6102.0.55.001 - Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Dec 2005
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/12/2005
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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 15 December, 2005.
22.0.2 This chapter describes the broad survey methodology of the MPHS. For information on the two labour related MPHS topics that have been conducted to date (Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation and Retirement and Retirement Intentions), see chapters 22.1 and 22.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE MULTI PURPOSE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY 22.0.3 The MPHS topics are an important part of the ABS's household surveys program, which aims to:
22.0.4 The information requirements of MPHS topics are determined on the basis of submissions from users on their needs for and uses of household survey data. They also reflect ABS deliberations on what is required of a national statistics program in the various subject fields, based on user contact and consultation. 22.0.5 The MPHS is a flexible multi-topic survey vehicle which is used to collect and output data in a timely fashion. The MPHS includes a number of topics that need personal interviewing (rather than using the any responsible adult (ARA) method) which are therefore unsuited to the monthly supplementary program. The MPHS will have shorter development and output times than the special social surveys to give flexibility in responding to user demands as they arise and to allow the ABS to respond to emerging demand and contemporary priorities in a timely way (publications will usually be available within six months of completion of data collection). 22.0.6 In addition to the labour-related topics outlined in paragraph 22.0.1, the MPHS program also includes other social and economic topics not related to labour statistics, such as household use of information technology, family transitions, adult learning, and time use. SURVEY OUTPUT 22.0.7 Estimates from each MPHS topic are released in separate publications. An expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) will be made available from each MPHS via the Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL). More information on CURFS and the RADL can be found on the ABS website, Services We Provide - CURFS. Other estimates are available on request. SCOPE 22.0.8 In addition to those already excluded from the LFS, the following people are excluded from most MPHS topics (see paragraphs 18.2 to 18.4 of Chapter 18 for further information):
22.0.9 Depending on the topic, there may be further exclusions from scope. For example, some MPHS topics collect information only from a certain population or interest group (e.g. information on retirement is collected from people aged 45 years or over). COLLECTION METHODOLOGY 22.0.10 The MPHS is conducted in conjunction with the monthly LFS. One third of the dwellings in the LFS out-going rotation group (one eighth of the sample is rotated out each month) are selected for enumeration in the MPHS. From each dwelling selected for the MPHS, one person is randomly selected for interview. 22.0.11 The main collection method for the MPHS is personal interview, using computer assisted telephone interviewing. 22.0.12 Data for MPHS topics are collected each month over a financial year. This should reduce the impact of any seasonal effects on the data. For the first MPHS, conducted in respect of 2004-05, interviewing commenced in August 2004 rather than July. SAMPLE DESIGN 22.0.13 The MPHS uses the same sample design as the LFS. The sample used in the MPHS is a subset of the LFS sample. Each month a sample of approximately 1,250 dwellings were selected. 22.0.14 The size of the sample selected is approximately 15,000, but the response rates for the MPHS are slightly lower than for the LFS (averaging around 88%). The number of fully responding households will therefore be around 13,000. The size of the MPHS sample may be increased with user funding. ESTIMATION METHODS 22.0.15 The estimation technique used for household surveys is the generalised regression estimator. 22.0.16 The survey is benchmarked to the estimated civilian population aged 15 years and over living in private dwellings in each state and territory in non-sparsely settled areas. The process of weighting ensures that the survey estimates conform to person benchmarks by state, part of state, sex, age and household composition. RELIABILITY OF THE ESTIMATES 22.0.17 Estimates from the MPHS are subject to both sampling and non-sampling error (see Chapter 17 for more detail). The relative standard errors (RSE) for each of the survey estimates will be published in shadow tables. For further information on calculating RSEs from the MPHS, see the technical notes of each publication. 22.0.18 A 'group jack-knife' variance estimator is used to calculate estimates of variance (see Chapter 17 for more detail). FURTHER INFORMATION 22.0.19 For further details contact the Labour Market Statistics Section, on Canberra (02) 6252 7206.
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