Methods: Four pillars of labour statistics

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Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods
Reference period
2021
Released
15/02/2022

ABS labour statistics are drawn from four key types of data sources, or “pillars” of data, which provide complementary insights into the labour market. These are:

  • household surveys - individual households answer labour market questions about their individual, family or household circumstances (e.g. the monthly Labour Force Survey)
  • business surveys - collect a broad range of information from businesses about jobs and employees (e.g. the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, Job Vacancies Survey)
  • administrative data - information maintained by governments (such as taxation data) and other entities made available to the ABS for statistical purposes (e.g. as published in Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages)
  • accounts compilation - bringing together data from separate administrative, business, and household sources to produce an Australian Labour Account)
Shows the four pillars that underpin Australian labour market statistics: Household Surveys, Business Surveys. Administrative Data and Labour Accounts
Shows the four pillars that underpin Australian labour market statistics: Household Surveys, Business Surveys. Administrative Data and Labour Accounts

Sample surveys versus censuses

Sample design and sampling techniques

Weighting and estimation

Editing

Time series estimates

Reliability of estimates

Confidentiality

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