The comparability of labour force survey (LFS) and quarterly labour force survey (QLFS)

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Date

2009

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Stellenbosch University

Abstract

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has been collecting labour market data since 1993 with the October Household Survey (OHS), which was conducted annually between 1993 and 1999, as well as the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which was a biannual survey introduced in 2000 to replace the OHS. In March 2005, consultants from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were appointed to revise all aspects of the LFS. All documents, processes and procedures relating to the LFS were reviewed, before a report on the findings was presented to Stats SA in June 2005. At the end, it was decided to re-engineer the LFS, and this took place in October 2005. Moreover, consultants were appointed in 2006 to help improve the survey questionnaire, sampling and weighting, data capture and processing systems. Eventually, Stats SA came up with a decision that the LFS would take place on a quarterly basis from 2008, i.e., the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) was introduced to replace the LFS.

Description

Keywords

South Africa, Household survey, Stats SA, Informal sector workers, Comparability

Citation

Derek Yu, 2009. "The comparability of labour force survey (LFS) and quarterly labour force survey (QLFS)," Working Papers 08/2009, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.