t or fam(i)ly ga(i)n, (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd;
• (b2) "w(i)th an enterpr(i)se but not at work": persons w(i)th an enterpr(i)se, wh(i)ch may be a bus(i)ness enterpr(i)se, a farm or a serv(i)ce undertak(i)ng, who were temporar(i)ly not at work dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od for any spec(i)f(i)c reason.

(2) For operat(i)onal purposes, the not(i)on of "some work" may be (i)nterpreted as work for at least one hour.

(3) Persons temporar(i)ly not at work because of (i)llness or (i)njury, hol(i)day or vacat(i)on, str(i)ke or lockout, educat(i)onal or tra(i)n(i)ng leave, matern(i)ty or parental leave, reduct(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty, temporary d(i)sorgan(i)sat(i)on or suspens(i)on of work due to such reasons as bad weather, mechan(i)cal or electr(i)cal breakdown, or shortage of raw mater(i)als or fuels, or other temporary absence w(i)th or w(i)thout leave should be cons(i)dered as (i)n pa(i)d employment prov(i)ded they had a formal job attachment.

(4) Employers, own account workers and members of producers’ co-operat(i)ves should be cons(i)dered as (i)n selfemployment and class(i)f(i)ed as “at work" or "not at work", as the case may be.

(5) Unpa(i)d fam(i)ly workers at work should be cons(i)dered as (i)n self-employment (i)rrespect(i)ve of the number of hours worked dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od. Countr(i)es wh(i)ch prefer for spec(i)al reasons to set a m(i)n(i)mum t(i)me cr(i)ter(i)on for the (i)nclus(i)on of unpa(i)d fam(i)ly workers among the employed should (i)dent(i)fy and separately class(i)fy those who worked less than the prescr(i)bed t(i)me.

(6) Persons engaged (i)n the product(i)on of econom(i)c goods and serv(i)ces for own and household consumpt(i)on should be cons(i)dered as (i)n self-employment (i)f such product(i)on compr(i)ses an (i)mportant contr(i)but(i)on to the total consumpt(i)on of the household.

(7) Apprent(i)ces who rece(i)ved pay (i)n cash or (i)n k(i)nd should be cons(i)dered (i)n pa(i)d employment and class(i)f(i)ed as "at work" or "not at work" on the same bas(i)s as other persons (i)n pa(i)d employment.

(8) Students, homemakers and others ma(i)nly engaged (i)n non-econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od, who at the same t(i)me were (i)n pa(i)d employment or self-employment as def(i)ned (i)n subparagraph (1) above should be cons(i)dered as employed on the same bas(i)s as other categor(i)es of employed persons and be (i)dent(i)f(i)ed separately, where poss(i)ble.

(9) Members of the armed forces should be (i)ncluded among persons (i)n pa(i)d employment. The armed forces should (i)nclude both the regular and the temporary members as spec(i)f(i)ed (i)n the most recent rev(i)s(i)on of the Internat(i)onal Standard Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Occupat(i)ons (ISCO).

Unemployment

10. (1) The "unemployed" compr(i)se all persons above a spec(i)f(i)ed age who dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od were:

• (a) "w(i)thout work", (i).e. were not (i)n pa(i)d employment or self-employment as def(i)ned (i)n paragraph 9;
• (b) "currently ava(i)lable for work", (i).e. were ava(i)lable for pa(i)d employment or self-employment dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od; and
• (c) "seek(i)ng work", (i).e. had taken spec(i)f(i)c steps (i)n a spec(i)f(i)ed recent per(i)od to seek pa(i)d employment or self-employment. The spec(i)f(i)c steps may (i)nclude reg(i)strat(i)on at a publ(i)c or pr(i)vate employment exchange; appl(i)cat(i)on to employers; check(i)ng at works(i)tes, farms, factory gates, market or other assembly places; plac(i)ng or answer(i)ng newspaper advert(i)sements; seek(i)ng ass(i)stance of fr(i)ends or relat(i)ves; look(i)ng for land, bu(i)ld(i)ng, mach(i)nery or equ(i)pment to establ(i)sh own enterpr(i)se; arrang(i)ng for f(i)nanc(i)al resources; apply(i)ng for perm(i)ts and l(i)cences, etc.

(2) In s(i)tuat(i)ons where the convent(i)onal means of seek(i)ng work are of l(i)m(i)ted relevance, where the labour market (i)s largely unorgan(i)sed or of l(i)m(i)ted scope, where labour absorpt(i)on (i)s, at the t(i)me, (i)nadequate or where the labour force (i)s largely self-employed, the standard def(i)n(i)t(i)on of unemployment g(i)ven (i)n subparagraph (1) above may be appl(i)ed by relax(i)ng the cr(i)ter(i)on of seek(i)ng work.

(3) In the appl(i)cat(i)on of the cr(i)ter(i)on of current ava(i)lab(i)l(i)ty for work, espec(i)ally (i)n s(i)tuat(i)ons covered by subparagraph (2) above, appropr(i)ate tests should be developed to su(i)t nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances. Such tests may be based on not(i)ons such as present des(i)re for work and prev(i)ous work exper(i)ence, w(i)ll(i)ngness to take up work for wage or salary on locally preva(i)l(i)ng terms, or read(i)ness to undertake self-employment act(i)v(i)ty g(i)ven the necessary resources and fac(i)l(i)t(i)es.

(4) Notw(i)thstand(i)ng the cr(i)ter(i)on of seek(i)ng work embod(i)ed (i)n the standard def(i)n(i)t(i)on of unemployment, persons w(i)thout work and currently ava(i)lable for work who had made arrangements to take up pa(i)d employment or undertake selfemployment act(i)v(i)ty at a date subsequent to the reference per(i)od should be cons(i)dered as unemployed.

(5) Persons temporar(i)ly absent from the(i)r jobs w(i)th no formal job attachment who were currently ava(i)lable for work and seek(i)ng work should be regarded as unemployed (i)n accordance w(i)th the standard def(i)n(i)t(i)on of unemployment. Countr(i)es may, however, depend(i)ng on nat(i)onal c(i)rcumstances and pol(i)c(i)es, prefer to relax the seek(i)ng work cr(i)ter(i)on (i)n the case of persons temporar(i)ly la(i)d off. In such cases, persons temporar(i)ly la(i)d off who were not seek(i)ng work but class(i)f(i)ed as unemployed should be (i)dent(i)f(i)ed as a separate subcategory.

(6) Students, homemakers and others ma(i)nly engaged (i)n non-econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od who sat(i)sfy the cr(i)ter(i)a la(i)d down (i)n subparagraphs (1) and (2) above should be regarded as unemployed on the same bas(i)s as other categor(i)es of unemployed persons and be (i)dent(i)f(i)ed separately, where poss(i)ble.

Populat(i)on not econom(i)cally act(i)ve

11. The "populat(i)on not econom(i)cally act(i)ve" compr(i)ses all persons, (i)rrespect(i)ve of age, (i)nclud(i)ng those below the age spec(i)f(i)ed for measur(i)ng the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on who were not "econom(i)cally act(i)ve", as def(i)ned (i)n paragraph 5.

The populat(i)on not currently act(i)ve

12. (1) The "populat(i)on not currently act(i)ve", or, equ(i)valently, persons not (i)n the labour force, compr(i)ses all persons who were not employed or unemployed dur(i)ng the br(i)ef reference per(i)od and hence not currently act(i)ve because of (a) attendance at educat(i)onal (i)nst(i)tut(i)ons, (b) engagement (i)n household dut(i)es, (c) ret(i)rement or old age, or (d) other reasons such as (i)nf(i)rm(i)ty or d(i)sablement, wh(i)ch may be spec(i)f(i)ed.

(2) Countr(i)es adopt(i)ng the standard def(i)n(i)t(i)on of unemployment may (i)dent(i)fy persons not class(i)f(i)ed as unemployed who were ava(i)lable for work but not seek(i)ng work dur(i)ng the reference per(i)od and class(i)fy them separately under the populat(i)on not currently act(i)ve.

The populat(i)on not usually act(i)ve

13. (1) The "populat(i)on not usually act(i)ve" compr(i)ses all persons whose ma(i)n act(i)v(i)ty status dur(i)ng the longer spec(i)f(i)ed per(i)od was ne(i)ther employed nor unemployed. It compr(i)ses the follow(i)ng funct(i)onal categor(i)es: (a) students; (b) homemakers; (c) (i)ncome rec(i)p(i)ents (pens(i)oners, rent(i)ers, etc.); and (d) others (rec(i)p(i)ents of publ(i)c a(i)d or pr(i)vate support, ch(i)ldren not attend(i)ng school, etc.) as def(i)ned by the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons Pr(i)nc(i)ples and recommendat(i)ons for populat(i)on and hous(i)ng censuses (1980).

(2) Where necessary, separate funct(i)onal subcategor(i)es may be (i)ntroduced to (i)dent(i)fy persons engaged (i)n unpa(i)d commun(i)ty and volunteer serv(i)ces and ((i)(i)) other persons engaged (i)n marg(i)nal act(i)v(i)t(i)es wh(i)ch fall outs(i)de the boundary of econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es.

Please note that paragraphs 14 to 20 on Underemployment are rev(i)sed by the more recent “Resolut(i)on on Underemployment and Inadequate Employment s(i)tuat(i)ons”, 16^th ICLS, 1998, wh(i)ch can also be consulted on the Bureau of Stat(i)st(i)cs’ webs(i)te.

Analyt(i)cal concepts

21. Based on the concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons g(i)ven (i)n paragraphs 5 to 20 above, a var(i)ety of analyt(i)cal concepts and measures can be der(i)ved. For (i)nstance:

(1) The econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on may be d(i)v(i)ded (i)nto two broad segments: the armed forces and the econom(i)cally act(i)ve c(i)v(i)l(i)an populat(i)on.

(2) The econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on may be related to the total populat(i)on for the der(i)vat(i)on of a crude part(i)c(i)pat(i)on rate, or, more appropr(i)ately, to the populat(i)on above the age prescr(i)bed for the measurement of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on.

(3) The employed populat(i)on may be related to the populat(i)on above the spec(i)f(i)ed age for the der(i)vat(i)on of an employment-populat(i)on rat(i)o.

(4) The unemployed populat(i)on may be related to the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on for the der(i)vat(i)on of a general unemployment rate. Unemployment rates, relevant to pa(i)d employment on the one hand and self-employment on the other, may be der(i)ved, wherever cons(i)dered useful and feas(i)ble.

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(6) A compos(i)te rate of unemployment and v(i)s(i)ble underemployment comp(i)led as the rat(i)o of unemployed labour t(i)me ava(i)lable for employment to the total labour t(i)me employed or ava(i)lable for employment.

The rates, rat(i)os and proport(i)ons suggested above may be comp(i)led separately by sex (i)n respect of spec(i)f(i)ed age groups.

22. The techn(i)que of labour t(i)me d(i)spos(i)t(i)on suggested (i)n paragraph 20, (i)f carr(i)ed out through a ser(i)es of current surveys cover(i)ng a representat(i)ve sample of reference per(i)ods spread over a year, can be used for the est(i)mat(i)on of labour t(i)me employed or unemployed over the year. The est(i)mates may be expressed (i)n terms of person-days or person-hours or, (i)f so des(i)red, converted (i)nto standard full-t(i)me person-years.

Employment and (i)ncome relat(i)onsh(i)ps

23. In order to real(i)se the object(i)ves of analys(i)s of the relat(i)onsh(i)ps between employment and (i)ncome ment(i)oned (i)n paragraph 1, countr(i)es should develop programmes of data collect(i)on on employment and (i)ncome that reveal related econom(i)c and soc(i)al aspects. In part(i)cular, data should be comp(i)led on employment, (i)ncome from employment and household (i)ncome for the purpose of (a) analys(i)ng the (i)ncome-generat(i)ng capac(i)ty of d(i)fferent econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es and (b) (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng the number and character(i)st(i)cs of persons who are unable to ma(i)nta(i)n the(i)r econom(i)c well-be(i)ng on the bas(i)s of the employment opportun(i)t(i)es ava(i)lable to them.

24. (1) In order to obta(i)n comprehens(i)ve measures of the relat(i)onsh(i)ps between employment and (i)ncome, the measurements of employment, (i)ncome from employment and household (i)ncome should refer to the work exper(i)ence of the populat(i)on over a long reference per(i)od, preferably a year, tak(i)ng (i)nto account not only the pr(i)nc(i)pal occupat(i)on but also any secondary occupat(i)ons and other sources of (i)ncome.

(2) Income from employment (i)ncludes wages, salar(i)es and other earn(i)ngs (i)n cash and k(i)nd of persons (i)n pa(i)d employment and net entrepreneur(i)al (i)ncome of persons (i)n self-employment.

(3) The concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons of (i)ncome and (i)ts components are g(i)ven (i)n the resolut(i)ons concern(i)ng an (i)ntegrated system of wages stat(i)st(i)cs and concern(i)ng household (i)ncome and expend(i)ture surveys adopted by the Twelfth Conference (1973) and (i)n the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons Prov(i)s(i)onal gu(i)del(i)nes on stat(i)st(i)cs of the d(i)str(i)but(i)on of (i)ncome, consumpt(i)on and accumulat(i)on of households (1977).

(4) The stat(i)st(i)cs on employment and (i)ncome should be analysed to the extent poss(i)ble, (i)n conjunct(i)on w(i)th durat(i)on of work, household s(i)ze, number of earners, assets and other demograph(i)c, soc(i)al and econom(i)c character(i)st(i)cs of the (i)nd(i)v(i)dual and the household.

(5) The stat(i)st(i)cs on employment and (i)ncome should be cons(i)stent w(i)th and, (i)n so far as poss(i)ble, be (i)ntegrated (i)nto the framework of the stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on set forth (i)n paragraphs 5 to 22 above.

Data collect(i)on, analys(i)s and class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons

25. The Internat(i)onal Labour Off(i)ce should prepare a manual on stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment and underemployment deta(i)l(i)ng such aspects as methodology of data collect(i)on, tabulat(i)on and analys(i)s.

26. (1) The analys(i)s of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on and the populat(i)on not econom(i)cally act(i)ve should (i)nclude class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons by s(i)gn(i)f(i)cant demograph(i)c, soc(i)al and econom(i)c character(i)st(i)cs as well as appropr(i)ate cross-class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons by two or more related character(i)st(i)cs.

(2) In part(i)cular, the populat(i)on above the age spec(i)f(i)ed for the measurement of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on should be cross-class(i)f(i)ed by usual act(i)v(i)ty status (employed, unemployed, students, homemakers, etc.) and current act(i)v(i)ty status (employed, unemployed and not currently act(i)ve).

27. For the purpose of (i)nternat(i)onal compar(i)sons, the class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons of the stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on should adhere to or be convert(i)ble (i)nto the standard (i)nternat(i)onal class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons most recently adopted such as:

• (a) Internat(i)onal Standard Class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of Occupat(i)ons (ISCO)-ILO;
• (b) 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)-Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons;
• (c) Internat(i)onal class(i)f(i)cat(i)on accord(i)ng to status (as employer, employee, etc.) — def(i)n(i)t(i)ons of status by the Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons — except that for the class(i)f(i)cat(i)on of unpa(i)d fam(i)ly workers the m(i)n(i)mum t(i)me cr(i)ter(i)on (at least one-th(i)rd of the normal work(i)ng hours) no longer need be appl(i)ed;
• (d) Prov(i)s(i)onal Gu(i)del(i)nes on Standard Internat(i)onal Age Class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons-Un(i)ted Nat(i)ons.

28. For class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons accord(i)ng to other character(i)st(i)cs such as durat(i)on of work, durat(i)on of unemployment, the Internat(i)onal Labour Off(i)ce should develop appropr(i)ate (i)nternat(i)onal standard class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons tak(i)ng (i)nto account the current nat(i)onal pract(i)ces and needs.

Data on part(i)cular top(i)cs

29. In order to adequately study the trans(i)t(i)on phases from learn(i)ng to earn(i)ng act(i)v(i)t(i)es and to develop appropr(i)ate pol(i)cy measures where necessary, spec(i)f(i)c stat(i)st(i)cs should be obta(i)ned per(i)od(i)cally on ch(i)ldren and youth (i)n relat(i)on to school attendance and the(i)r part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty. For th(i)s purpose, (i)t may be necessary to collect add(i)t(i)onal data on ch(i)ldren and youth below the spec(i)f(i)ed m(i)n(i)mum age l(i)m(i)t adopted for measur(i)ng the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on.

30. (1) For the purpose of develop(i)ng and mon(i)tor(i)ng programmes concerned w(i)th the part(i)c(i)pat(i)on of women (i)n development and the promot(i)on of equal(i)ty between the sexes, an adequate stat(i)st(i)cal base on women's part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es (i)s essent(i)al. In th(i)s respect, therefore, the stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment, underemployment and related top(i)cs should be comp(i)led separately for males and for females.

(2) Further, (i)n order to obta(i)n more accurate stat(i)st(i)cs on women's part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es, measurement methods should be carefully rev(i)ewed to ensure unb(i)ased coverage of men and women. Sex b(i)ases (i)n the form of underest(i)mat(i)on of women's part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty may result, for example, from (i)ncomplete coverage of unpa(i)d econom(i)c act(i)v(i)t(i)es, fa(i)lure of respondents and enumerators to take account of women's mult(i)ple act(i)v(i)t(i)es and use of proxy respondents. Where necessary, research should be carr(i)ed out (i)n order to (i)dent(i)fy the extent, nature and sources of the poss(i)ble b(i)ases, (i)f any, and to develop appropr(i)ate methods of reduc(i)ng them.

31. S(i)nce the part(i)c(i)pat(i)on (i)n econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty of (i)nd(i)v(i)duals often depends on the c(i)rcumstances of other members of the fam(i)ly or household and (i)n many countr(i)es, part(i)cularly (i)n rural areas of develop(i)ng countr(i)es, econom(i)c act(i)v(i)ty (i)s largely organ(i)sed on a fam(i)ly or household bas(i)s, stat(i)st(i)cs on econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment, underemployment and related top(i)cs should be supplemented per(i)od(i)cally by stat(i)st(i)cs on fam(i)l(i)es and households: for example, (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng the unemployed (i)n terms of the(i)r relat(i)onsh(i)p to other members of the household or fam(i)ly, presence of other work(i)ng members of the household or fam(i)ly, number of ch(i)ldren (i)n the household or fam(i)ly, as well as (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng households and fam(i)l(i)es (i)n terms of number of members unemployed, sex and other character(i)st(i)cs of the pr(i)mary earner (i)n the household or fam(i)ly, etc.

32. In order to prov(i)de (i)mproved and more deta(i)led (i)nformat(i)on on employment, unemployment and underemployment and for other purposes such as (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng mult(i)ple act(i)v(i)t(i)es and marg(i)nal act(i)v(i)t(i)es, attempts should be made to collect per(i)od(i)cally stat(i)st(i)cs on t(i)me-use.

33. In order to account for the (i)nformal sector act(i)v(i)t(i)es both (i)n developed and develop(i)ng countr(i)es and the rural non-agr(i)cultural act(i)v(i)t(i)es generally carr(i)ed out by households (i)n conjunct(i)on w(i)th agr(i)cultural act(i)v(i)t(i)es (i)n develop(i)ng countr(i)es, and g(i)ven the scarc(i)ty of stat(i)st(i)cs on these top(i)cs, (i)t (i)s des(i)rable that countr(i)es develop appropr(i)ate methodolog(i)es and data collect(i)on programmes on the urban (i)nformal sector and the rural non-agr(i)cultural act(i)v(i)t(i)es. In part(i)cular, su(i)table def(i)n(i)t(i)ons and class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons should be developed (i)n order to (i)dent(i)fy and class(i)fy the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on (i)n the urban (i)nformal sector and those engaged (i)n the rural non-agr(i)cultural act(i)v(i)t(i)es.

34. In order to prov(i)de adequate employment opportun(i)t(i)es and means of l(i)vel(i)hood for the d(i)sabled and other hand(i)capped persons, stat(i)st(i)cs should be collected and comp(i)led us(i)ng appropr(i)ate methodolog(i)es on the s(i)ze of th(i)s populat(i)on and (i)ts d(i)str(i)but(i)on accord(i)ng to relevant soc(i)al and econom(i)c character(i)st(i)cs d(i)st(i)ngu(i)sh(i)ng (i)n part(i)cular those employed, those unemployed and those (i)nact(i)ve.

35. (1) It (i)s recommended that (i)n countr(i)es w(i)th a planned economy, extens(i)ve use should be made of the balance sheet of labour resources so as to (i)dent(i)fy the s(i)ze and structure of the labour force and (i)ts geograph(i)cal d(i)str(i)but(i)on by type of employment and sector of the nat(i)onal economy.

(2) The populat(i)on of work(i)ng age, w(i)th the except(i)on of the d(i)sabled who do not work, and also the populat(i)on not of work(i)ng age, are (i)ncluded as labour resources. The balance sheet of labour resources may be broken down separately accord(i)ng to sex, (i)dent(i)fy(i)ng persons employed (i)n subs(i)d(i)ary farm(i)ng and (i)n housework, d(i)sabled persons of work(i)ng age but who do not work and persons not of work(i)ng age.

(3) The data (i)n the balance sheets make (i)t poss(i)ble to (i)dent(i)fy the proport(i)on of labour resources wh(i)ch may be ut(i)l(i)sed (i)n the future to work (i)n nat(i)onal product(i)on.

36. It (i)s suggested that countr(i)es cons(i)der collect(i)ng (i)nformat(i)on on the populat(i)on not econom(i)cally act(i)ve, tak(i)ng account of nat(i)onal needs and c(i)rcumstances, to ass(i)st governments (i)n des(i)gn(i)ng the(i)r human resources and development pol(i)c(i)es. Countr(i)es should develop class(i)f(i)cat(i)ons des(i)gned to perm(i)t cross-tabulat(i)on reflect(i)ng the relat(i)ve strength of attachment to the labour market of the groups (i)dent(i)f(i)ed (i)n paragraphs 12(1) and 13(1) above.

Evaluat(i)on and d(i)ssem(i)nat(i)on

37. L(i)ke any other set of data, stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment, underemployment and related top(i)cs are subject to errors. Wh(i)le the data collect(i)on programme should be carefully des(i)gned to m(i)n(i)m(i)se poss(i)ble errors, some are bound to occur. A careful (i)nterpretat(i)on of the results, therefore, requ(i)res some knowledge about the qual(i)ty of the data. An evaluat(i)on of data qual(i)ty (i)s also necessary to (i)mprove upon data collect(i)on, process(i)ng and est(i)mat(i)on procedures (i)n subsequent rounds of the programme. The evaluat(i)on procedure should as far as poss(i)ble form part of the data collect(i)on programme (i)tself.

38. Stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment, underemployment and related top(i)cs should be (i)ssued promptly and made w(i)dely ava(i)lable. The stat(i)st(i)cs may be (i)ssued (i)n stages by means of prel(i)m(i)nary reports as soon as the ma(i)n aggregates are ava(i)lable, followed by one or more f(i)nal reports g(i)v(i)ng the rev(i)sed and deta(i)led stat(i)st(i)cs, (i)n tabular form and, to the extent poss(i)ble and perm(i)ss(i)ble, (i)n mach(i)ne readable form.

39. Every release of stat(i)st(i)cs of the econom(i)cally act(i)ve populat(i)on, employment, unemployment, underemployment and related top(i)cs, whether recurr(i)ng or s(i)ngle-t(i)me, should clearly (i)nd(i)cate the nature of the data and make reference to any deta(i)led techn(i)cal descr(i)pt(i)ons. In part(i)cular, descr(i)pt(i)ons should be g(i)ven of the scope and coverage, the concepts and def(i)n(i)t(i)ons, the method of data collect(i)on, the sample s(i)ze and des(i)gn where sampl(i)ng (i)s used, the methods of est(i)mat(i)on and adjustments, (i)nclud(i)ng seasonal adjustments where appl(i)ed, measures of data qual(i)ty, (i)nclud(i)ng sampl(i)ng and non-sampl(i)ng errors where poss(i)ble, as well as descr(i)pt(i)ons of changes (i)n h(i)stor(i)cal ser(i)es, dev(i)at(i)ons from (i)nternat(i)onal standards and relat(i)onsh(i)ps w(i)th other sources of s(i)m(i)lar data and related bod(i)es of stat(i)st(i)cs.