ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
This publication presents information about persons aged 18 years and over who were either not employed or who usually worked less than 35 hours per week. In respect of employed persons, the Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation topic collects data only for those working less than 35 hours, as they have the greatest potential to increase their labour force participation. The data collected provides information on the potential labour force and the characteristics of that potential labour force.
Data from this survey are used to obtain a better understanding of the factors that influence persons to participate (more) in the labour force and the hours they work. By identifying the barriers that persons face in joining the labour force or in working greater hours or in getting a job, a range of incentives to increase labour force participation and hours worked may then be identified. The data are cross-classified by a range of demographic characteristics such as age and sex, as well as labour force characteristics.
The statistics in this publication were compiled from the Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS), conducted throughout Australia during the 2014–15 financial year, as a supplement to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS).
Information on the other topics collected in the 2014–15 MPHS can be found in Paragraph 1 of the Explanatory Notes.
CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE
For the 2012–13 survey, questions were included on Previous full-time job details and Main source of current personal income. These were excluded from the 2014–15 survey.
For the 2014–15 survey, enhancements were made to the Previous job payment arrangements question, adding the response category of 'Unpaid trainee/work placement'. Enhancements were also made to survey questions on why not looking for work or more hours, trouble finding work or more hours and wanting more hours. The response categories of 'No need/satisfied with current arrangements/retired (for now)' and 'Visa requirements' were added to these questions.
Questions on incentives to join or increase participation were included in 2014–15 survey. The incentives module used to be collected every second cycle but now its part of the core content and therefore included in each iteration of the survey.
NOTES ABOUT ESTIMATES
The MPHS is designed primarily to provide estimates at the Australia level. Broad estimates are also available for states and territories, although users should exercise caution when using estimates at this level, because of the presence of high sampling errors. For further information about the reliability of the estimates see paragraph 13 of the Explanatory Notes.
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