Microdata and TableBuilder: Characteristics of recent migrants

The Characteristics of Recent Migrants Survey (CoRMS) provides data about the labour force status and other characteristics of recent migrants and temporary residents. The CoRMS was conducted in November 2019 throughout Australia as a supplement to the monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). See Characteristics of Recent Migrants, Australia, November 2019 for summary results, methodology and other information.

The data can be accessed using:

• TableBuilder - produce your own tables and graphs. TableBuilder is available for the following survey years: 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010. See the TableBuilder data item lists included with this release.
• DataLab - expanded microdata is available in DataLab for the following survey years: 2010, 2007. See the expanded microdata data item lists included with this release.

Compare access options to see what's right for you or Apply for access.

Data items include:

• Demographics, such as age, sex and country of birth
• Geography
• Labour force characteristics
• Educational qualifications
• Educational attainment before and after arrival
• Employment before and after arrival
• Visa and residency status
• Proficiency in spoken English
• Household income

Use the TableBuilder data item list 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. It includes detailed data on the recent migrant and temporary resident population as well as data on the general characteristics of all persons (the total population).

The TableBuilder User Guide provides you with information about how to create basic tables, custom groups, graphs and large tables. It also includes practical examples and video tutorials.

When tabulating data in TableBuilder, person weights are automatically applied to the underlying sample counts.

Weighting is the process of adjusting results from a sample survey to infer results for the total population. To do this, a 'weight' is allocated to each sample unit.

The weight is the value that indicates how many population units are represented by the sample unit.

Most data items included in the TableBuilder file include a 'Not applicable' category. The classification values of these 'Not applicable' categories, where relevant, are shown in the TableBuilder data item list. The 'Not applicable' category generally represents the number of people who were not asked a particular question or the number of people excluded from the population for a data item when that data was derived. For example, for the data item Current residency status, the 'Not applicable' category are those people who are not recent migrants or temporary residents.

Most data items included in the TableBuilder file include a 'Not applicable' category.

The classification values of these 'Not applicable' categories, where relevant, are shown in the TableBuilder data item list.

The 'Not applicable' category generally represents the number of people who were not asked a particular question or the number of people excluded from the population for a data item when that data was derived. For example, for the data item Current residency status, the 'Not applicable' category are those people who are not recent migrants or temporary residents.

The CoRMS TableBuilder includes several continuous variables: 

• They can have a response value at any point along a continuum.
• Some continuous data items are allocated special codes for certain responses (e.g. 000 = 'Not applicable').
• When creating ranges in TableBuilder for such continuous items, special codes will automatically be excluded. Therefore the total will show only 'valid responses' rather than all responses (including special codes). These codes are shown in the data item list.
• Continuous items with special codes have a corresponding categorical item on the Person level that provides the ability to display data for the special code. Refer to the data item list.

A confidentiality process called perturbation is applied to the data in TableBuilder to avoid releasing information that may lead to the identification of individuals, families, households, dwellings or businesses. See Confidentiality in the TableBuilder User Guide.

This release previously used catalogue number 6250.0.25.002.