CHANGING THE VOLUME MEASURES OF LABOUR UNDERUTILISATION TO AN AUGUST REFERENCE PERIOD
Prior to July 2008 the suite of labour underutilisation measures were published annually in respect of September. In July 2008 the ABS announced that the labour force underutilisation rate and its component underemployment rate would move to a quarterly frequency of February, May, August and November.
In the July 2009 issue of Australian Labour Market Statistics (ABS cat. no. 6105.0) the ABS announced that the extended labour force underutilisation rate had been revised, in order to have a common reference period with the labour force underutilisation rate. The extended rate is now available in respect of August of each year.
The ABS is currently developing a methodology which will enable the annual volume measures of labour underutilisation to also be produced in respect of August. The volume measures, which provide an alternative perspective on underutilisation from the more common headcount measures, will continue to be released in Australian Labour Market Statistics (ABS cat. no. 6105.0) and the revised time series is expected to be released in the October 2009 issue.
For more information please contact Bjorn Jarvis on (02) 6252 6552 or email <bjorn.jarvis@abs.gov.au>.
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