LFS & APS Update

Marilyn Thomas

Labour Force Survey Output Manager,

Office for National Statistics

Structure

1. Change to Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 1992 – SIC 2007) in LFS/APS from January 2009.- brief overview of SIC change- ONS plans for implementation, outputs & backdata

2. Questionnaire changes: 2009 LFS/APS- new questions- Eurostat Ad Hoc Module

SIC 2007 - Background

• SIC – in use in UK since 1948 to classify businesses by type of economic activity

• LFS – coded to SIC 1980 until 1993/4 & SIC 1992 since 1993/4.

• SIC 2003 not implemented in ONS household surveys as changes minor

• SIC 2007 to be implemented from Jan 2009

(LFS User Guide Vol 5, Classifications, Section 3)

What is SIC 2007?

• Hierarchical 5 digit system

- Section (1 digit – letter A to U) – 21

- Divisions (2 digit) – 88

- Groups (3 digit) – 272

- Classes (4 digit) – 615

- Sub-classes (5 digit) - 191• Based on NACE Rev 2 (European system)

- 4 digits only (5th digit – UK)

SIC 1992 & SIC 2007 – Main Differences

• New sections – more service sector detail

Section J - information & communication

Section L - real estate activities

Section M - professional, scientific & technical services

Section N – administrative & support services

Section R – arts, entertainment & recreation

SIC 2007 - Implementation

• LFS interviewers start coding to SIC 2007 in Jan 2009- using new coding tool in questionnaire- piloted in LFS Dress Rehearsal

• new SIC 2007 industry variables specified• mapping & conversion variables (SIC 1992 to

SIC 2007 & vice-versa) produced (2 digit)• backdata produced (3 years – 2008 - 2006,

LFS & APS, 2 digit)• syntax for production of further backdata

SIC 2007 - Outputs

LFS microdata• January – March 2009 (JM09) LFS

- all industry variables SIC 2007- SIC 1992 (2 digit level only) variables included in datasets for a limited period (based on conversion from SIC 2007)

APS microdata• January – December 2009 (JD09) APSLFS/APS published aggregates • June 2010 (consistency with other LMS)

SIC 2007 - Quality Assurance

• Data Collection & Coding

- interviewer training

- piloting (new codes & coding tool)

- monitoring of interviewer coding practices• Mapping, Conversion Variables & Backdata

- Analysis of mapping & linked records approaches

- Advice to users (in consultation with ONS Methodology Directorate)

Questionnaire Changes – 2009 LFS/APS (1)

• Changes to LFS/APS questionnaire governed by:

- ‘Principles for LFS Questionnaire Development’ (2002 National Statistics Quality Review of LFS)

- LFS timetable for consultation, development & testing

- Cognitive Pilot & Dress Rehearsal recommendations

Questionnaire Changes – 2009 LFS/APS (2)

• Leaving Work for health reasons (HSE)- 4 new questions - reasons for leaving last job …. made

redundant / took early retirement / resigned / left for other reasons …… was this mainly due to health reasons?

• Education and training (DIUS)

- 3 new questions

- GCSE passes in Maths/English / new Diploma / main reason young people not in work, educ or training

Questionnaire Changes – 2009 LFS/APS (3)

• Sickness absence from work (HSE/DWP)- 10 new questions- periods of absence from work due to sickness & categories of illness

• Third sector employment (Cabinet Office)- 3 new questions- whether employed in a ‘social enterprise’, charity, trust, religious organisation.

• Sexual Identity (ONS)- 1 question

Questionnaire Changes – 2009 LFS/APS (4)

• Eurostat Ad Hoc Module (AHM) – The Entry of Young People into the Labour Market- preliminary questions on parent’s county of birth & educational attainment- respondent’s (aged 16-34) educational attainment, work experience before leaving education & training, time taken to obtain first job, nature of first job, etc

• Changes to Eurostat Regulations – AHM now wave 1 all quarters (& special weight)

Summary

• SIC 2007

- background

- changes

- implementation

- outputs

- backdata

• 2009 LFS/APS questionnaire changes

- new questions

- Eurostat Ad Hoc Module

NS Website References

• Labour Force Survey User Guides:http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk

=1537&Pos=3&ColRank=1&Rank=272

• Labour Force Survey Performance & Quality Monitoring Report (PQM):

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=10675

• Labour Force Survey Summary Quality Report (SQR):http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/quality/Qualitysocialstats.asp

• Labour Market Statistics Integrated First Release:http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=1944

Questions and Comments

Thank You for

Listening

email: marilyn.thomas@ons.gov.uk