Microdata: Longitudinal Labour Force, Australia

Enables in-depth analysis of the social and economic aspects of labour market engagement over time

New microdata in DataLab

Microdata from the Characteristics of Employment survey (Aug 2014 to Aug 2023) and Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation survey (Sep 2014 to Sep 2023) are now available in ABS DataLab, released as supplementary files for the Longitudinal Labour Force (LLFS) microdata. All existing users of the LLFS microdata will automatically get access to the additional files (use of the file may require an updated project proposal) and new users can apply for access to both files.

More information is available in Microdata and TableBuilder: Characteristics of Employment and Microdata and TableBuilder: Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation.

Accessing the data

You can use this data in: 

  • DataLab - analyse detailed longitudinal microdata

Compare data services to see what's right for you. Information on how to apply for access can be found in DataLab.

Further information about these products, and other information to assist users in understanding and accessing microdata in general, is available from the Microdata and TableBuilder Entry Page.

The Labour Force Survey provides monthly statistics about the labour market participation of the population. It is conducted every month throughout Australia. See Labour Force, Australia for summary results, methodology and other information.

Data and file structure

Data items include: 

  • Demographics, such as age, sex and country of birth
  • Survey month and time in survey
  • Geography
  • Household and family characteristics
  • Employment characteristics
  • Hours worked
  • Industry
  • Occupation
  • Skill level of job
  • Educational attainment and attendance
  • Underemployment and Underutilisation
  • Unemployment and details of last job
  • Retrenchments
  • Duration of job search
  • Reason not in the labour force

Use the data item list in Data downloads to confirm this dataset includes what you need for your research before purchasing your subscription.

The file is structured as a single level person file. Higher level characteristics, such as items related to households and families, are attributed to each person record.

The Longitudinal Labour Force (LLFS) data spans multiple time periods, so the month of the survey also acts like an additional level. Individuals can be observed for up to eight months making the data suitable for use in analysis of cross sections, pooled cross sections, short panels and longer pseudo panels.

The current edition of the LLFS covers over 41 years of Labour Force Survey (LFS) responses from October 1982 to January 2024. The LLFS will continue to be updated on a monthly basis, usually scheduled 8 days after the release of Labour Force, Australia (6202.0). The next edition of the LLFS with February 2024 data is scheduled for release in DataLab on Thursday 28 March 2024.

Using DataLab

DataLab allows real time access to detailed microdata files through a portal to a secure ABS environment. Using detailed microdata in DataLab allows users to run advanced statistical analyses using recent analytical software.

For information about the data items available on the detailed microdata files, see the Data Item List in the Data Downloads section.

About DataLab

Detailed microdata files in DataLab can be accessed on-site at ABS offices or in a secure virtual environment from your own computer. All unit record data remains in DataLab, and any analysis results or tables are checked by the ABS before being provided to users.

Refer to DataLab for more information, including prerequisites for DataLab access.

Counts and weights

The current edition of the Longitudinal LFS (LLFS) includes 487 monthly cross sections covering the period from October 1982 to January 2024 (Table 1). On average, each cross section has 60,416 observations but the size of the cross sections has been closer to 50,000 since late 2009. Between July 2008 and September 2009, the sample size was temporarily reduced to be around 40,000. The size of cross sections generally declines over time reflecting improvements in sampling methodology.

Each cross section is used to produce the headline LFS statistics. The weights provided with the LLFS ensure that each cross-section reproduces the statistics found in the LFS.

Table 1: Summary of monthly cross sections(a)
 MonthsMinimumMaximumAverageTotal
Observations48741,47276,22860,41629,422,606
  1. Excluding the missing cross sections for May 1983, Jun 1983, Nov 1983, Jan 1984, Sep 1984, Dec 1984, Jan 1985, Jul 1985 and Jul 1986. Microdata for these cross sections were not recoverable from the magnetic tape archives. Finely detailed tabulated data has been preserved on microfiche, and digitised scans for these missing cross-sections are now available. See Appendix 1 - Missing months for more information.

For more information about the file structure, see the Data and file structure section.

For more information about the weights, see the Weighting and Benchmarks section of the Data Item List, available in the Data downloads section.

Unit identifiers

Every record of the file is uniquely identified by the item ABSRID. This identifier is a combination of the household identifier ABSHID and the person identifier ABSPID. All of these identifiers are used consistently across months to create longitudinal links.

Non-private dwellings and dwellings selected in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are excluded from longitudinal linking. These include hotels, motels, hostels, hospitals, religious institutions providing accommodation, educational institutions providing accommodation, prisons, boarding houses, and short-stay caravan parks. These are given a new household identifier each month in this dataset. People in non-private dwellings are more likely to be older and not in the labour force than those in private dwellings.

Family units are identified by the item FAMNUM. This identifier is not used consistently across months due to the dynamic nature of family relationships. Its purpose is to identify family units within multiple family households for the particular circumstances of each month. The identification of family units in one month may not necessarily correspond to how family units are identified in subsequent or preceding months.

For more information about the identifiers, see the Record Identifiers section of the Data Item List, available in the Data downloads section.

Longitudinal analysis

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is designed to survey the same household for eight consecutive months. However, this means that individuals can move in and out of the LLFS for a number of reasons:

  • they do not complete the survey in a month,
  • they are visiting the household,
  • they move house permanently, or
  • they are in a non-private dwelling.

More than 5.8 million individuals are observed in total, with just over 2.0 million observed for the full eight months (Table 2).

Table 2: Counts of individuals
 Number of responses
12345678Total
Total1,488,339314,262286,075390,557303,359386,769672,1352,042,8675,884,363
Visitors146,19018,0545,7462,3001,034600442355174,721
Non-private dwellings937,575       937,575

Some individuals are more likely to leave the LFS than others.

  • Males are more likely to leave relative to females
  • Younger individuals are more likely to leave relative to older individuals
  • Unemployed individuals are more likely to leave relative to employed individuals or those not in the labour force
  • Individuals in regional areas are more likely to leave relative to those in capital cities
  • Single individuals are more likely to leave relative to married individuals
  • People who were born overseas are more likely to leave than those born in Australia
  • Those visiting a household are more likely to leave than those that live in the household

When linking individuals, this variability in the types of people who leave and stay in the LFS results in attrition bias overtime. It is important when looking at aggregate statistics that use linked observations to be aware of this bias and to attempt to control for it if possible. This can be done by adjusting the weights appropriately - increasing the weights for those who are more likely to leave the LFS.

It is also important to consider how the collection of the LFS has changed over time. The method of data collection has changed to allow a greater choice in how people respond, from face-to-face interviews to phone interviews to online self-completion.

Concordance files

Correspondence files for International classifications

Two correspondence files have been provided to help convert Australian Industry and Occupation data to their equivalent International standards. These "1-to-1" files can be used on both the underlying unit record data and any tabular outputs

  • anzsic_06_to_isic_r4 - Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, 2006, Rev 2.0 (ANZSIC 2006) to International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, Rev. 4 (ISIC Rev. 4)
  • anzsco_13_to_isco_08 - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2013, Version 1.3 (ANZSCO v1.3) to International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 (ISCO-08)

For more information on ISIC and ISCO, refer to the International Labour Organisations website: www.ilo.org

Concordance files for historical Australian classifications

Four concordance files have been provided to help convert older Australian Industry and Occupations data to the current standards. These "1-to-many" files can be used by proportionally distributing data on older units into newer units by applying the RATIO variable to the weighted estimates. It is recommended that these only be used on summarised tabular outputs, as applying them to the underlying unit record data could create many millions of duplicate records and impede performance.

  • anzsic_93_to_anzsic_06 - Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, 1993 (ANZSIC 1993) to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, 2006, Rev 2.0 (ANZSIC 2006)
  • asic_83_to_anzsic_06 - Australian Standard Industrial Classification, 1983 (ASIC 1983) to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, 2006, Rev 2.0 (ANZSIC 2006)
  • asco_se_to_anzsco_13 - Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, Second Edition (ASCOSE) to Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2013, Version 1.3 (ANZSCO v1.3)
  • asco_fe_to_anzsco_13 - Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition (ASCOFE) to Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2013, Version 1.3 (ANZSCO v1.3)

The periods when these concordances are most useful are as follows:

  • anzsic_93_to_anzsic_06 - applies to industry data collected in the LFS between August 1994 and May 2006
  • asic_83_to_anzsic_06 - applies to industry data collected in the LFS between November 1984 and July 1994
  • asco_se_to_anzsco_13 - applies to occupation data collected in the LFS between August 1996 and May 2006
  • asco_fe_to_anzsco_13 - applies to occupation data collected in the LFS between August 1986 and July 1996

For more information on these classification, refer to the ABS website: www.abs.gov.au.

All of these files are available in SAS, Stata and SPSS formats in the "Concordance files" folder of the "LLFD_G_monthly" CURF Data folder in ABS DataLab.

Data downloads

Data files

History of changes

23/02/2024 - Version 2401, October 1982 to January 2024

LLFS microdata was released into DataLab on Friday 23 February 2024 with the following updates:

  • Addition of month January 2024.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period December 2023 to match the previous version (version 2312).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period June 2023 to December 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

07/02/2024 - Special Release - BARI_v2309

Show all

25/01/2024 - Version 2312, October 1982 to December 2023

  • Addition of month December 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period July 2016 to November 2023 to match the previous version (version 2311). The length of the revision period is due to LFS rebenchmarking to the 2021 Census-based ERP (estimated resident population).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period May 2023 to November 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

21/12/2023 - Version 2311, October 1982 to November 2023

  • Addition of month November 2023.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2016 to Oct 2023 due to LFS rebenchmarking to the 2021 Census-based ERP (estimated resident population).
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Oct 2023 to match the previous version (version 2310).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Apr 2023 to Oct 2023 to account for the additional month of data.
  • A record has been removed from December 2021 to address a weighting issue.
  • A record has been added to August 2023 as a late response.
  • Issues with duration of job search in November 2016, November 2020, November 2021 and November 2022 have been fixed.

13/12/2023 - Special Release - COES_v2308

27/11/2023 - Special Release - BARI_v2306

24/11/2023 - Version 2310, October 1982 to October 2023

  • Addition of month October 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Sep 2023 to match the previous version (version 2309).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period March 2023 to September 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

27/10/2023 - Version 2309, October 1982 to September 2023

  • Addition of month September 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Aug 2023 to match the previous version (version 2308).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period February 2023 to August 2023 to account for the additional month of data.
  • From September 2023, the sample frame has been updated with information from the 2021 Census, with sample selection from the new sample being phased in over eight months from September 2023 to April 2024. Sample frame (SAMPFRME) has been updated to reflect this change.

24/10/2023 - Special Release - FAMS_v2306

22/09/2023 - Version 2308, Oct 1982 to August 2023

  • Addition of month August 2023.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2021 to Jul 2023 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jul 2023 to match the previous version (version 2307).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jan 2023 to July 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

29/08/2023 - Special Release - RARI_v2106

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the Retirement and Retirement Intentions survey for the 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2020-21 financial years.  For more information, refer to Microdata and TableBuilder: Retirement and Retirement Intentions.

25/08/2023 - Version 2307, Oct 1982 to July 2023

  • Addition of month July 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for June 2023 to match the previous version (version 2306).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Dec 2022 to June 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

28/07/2023 - Version 2306, Oct 1982 to June 2023

  • Addition of month June 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Oct 2021 to May 2023 to match the previous version (version 2305).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Nov 2022 to May 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

07/07/2023 - Special Release - BARI_v2303

30/06/2023 - Special Release - PJSM_v2302

27/06/2023 - Version 2305, Oct 1982 to May 2023

  • Addition of month May 2023.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Oct 2021 to Apr 2023 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Apr 2023 to match the previous version (version 2304).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Oct 2022 to Apr 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

26/05/2023 - Version 2304, Oct 1982 to Apr 2023

  • Addition of month Apr 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Mar 2023 to match the previous version (version 2303).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Sep 2022 to Mar 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

21/04/2023 - Version 2303, Oct 1982 to Mar 2023

  • Addition of month Mar 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Jul 2021 to Feb 2023 to match the previous version (version 2302).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Aug 2022 to Feb 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

31/03/2023 - Special Release

28/03/2023 - Version 2302, Oct 1982 to Feb 2023

  • Addition of month Feb 2023.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2021 to Jan 2023 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jan 2023 to match the previous version (version 2301).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jul 2022 to Jan 2023 to account for the additional month of data.

24/02/2023 - Version 2301, Oct 1982 to Jan 2023

  • Addition of month Jan 2023.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Dec 2022 to match the previous version (version 2212).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jun 2022 to Dec 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

15/02/2022 - Special Release

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the Work-related Injuries survey for the periods Sep 2000, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2013-14, 2017-18, and 2021-22 (WRIN_v2206). For more information, refer to Microdata: Work-related Injuries.

30/01/2023 - Version 2212, Oct 1982 to Dec 2022

  • Released on 27 January 2023 in DataLab.
  • Addition of month Dec 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Jul 2016 to Nov 2022 to match the previous version (version 2211). The length of the revision period is due to LFS rebenchmarking to the 2021 Census-based ERP (estimated resident population).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period May 2022 to Nov 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

2/12/2022 - Version 2211, Oct 1982 to Nov 2022

  • Addition of month Nov 2022.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2016 to Oct 2022 due to LFS rebenchmarking to the 2021 Census-based ERP (estimated resident population).
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Oct 2022 to match the previous version (version 2210).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Apr 2022 to Oct 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

16/12/2022 - Special Release

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the annual Characteristics of Employment survey for the period Aug 2014 to Aug 2022 (COES_v2208). This replaces the previous version (COES_v2108) released on 04/08/2022.  For more information, refer to Microdata and TableBuilder: Characteristics of Employment.

25/11/2022 - Version 2210, Oct 1982 to Oct 2022

  • Addition of month Oct 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Sep 2022 to match the previous version (version 2209).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Mar 2022 to Sep 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

04/11/2022 - Special Release

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation survey for the financial years 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2020-21 (BARI_v2106). For more information, refer to Microdata and TableBuilder: Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation.

28/10/2022 - Version 2209, Oct 1982 to Sep 2022

  • Addition of month Sep 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Jan 2022 to Aug 2022 to match the previous version (version 2208).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Feb 2022 to Aug 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

18/10/2022 - Special Release

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the Labour Force Status of Families for the period Jun 2005 to Jun 2022 (FAMS_v2206). For more information, refer to Microdata and TableBuilder: Labour Force Status of Families.

23/09/2022 - Version 2208, Oct 1982 to Aug 2022

  • Addition of month Aug 2022.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jan 2022 to Jul 2022 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jul 2022 to match the previous version (version 2207).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jan 2022 to Jul 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

26/08/2022 - Version 2207, Oct 1982 to Jul 2022

  • Addition of month Jul 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jun 2022 to match the previous version (version 2206).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Dec 2021 to Jun 2022 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Revisions to Reason why worked less than usual hours (REASLTUH) for the period Jul 2014 to Jun 2022. The code '15' for 'Paternity Leave' is now no longer used and has been recoded as '14' for 'Maternity / Paternity Leave' (previously labelled 'Maternity leave' only).

04/08/2022 - Special Release

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the annual Characteristics of Employment (COE) survey for the period Aug 2014 to Aug 2021 (COES_v2108). For more information, refer to Microdata and TableBuilder: Characteristics of Employment.

22/07/2022 - Version 2206, Oct 1982 to Jun 2022

  • Addition of month Jun 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Oct 2020 to May 2022 to match the previous version (version 2205).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Nov 2021 to May 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

24/06/2022 - Version 2205, Oct 1982 to May 2022

  • Addition of month May 2022.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Oct 2020 to Apr 2022 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Apr 2022 to match the previous version (version 2204).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Oct 2021 to Apr 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

27/05/2022 - Version 2204, Oct 1982 to Apr 2022

  • Addition of month Apr 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Mar 2022 to match the previous version (version 2203).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Sep 2021 to Mar 2022 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the annual Participation, Job Search and Mobility (PJSM) survey for the period Feb 2015 to Feb 2022 (PJSM_v2202). This replaces the previous version (PJSM_v2102) released on 06/05/2022. For more information, refer to Microdata and TableBuilder: Participation, Job Search and Mobility.

06/05/2022 Special Release

  • Additional supplementary file released with microdata from the annual Participation, Job Search and Mobility (PJSM) survey for the period Feb 2015 to Feb 2021 (PJSM_v2102). This provided an early indication of how PJSM microdata would be presented for analysis prior to the release of Feb 2022 data.

22/04/2022 - Version 2203, Oct 1982 to Mar 2022

  • Addition of month Mar 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jul 2020 to Feb 2022 to match the previous version (version 2202).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Aug 2021 to Feb 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

24/03/2022 - Version 2203, Oct 1982 to Feb 2022

  • Addition of month Feb 2022.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2020 to Jan 2022 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jan 2022 to match the previous version (version 2201).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jul 2021 to Jan 2022 to account for the additional month of data.

25/02/2022 - Version 2201, Oct 1982 to Jan 2022

  • Addition of month Jan 2022.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Dec 2021 to match the previous version (version 2112).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jun 2021 to Dec 2021 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Updates to Year of arrival (YRARR), Year left school (YRSCHOOL), and Year completed highest non-school qualification (YRCOMNSQ) to include the year 2022. Updates to Year of birth (YRBIRTH) to include the year 2007.

28/01/2022 - Version 2112, Oct 1982 to Dec 2021

  • Addition of month Dec 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Apr 2020 to Nov 2021 to match the previous version (version 2111).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period May 2021 to Nov 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

23/11/2021 - Version 2111, Oct 1982 to Nov 2021

  • Addition of month Nov 2021.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Apr 2020 to Oct 2021 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Sep 2021 and Oct 2021 to match the previous version (version 2110).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Apr 2021 to Oct 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

19/11/2021 - Version 2110, Oct 1982 to Oct 2021

  • Addition of month Oct 2021.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) for Sep 2021 to account for a small increase in non-response bias detected within the incoming rotation groups in Victoria.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Sep 2021 to match the previous version (version 2109).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Mar 2021 to Sep 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

22/10/2021 - Version 2109, Oct 1982 to Sep 2021

  • Addition of month Sep 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jul 2019 to Aug 2021 to match the previous version (version 2108).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Feb 2021 to Aug 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

24/09/2021 - Version 2108, Oct 1982 to Aug 2021

  • Addition of month Aug 2021.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT), Replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2019 to Jul 2021 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jul 2021 to match the previous version (version 2107).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jan 2021 to Jul 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

27/08/2021 - Version 2107, Oct 1982 to Jul 2021

  • Addition of month Jul 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jun 2021 to match the previous version (version 2106).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Dec 2020 to Jun 2021 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Revisions to Reason why worked less than usual hours (REASLTUH) and Reason why full-time workers worked part-time hours (REASLTFT) for the period Jul 2014 to Jun 2021 to correct the categorisation of some people who reported 'Other reasons' and were previously inadvertently grouped into the 'Began, left or lost a job' category.
  • Revisions to Year of birth (YRBIRTH) for the period Oct 1982 to Jun 2014 to improve consistency for records across time. Previously, year of birth was estimated at each point in time based on age. For the period Jul 2014 to Jul 2021, Year of birth is directly collected from respondents and may retain some inconsistency.
  • Addition of replicate weights (REPWTG01 - REPWTG30) to facilitate calculation of variance and standard errors using the Jacknife method.

23/07/2021 - Version 2106, Oct 1982 to Jun 2021 

  • Addition of month Jun 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Oct 2019 to May 2021 to match the previous version (version 2105).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Nov 2020 to May 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

29/06/2021 - Version 2105, Oct 1982 to May 2021

  • Addition of month May 2021.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Oct 2019 to Apr 2021 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Apr 2021 to match the previous version (version 2104).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Oct 2020 to Apr 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

28/05/2021 - Version 2104, Oct 1982 to Apr 2021

  • Addition of month Apr 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Mar 2021 to match the previous version (version 2103).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Sep 2020 to Mar 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

23/04/2021 - Version 2103, Oct 1982 to Mar 2021

  • Addition of month Mar 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Aug 2019 to Feb 2021 to match the previous version (version 2102).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Aug 2020 to Feb 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

26/03/2021 - Version 2102, Oct 1982 to Feb 2021

  • Addition of month Feb 2021.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2019 to Jan 2021 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Jan 2021 to match the previous version (version 2101).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jul 2020 to Jan 2021 to account for the additional month of data.

26/02/2021 - Version 2101, Oct 1982 to Jan 2021

  • Addition of month Jan 2021.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for Dec 2020 to match the previous version (version 2012).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jun 2020 to Dec 2020 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Updates to Decade of arrival (DECARR), Year of arrival (YRARR), Year left school (YRSCHOOL), and Year completed highest non-school qualification (YRCOMNSQ) to include the year 2021.
  • Revisions to the Record ID (ABSRID) and Person ID (ABSPID) of one record in May 2020 due to a minor improvement in linking methods.

29/01/2021 - Version 2012, Oct 1982 to Dec 2020

  • Addition of month Dec 2020.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Apr 2019 to Nov 2020 to match the previous version (version 2011).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period May 2020 to Nov 2020 to account for the additional month of data.

23/12/2020 - Version 2011, Oct 1982 to Nov 2020

  • Addition of month Nov 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Apr 2019 to Oct 2020 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Aug 2020 to Oct 2020 to match the previous version (version 2010).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Apr 2020 to Oct 2020 to account for the additional month of data.

30/11/2020 - Version 2010, Oct 1982 to Oct 2020

  • Addition of month Oct 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) for Aug 2020 and Sep 2020 due to adjustments in the weighted contribution from the incoming rotation group.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Aug 2018 to Sep 2020 to match the previous version (version 2009).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Mar 2020 to Sep 2020 to account for the additional month of data.

23/10/2020 - Version 2009, Oct 1982 to Sep 2020

  • Addition of month Sep 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) for Aug 2020 due to adjustments in the weighted contribution from the incoming rotation group.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Jul 2018 to Aug 2020 to match the previous version (version 2008).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Feb 2020 to Aug 2020 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Revisions to Duration of job search (weeks) (DURJSCH) for three records in Aug 2020 due to a minor coding error

25/09/2020 - Version 2008, Oct 1982 to Aug 2020

  • Addition of month Aug 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2018 to Jul 2020 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Jun 2020 to Jul 2020 to match the previous version (version 2007).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Jan 2020 to Jul 2020 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Additional files provided for concordance of industry and occupation data to International standards and between historical and current Australian standards. For more information, refer to Concordance files

21/08/2020 - Version 2007, Oct 1982 to Jul 2020

  • Addition of month Jul 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) for Jun 2020 due to adjustments in the weighted contribution from the incoming rotation group.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period May 2020 to Jun 2020 to match the previous version (version 2006).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Dec 2019 to Jun 2020 to account for the additional month of data.

24/07/2020 - Version 2006, Oct 1982 to Jun 2020

  • Addition of month Jun 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) for May 2020 due to adjustments in the weighted contribution from the incoming rotation group.
  • Revisions to Previous weight (PREVWT) for the period Jul 2018 to May 2020 to match the previous version (version 2005).
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Nov 2019 to May 2020 to account for the additional month of data.

26/06/2020 - Version 2005, Oct 1982 to May 2020

  • Addition of month May 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Jul 2018 to Apr 2020 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Addition of new item (PREVWT) which provides the unrevised weights from the previous version (version 2004) as a secondary weight for comparison against the newly revised weights.
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) for the period Oct 2019 to Apr 2020 to account for the additional month of data.
  • Addition of new items relating to retrenchments and other jobs left or lost - Number of jobs left or lost in last 3 months (NUMLLJ3M), Lost jobs and retrenchment status in last 3 months (RTRNCH3M), and Reasons left or lost job(s) in last 3 months (RSLLJ3MA to RSLLJ3MM). See the updated Data Item List in Downloads for more details.
  • Addition of new item - Away from work status (AWAYWORK). See the updated Data Item List in Downloads for more details.

22/05/2020 - Version 2004, Oct 1982 to Apr 2020

  • Addition of months Sep 2019 to Apr 2020.
  • Revisions to Weight (WEIGHT) and Population count (POPCOUNT) for the period Apr 2018 to Aug 2019 due to LFS quarterly rebenchmarking.
  • Revisions to Number of responses (NUMRESP) and Response number (RESPNUM) for the period Feb 2019 to Aug 2019 to account for the additional months of data.
  • Updates to Decade of arrival (DECARR), Year of arrival (YRARR), Year left school (YRSCHOOL), and Year completed highest non-school qualification (YRCOMNSQ) to include the year 2020.
  • Updates to First day of reference week (STRTDATE) for the period Oct 2005 to Jun 2014 to include more detailed data.
  • Revisions to Labour market region of usual residence (REGNASGS) for the period Jul 2018 to Aug 2019 to include previously missing data.

06/12/2019 - Version 1908, Oct 1982 to Aug 2019

10/12/2012 - First release, Jan 2008 to Dec 2010

Appendix 1 - Missing months

Labour Force data on microfiche

Microdata for the following months were not recoverable from the magnetic tape archives. Finely detailed tabulated data has been preserved on microfiche, and digitised scans for these missing months are now available. 

Refer to the Labour Force Survey - Tables Directory for Microfiche for more information on how to interpret and navigate data stored on microfiche

Appendix 2 - Historical longitudinal microdata

Australians' Employment and Unemployment Patterns, 1994-1997

Longitudinal Labour Force data was previously collected in the Survey of Employment and Unemployment Patterns (SEUP). Microdata from this survey was released as Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs). These files are now available in ABS DataLab.

For more information about SEUP and the microdata releases, refer to the following archived publications:

Microdata: Australians' Employment and Unemployment Patterns data item lists, 1994-1997

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6602.0.

Previous issues of this release can be found in Microdata: Longitudinal Labour Force, Australia (6602.0)

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