UPDATE TO LABOUR STATISTICS: CONCEPTS, SOURCES AND METHODS
The ABS released the Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods manual (cat. no. 6102.0) in August 2001. This paper publication was replaced by an electronic version of the manual, which has the same title but a different catalogue number (6102.0.55.001). Maintaining an electronic version allows the ABS to regularly update the manual to reflect the current concepts, sources and methods used in compiling Australian labour statistics. Several chapters have been updated, new chapters have been added and existing chapters have been renumbered over time.
Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods provides a comprehensive discussion and description of the concepts and definitions underpinning Australian labour statistics and the data sources and methods used in the collection and compilation of these statistics. It explains what the statistics measure, how the various measures relate to each other and how they are produced. It also discusses the factors influencing their accuracy and reliability.
The manual aims to help statistics users to improve their understanding of the range of Australian labour statistics, leading to better analyses and informed decision-making based on those statistics. It offers users a comprehensive discussion and description of the different labour statistical series. The material is a valuable resource for economists, social analysts, educators, government and industry advisers, and others wanting to understand the methodology behind key labour statistical series like the Labour Force Survey, the Wage Cost Index, and the Survey of Average Weekly Earnings.
The latest issue of Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 6102.0.55.001) was released on-line in 2007 and various individual chapters have been updated since then. The Labour Market Statistics Section is currently in the process of reviewing the content and structure of all Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods chapters to reflect international developments in concepts and changes in ABS statistical collections. Revised versions of the current chapters will be published in the near future. These new versions of the chapters will be released as they become available and will replace existing versions of the chapters in the 2007 publication. All updates will be listed and future updates will be added as they occur in the “History of Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods” section on the summary page of the publication.
For further information please contact Kirsty Leslie on (02) 6252 5436 or email <kirsty.leslie@abs.gov.au>.
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