1288.0 - Standards for Labour Force Statistics, 1996

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/11/1996

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Contents >> Full-Time/Part-Time Status >> Underlying concepts

UNDERLYING CONCEPTS

NAME OF VARIABLE

5. The standard term for the variable is 'Full-time/Part-time Status'.

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Nominal definition

6. The definition used in the Labour Force Survey designates full-time workers as persons who:

usually work 35 hours or more per week in all jobs; or

although usually working less than 35 hours a week, actually worked 35 hours or more during the reference week.

7. The Labour Force Survey defines part-time workers as persons who:

usually work less than 35 hours per week and either did so during the reference week, or were not at work in the reference week.

8. 'Full-time/Part-time Status' is an attribute of the counting unit 'person'.

Operational definition

9. Where the maximum Labour Force set is in use, for employed persons full-time/part-time status is measured by counting the total number of hours actually worked in all jobs in the reference week for people at work, and hours usually worked per week in all jobs for persons not at work in the reference week.

10. For unemployed persons, full-time/part-time status is determined subjectively, according to respondent's perception of whether full-time or part-time work was being sought over the last four weeks.

11. Where the minimum Labour Force set is in use, for employed persons full-time/part-time status is measured by counting the total number of hours usually worked per week in all jobs. Persons usually working part-time, who actually worked full-time hours in the reference week, are excluded from the measure derived from the minimum question set. These people are counted as part-time workers when the minimum question set is used.

12. A subjective measure of whether unemployed persons are seeking full-time work or part-time work is also available from the minimum question set.

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS

13. In comparison with the estimates of full-time/part-time status from the Labour Force Survey, the reduced questionnaire module results in lower estimates of full-time workers, and higher estimates of part-time workers. As mentioned above, this is because the reduced question set does not include persons who usually work part-time, but who actually worked full-time in the reference week in the estimate of full-time workers.

14. Usual hours worked is used in the short question module because it can be meaningfully asked of all employed persons, whether or not they are at work during the reference week. Asking only one question for hours worked minimises the size of the question set and avoids complex sequencing.

15. Full-time/Part-time Status of unemployed persons is determined by self perception of whether they are looking for full-time or part-time work in both the maximum and minimum question sets, so estimates derived from either question set would be comparable.