Labour Force Status of Families methodology

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Reference period
June 2020
Released
16/10/2020

Introduction

Labour force estimates of families are produced from data collected in the monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS) in June. Since these products are all based on data collected in the LFS, the methodology of publication Labour Force, Australia is relevant to all three publications. Additional information is provided in Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods.

What is a family?

A family is defined as two related people who live in the same household. This includes all families such as couples with and without children, including same-sex couples, couples with dependants, single mothers or fathers with children, and siblings living together. At least one person in the family has to be 15 years or over. A household may contain more than one family.

    More on how families are defined

    Scope

    Family data was collected for people who were usual residents of private dwellings and whose family relationships could be derived. Children under 15 are included in scope, and their characteristics are used in the classification of parent-child relationships and family type.

    People interviewed in the LFS who were classed as visitors to private dwellings, and those living in non-private dwellings (including hotels, motels, hospitals and other institutions) were excluded. People living in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities were also excluded. After these exclusions were applied, the estimates in this publication for June 2020 cover approximately 80% of the survey sample.

    Benchmarking and estimation

    The estimates are calculated in such a way as to sum to independent counts of people and households (benchmarks). These benchmarks are updated based on Estimated Resident Population (ERP) data.

    For all data published in this release, estimates have been compiled using benchmarks that have been rebased to the results of the 2016 Census. These benchmarks have been revised to include the ERP data as at June 2020. For more details on population benchmarks, see the Methodology of Labour Force, Australia.

    Survey output

    A number of spreadsheets are available from the Data downloads section of this publication. They present tables of estimates and their corresponding relative standard errors (RSEs).

    For users who wish to undertake more detailed analysis, the underlying microdata is available in ABS TableBuilder. For more details, refer to Microdata, Labour Force Status of Families, Australia. For more information see also About TableBuilder.

    Special tabulations are available on request. Subject to confidentiality and sampling variability constraints, tabulations can be produced from the survey incorporating data items, populations and geographic area selections to meet individual requirements. These will be provided in electronic form. All enquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service at client.services@abs.gov.au or to labour.statistics@abs.gov.au

    Reliability of estimates

    Since the estimates in this publication are based on information obtained from occupants of a sample of households, they are subject to sampling variability. That is, they may differ from those estimates that would have been produced if all households had been included in the survey or a different sample was selected.

    Some of the estimates contained in the tables have a relative standard error (RSE) of 50 per cent or greater. These estimates are marked as unreliable for general use. Estimates with an RSE of between 25 and 50 per cent are also marked and should be used with caution.

    The data in these tables are as reported by any responsible adult aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings and were selected in the LFS.

    The data used to compile families statistics can be based on complicated family relationships and this adds complexity around interpreting the aggregated estimates.

    More on reliability of estimates

    Glossary

    Since these products are all based on data collected in the LFS, the Glossary of publication Labour Force, Australia and information is provided in Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, may be of assistance. Further information is also available in the ABS Family, Household and Income Unit Variables Standard.

    The following glossary items relate specifically to family characteristics.

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    Acknowledgement

    ABS surveys draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act, 1905.

    History of changes

    Comparability with previous estimates

    Care should be taken when comparing the latest estimates from this issue of the publication against earlier estimates published in previous issues. Estimates from previous issues have not been recompiled using the latest population and household benchmarks.

    Improvements to family estimates

    From October 2008, the method of producing family estimates from the LFS was improved to include the following:

    • an expanded scope to include households containing permanent members of the defence forces;
    • an increased range of families in the LFS sample contributing to the family estimates; and
    • improvements to the weighting method by utilising independent population benchmarks (of people and households), ensuring the estimates more closely reflect the Australian population.

    For more information, see the Information Paper: Improvements to Family Estimates from the Labour Force Survey, 2008

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