Philippines - Labor Force Survey, April 2016, April Labor Force Survey

Philippines Labor Force Survey, April 2016

April Labor Force Survey

Labor Force Survey The Labor Force Survey (LFS) is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.

Starting July 1987, the LFS used a new questionnaire design and adopted modifications in the concepts and definitions for measuring labor force and employment characteristics. The design was based on a past week reference period and the new concept on “availability and looking for work” was adopted.

Starting July 1996, the LFS used the new sampling design constructed from the listings of the 1995 Census of Population. The number of households increased from 26,000 to an expanded sample of about 41,000 households.

The questionnaire was revised in January 2001 with the inclusion of questions on salaries and wages, new entrants, and other occupations, among others. It was further revised in January 2002 with the inclusion of the line number of respondent and a screening question, whether the household member has another job or business during the past week.

Starting July 2003, the LFS used the 2003 Master Sample (MS) constructed from the Enumeration Area Reference File (EARF) of the 2000 Census of Population and Housing (CPH). The number of sample households increased from 41,000 to about 51,000 households nationwide which was deemed sufficient to provide more precise and reliable estimates at the regional level.

Starting April 2005, the new unemployment definition has been adopted in accordance with the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Resolution No. 15 dated October 20, 2004. As indicated in the said resolution, the unemployed include all persons who are 15 years and over as of their last birthday and are reported as:

(1) without work and currently available for work and seeking work; or

(2) without work and currently available for work but not seeking work for the following reasons:

Tired or believed no work available

Awaiting results of previous job application

Temporary illness or disability

Bad weather

Waiting for rehire or job recall

Starting January 2012, there was a revision made to the questionnaire with the inclusion of question on technical/vocational education and training (TVET). Also, there were changes on the codes for the interview status and highest grade completed. Also, in this round, the LFS adopted the 2009 four-digit Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC) codes in classifying the industry. Prior to this, the 1994 PSIC was used.

Question on hunger experienced by any member of the household and the frequency of experiencing it, was included in the questionnaire starting July 2012. The question, "During the past three months, did any member of your family experience hunger because you did not have money to buy food?" was used from July 2012 to April 2013 LFS rounds. In July 2013 round, the question was revised to "During the past three months, did any member of your family experience hunger because you did not have food to eat?"

Starting April 2016, the 2013 Master Sample Design was used. Also, the 2012 four-digit Philippine Standard Occupational Classification (PSOC) code was used.

The LFS April 2016 was the 168th series of surveys on labor statistics that started in 1956.

ID Number PHL-PSA-LFS-APR2016-v01

The scope of the LFS includes:

· Demographic Characteristics: household membership, relationship to the household head, sex, age, marital status, highest grade completed and also includes Overseas worker indicator.

· Economic Characteristics: employment status, industry group, class of worker, nature of employment, hours worked, availability for work, job search method.

Topic	Vocabulary	URI
Labour	Philippine Statistics Authority
Sectoral statistics	Philippine Statistics Authority
Household surveys	Philippine Statistics Authority

The sample was selected to allow separate estimates for the national level, and regional levels only (17 administrative regions).

National Capital Region (NCR)

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Region I - Ilocos Region

Region II - Cagayan Valley

Region III - Central Luzon

Region IV-A - CALABARZON

Region IV-B - MIMAROPA

Region V - Bicol Region

Region VI - Western Visayas

Region VII - Central Visayas

Region VIII - Eastern Visayas

Region IX - Zamboanga Peninsula

Region X - Northern Mindanao

Region XI - Davao Region

Region XII - SOCCSKSARGEN

Caraga

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

The survey covered all household members of the sample households.

Considered as members of a household are:

a. Persons who are present at the time of visit, whose usual place of residence is the sample household regardless of their length of stay in the household;

b. Persons who are present at the time of visit, whose usual place of residence is outside the sample household but have stayed temporarily with the sample household, for at least 30 days;

c. Persons who are present at the time of visit, whose usual place of residence is outside the sample household but have stayed with the sample household even for less than 30 days, provided that they have been away from their usual place of residence for 30 days or more;

d. Persons who are not present at the time of visit, but are expected to return within 30 days from date of departure to their usual place of residence, which is the sample household; and

e. The following family members who are away at the time of visit:

1 . verseas contract workers (OCWs);

2. Other overseas Filipino workers who have been away for not more than five years from the date of departure, and are expected to be back within five years from the date of last departure;

3. Employees in Philippine embassies, consulates and other missions; and

4. Students abroad/tourists who have been away for one year or less and are expected to be back within a year from the date of departure. This category also includes those attending training abroad, medical treatment and missionaries.

Name	Abbreviation	Affiliation	Role
Income and Employment Statistics Division	IESD	Philippine Statistics Authority	Documenter

2017-06-19 Version 1.0 First metadata documentation of LFS-APRIL 2016

DDI-PHL-PSA-LFS-APR2016-v1