1. Introduction

This page provides an overview of the wide variety of Labour Force Survey (LFS) quality measures that are available.

For further information, see “Related links” for detailed documentation and reports that are currently available.

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2. 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 LFS quarterly supplement and the LFS user guide volume 1.

ONS have expanded the range of sampling errors available. First results have been published on the National Statistics website.

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3. 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.

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4. 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 timescales, 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”.

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5. 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.

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6. Non-response bias

The biggest problem for non-response is to assess the bias it actually leads to.

A Census Non-response (CNR) Link study was carried out that used the results of the 2011 Census and compared these 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. A report, “Non- response weights in the Labour Force Survey? Results from the Census Non-response Link Survey” is published in the “Labour Market articles and reports” section of the ONS website.

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.

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