CHAPTER 21.13. SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH EXPERIENCE
INTRODUCTION
21.13.1 This survey collected information about the job search experience of job seekers. It provided information on the ways people look for jobs, and particularly on the methods which prove ultimately to be successful. First conducted in 1982, the survey was conducted biennially in July until 2000. From July 2002, the survey was combined with the annual survey of Job Search Experience of Unemployed Persons (see Chapter 21.4), forming the annual survey of Job Search Experience (see Chapter 21.17). Data from the survey were used in formulating policies in areas such as labour market assistance, and control and review mechanisms for unemployment benefit payments.
21.13.2 This section describes only those aspects of the methodology that were 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
21.13.3 Data from the survey were published in Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience, Australia (cat. no. 6245.0). More detailed data are available on request.
21.13.4 The main population of interest in the survey was persons who had started or looked for a job during the 12 months prior to the survey date. Only jobs paid by wages or salary were included. Persons who started a new job with the same employer were excluded. Estimates included:
Socio-demographic information
Sex, age, marital status, relationship in household, family, geographic region, educational attainment, birthplace and year of arrival in Australia.
Data on successful job seekers
Selected labour force characteristics, number of jobs started in the previous 12 months, method of job attainment, whether out of work before commencing a job, duration of job search, preferred occupation, and role of Centrelink or CES in job attainment.
Data on unsuccessful job seekers
Steps taken to find work, type of work looking for (occupation, full-time or part-time work), duration looking for work, and number of spells looking for work.
21.13.5 All data collected were compiled according to concepts and definitions outlined in: Chapter 2 (currently economically active population), Chapter 3 (employment), Chapter 4 (employment characteristics), Chapter 6 (unemployment) and Chapter 16 (other classification used in labour statistics).
SCOPE
21.13.6 The scope of this survey was restricted to persons aged 15 and over. The standard scope restrictions for supplementary surveys outlined in the overview part of Chapter 21 also applied to this survey.
DATA COMPARABILITY OVER TIME
21.13.7 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 were made as infrequently as possible. Over the time the survey was conducted there were some changes to the scope and sample size. These changes mean that the standard errors for the survey differed over time. The effect on estimates of the change in scope is considered to have been small. Changes affecting the Labour Force Survey may also have affected this survey. Such changes are outlined in Chapter 20 and are not repeated here.
1982
Initial survey conducted (July) - preliminary data published in Methods of Obtaining Jobs, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 6244.0) and final data in Methods of Obtaining Jobs, Australia (cat. no. 6245.0).
Survey scope - persons aged 15 and over except those still attending school.
Data were from persons who started a wage or salary job over the six months to July 1982.
1986
Survey conducted (June) - preliminary data published in Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 6244.0) and final data in Successful and Unsuccessful Job Search Experience, Australia (cat. no. 6245.0).
Data were collected from persons who looked for, or started, a wage or salary job over the previous 12 months.
Preliminary publication discontinued.
1990
Biennial collection commenced (July).
Survey scope - all persons aged 15 and over.
1994
Sample restricted to seven-eighths of the Labour Force Survey sample.
1998
Persons living in remote and sparsely settled areas excluded from scope.
Additional questions on active steps to find work, and on role of CES/Centrelink in job attainment, revised to reflect changes in the employment services market.
2000
Final survey. Replaced by Job Search Experience Survey from July 2002.
FURTHER INFORMATION
21.13.8 For further details contact the Labour Market Statistics Section, on Canberra (02) 6252 7206 or email <labour.statistics@abs.gov.au>.
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