|
|
 |
interim 2001-census-adjusted LFS estimates |
| |
|
Labour Force Survey Quality Measures
This page provides an overview of the wide variety of LFS quality measures which are available. Links are provided to detailed information and reports which are currently available. Additionally, ONS has a program of work which will be recommending how best to report quality measures in the future as part of its modernisation program.
Sampling errors
Details of sampling errors are published each month in the Labour Market Statistics Integrated First Release.
Further information is also given in the Labour Force Survey Quarterly Supplement and the LFS User Guide Volume 1.
ONS currently have a program of work to expand the range of sampling errors available. First results are expected to be published on the National Statistics Website in July.
Response rates
Response rates are available each quarter in the LFS 'Performance and Quality monitoring Report (PQM)'.
This report covers overall response, question specific, proxy and wave specific response and response by government office region.
Proxy responses
The LFS has to complete fieldwork to a tight timetable and interview as many sampled households as possible. Interviewers try to interview every adult in the sampled household, however this is not always possible to tight time scales and they accept information by proxy from another responsible adult in the household. This naturally raises the issue of whether proxy responses are sufficiently accurate. Research carried out into the impact of proxy response error forms section 11 of the LFS User Guide volume 1
Imputation of missing responses
The LFS rolls forward responses from certain types of non-responders who responded at the previous wave. In particular, such imputation is done for non-contacts and 'circumstantial refusals' who it is felt could respond again in the future. This procedure aims to reduce non-response bias in the cross-sectional estimates while improving precision by boosting the sample size. Section 12 of the LFS User Guide volume 1 contains analyses carried out in this area.
The National Statistics LFS quality review recommended further investigation of the effect of imputation on estimates of change.
Non-response bias
The biggest problem for non-response is to assess the bias it actually leads too. A Census Non-Response study (CNR) is currently underway which will use the results of the 2001 Census and compare with LFS responses of the same time period to assess the scope of non-response bias and investigate ways in which improved weighting systems can further reduce any such bias. An initial report is due at the end of 2003. A report of the CNR conducted after the 1991 Census can be found in Section 9 of the LFS User Guide volume 1
Information on a wide variety of LFS quality measures are contained in the LFS User Guide Volume 1
This volume covers sample design, fieldwork and processing procedures and details of non-sampling errors; weighting; seasonal adjustment and discontinuity
Labour Market Trends articles of relevance to LFS quality
Labour Market Trends (LMT) often contains articles concerning different aspects of LFS quality. Recent articles have covered 'Methodology for the 2001/02 annual local area LFS data' Jan 03; 'The new ethnicity classification in the LFS' Dec 02; 'Review of the LFS' Oct 02; 'Effect of the introduction of SOC2000 on employment estimates' Sep 02; 'Hours worked: a comparison of estimates from the LFS and the NES' Aug 02. Complete issues of LMT from July 2001 are available on the Web.
This page last revised: Wednesday, 9 August 2006
|
 |
|
|
Search 
