6102.0.55.001 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Aug 2006  
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CHAPTER 21.8 LOCATIONS OF WORK

Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods was originally released in 2001 in both electronic and paper versions (cat. no. 6102.0). The paper publication will not be rereleased. However, the web version (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001) is being updated on an ongoing basis. This chapter was updated on 3 August, 2006.

INTRODUCTION

21.8.1 This survey provides information about the locations in which people work (such as their own home or employer's premises) and the job characteristics and working arrangements of people who work at home. The Locations of Work Survey was first introduced in 2000, and was conducted again in 2005. This survey will be conducted again in November 2008. It replaces the Survey of Persons Employed at Home conducted in 1989, 1992 and 1995.

21.8.2 Data from the survey is relevant to a wide range of policies and programs, including trends in work performed away from the employer's workplace, working conditions, gender equity in the workforce, labour market planning and assistance (e.g. access to child care by working parents), changes in workplace arrangements, and the effects of technology. Information on locations of work is used to monitor trends in workplace locations.

21.8.3 This section describes only those aspects of the methodology that are unique to this survey, and hence should be used in conjunction with the overview part of this chapter, which outlines the survey methodology used in supplementary surveys.


SURVEY OUTPUT

21.8.4 Prior to 2000, data from the survey was published in Persons Employed at Home, Australia (cat. no. 6275.0). In 2000, the survey was renamed Locations of Work, Australia (cat. no. 6275.0). More detailed data are available upon request.


21.8.5 Data from the survey relates to employed persons aged 15 years and over with particular focus on whether or not they worked any hours at home in either their main or second job during the reference week. People who 'worked any hours at home' are further classified according to whether they 'worked only or mainly at home in their main or second job' or 'did not work only or mainly at home in either their main or second job'.

  • People were defined as 'working only or mainly at home in main or second job' if they worked more hours at their own home than any other single location in their main job or in their second job.

Estimates are produced on an original basis only (i.e. not seasonally adjusted) and include:

Socio-demographic information

State or territory of usual residence, capital city/balance of state of usual residence, region of usual residence, sex, marital status, relationship in household, country of birth, year of arrival, age group and whether had child(ren) under 15 years.

Employed persons

Full-time or part-time status, occupation, industry, status in employment, all locations of work, main location of work, number of locations of work, whether worked at home, whether had an arrangement with employer to work at home, hours actually worked, hours usually worked, whether entitled to paid holiday leave, whether entitled to paid sick leave, whether has paid leave entitlements, employment type. (Note that if the person is a multiple job holder, information is collected for both main and second job).

Employed persons who work at least some hours at home

Hours actually worked at home in reference week, hours usually worked at home, main reason for working at home, use of information technology at home, occupation in job worked at home, industry in job worked at home and status in employment in job worked at home. (Note that if the person is a multiple job holder, information is collected in relation to job(s) in which the person works at home).

21.8.6 Data collected in the survey are compiled according to concepts and definitions outlined in Chapter 4 (Employment Measures and Classifications; Employment characteristics), Chapter 13 (Industrial Relations; Trade Union membership) and Chapter 16 (Other Classifications used in Labour Statistics; Industry and Socio-Demographic Classifications).


SCOPE

21.8.7 The scope of this survey is restricted to persons aged 15 years and over. The standard scope restrictions for supplementary surveys outlined in the overview part of Chapter 21 (Labour Force Supplementary Surveys) also applies to this survey.


DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME

21.8.8 In order to provide a high degree of consistency and comparability over time, changes to survey methods, survey concepts, data item definitions, frequency of collection, and analysis methods are made as infrequently as possible. The survey was redeveloped for the June 2000 collection, as a result of client requirements and a desire to better meet the statistical requirements of the ILO convention on home-based work. Changes to the survey scope and sample size mean that the standard errors for the surveys differ over time. The 2000 survey considerably expanded the scope of the survey. Changes affecting the Labour Force Survey may also affect this survey. Such changes are outlined in Chapter 20 (Labour Force Survey) and are not repeated here.

1989

Initial survey conducted (April) - data published in Persons Employed at Home, Australia (cat. no. 6275.0).

Persons employed at home defined as persons who usually worked more hours at home than elsewhere, in their main or second job. Farmers, ASCO unit groups 1401 (farmers and farm managers) and 8201(farm hands and assistants) were excluded.

1992

Survey conducted (March).

1995

Survey conducted (September).

Sample restricted to seven-eighths of the Labour Force Survey sample.

2000

Survey conducted (June).

Survey redeveloped and renamed Locations of Work.

Persons living in remote and sparsely settled areas excluded from scope.

Persons employed at home redefined as people who, in the reference week, mainly or only work at home or in the home of another person (not employer's or client's home) or work at own home or in the home of another person as part of their formal working arrangements. Farmers who only or mainly worked at home were also included. Note: 'persons employed at home' as defined in the 1989, 1992 and 1995 surveys are not identifiable in the 2000 survey.

2005

Survey conducted (November).

Survey definition relating to 'employed persons who worked at home' redeveloped. People were defined as working 'only or mainly at home in main or second job' if they worked more hours at their own home than any other single location in their main job or in their second job.

Additional data items collected for this survey:
  • hours usually worked in all jobs;
  • hours usually worked at home in main/second/all job/s;
  • use of information technology in job worked at home and in main/second job;
  • whether entitled to paid sick/holiday leave in main/second job;
  • industry in job worked at home and in second job; and
  • occupation in job worked at home and in second job.

Data items no longer collected in this survey:
  • time in job worked at home;
  • basis of payment in job worked at home;
  • main basis of payment in job worked at home;
  • superannuation coverage;
  • workers' compensation coverage;
  • trade union membership; and
  • where work is based in job in which travels.


FURTHER INFORMATION

21.8.9 For further details contact the Labour Market Statistics Section Canberra, on (02) 6252 7206.



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