1. LFS Questionnaire Developments Marilyn Thomas Office for National Statistics

2. Structure 1. Background to LFS Questionnaire Development 2. LFS Questionnaire Development Issues 3. LFS Questionnaire Development Process 4. LFS Questionnaire Developments for 2007 5. Future Developments – 2008 & beyond

3. 1. Background to LFS Questionnaire Development (1) LFS since 1973, quarterly since 1992 (1994 NI). Users: BoE, HMT, DWP, DfES, WAG, SE, DFT, DTI, HO, Eurostat, LAs, academics, media, etc Uses: - Policy formulation & decision making - Macro-economic monitoring - Sub-national statistics - Characteristics of the unemployed - Monitoring training and qualifications - Monitoring employment legislation

4. 1. Background to LFS Questionnaire Development (2) Questionnaire Development essential due to: Changes in external environment: e.g. demographic, labour market, legislative, etc. Changes in policy, policy interests & government initiatives: e.g. work, benefits, qualifications (UK), working time arrangements, accidents at work, integration of migrants in the labour market (Eurostat).

5. 1. Background to LFS Questionnaire Development (3) Original Purpose of LFS: conducted for Eurostat as a condition of EU membership - regular questions & annual ad hoc module Primary Purpose of LFS is now: …the prompt publication of key aggregate, whole economy, indicators, for the integrated assessment of labour market conditions (National Statistics Quality Review of the LFS, 2002)

6. 2. Questionnaire Development Issues 1. Balance requirements of different customers 2. Balance requirements for change with discontinuity & time-series issues 3. Review performance of questions & questionnaire 4. Review impact on interview length, respondent burden & response rates 5. Review impact on Derived Variables (DVs)

7. 3. Questionnaire Development Process 1. Consultation & negotiation with key customers 2. Evaluation of customer requirements 3. LFS Cognitive Test 4. LFS Dress Rehearsal 5. Presentation of proposals to customers 6. Implementation in LFS

8. 4. LFS Questionnaire Developments 2007 2007 Eurostat Ad Hoc Module: Accidents at work & work-related health problems & additional questions on accidents (HSE) Other Changes for 2007 LFS: Extension of age thresholds to 69 New education questions & changes to existing National Insurance & Income Tax payments – better identification of self-employed Frequency of working atypical hours (Eurostat) Frequency of speaking Welsh (Wales only)

9. 5. LFS Questionnaire Developments 2008+ Eurostat 2008 Ad Hoc Module: Labour Market Situation of Migrants & their Immediate Descendants Other changes for 2008: Limited change to meet high priority customer data requirements only Eurostat 2009 Ad Hoc Module: Entry of Young People into the Labour Market

10. LFS Questionnaire Development Useful References: Werner, B. (2006) Reflections on 15 Years of Change in Using the LFS, Labour Market Trends, vol.114, no.08. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.asp?ID=1610&Pos=1& ColRank=1&Rank=1 What Exactly is the Labour Force Survey? http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=4756 &Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422 LFS User Guides http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1537 &Pos=3&ColRank=1&Rank=272

11. LFS Questionnaire Development Questions & Comments email: marilyn.thomas@ons.gov.uk