Labour Force Survey – user guidance

Guidance about the background and methodology of the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

Last revised:
18 May 2026

Table of contents

  1. Volume 1: Background and methodology
  2. Volume 2: LFS questionnaire
  3. Volume 2a: Transitional questionnaire
  4. Volume 3: Details of LFS variables
  5. Volume 3: Details of LFS variables, 1992 to 2002
  6. Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables
  7. Volume 4a: LFS education derived variables
  8. Volume 5: LFS classifications
  9. Volume 6: APS user guide
  10. Volume 7: LFS variables, 1979 to 1991
  11. Volume 8: Household family variables
  12. Volume 9: Eurostat and Eurostat derived variables
  13. Volume 9a: LFS user guide Eurostat ad hoc modules, 2008 to 2019
  14. Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the LFS: which dataset should I use?
  15. Volume 11: Longitudinal user guide

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1. Volume 1: Background and methodology

2026 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.5MB)

2024 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.5MB)

2022 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.2MB)

2020 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.5MB)

2018 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.6MB)

2016 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.8MB)

2015 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (PDF, 1.5MB)

2011 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (881.5 Kb Pdf)

2009 update Volume 1: Background and methodology (1.89 Mb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 1: Background and methodology (3.02 Mb Pdf)

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2. Volume 2: LFS questionnaire

2026 update Volume 2: LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.8MB)

2025 update Volume 2: LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.8MB)

2022 update Volume 2: LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.8MB)

2021 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (PDF, 3.0MB)

2020 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.9MB)

2019 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.6MB)

2018 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.7MB)

2017 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.9MB)

2016 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (PDF, 2.8MB)

2015 update Volume 2: User guide to the LFS questionnaire (2.76 Mb Pdf)

2014 update Volume 2: 2014 questionnaire (2.54 Mb Pdf)

2013 update Volume 2: 2013 questionnaire (2.36 Mb Pdf)

2012 update Volume 2: 2012 questionaire (808.1 Kb Pdf)

2011 update Volume 2: 2011 questionnaire (821.1 Kb Pdf)

2010 update Volume 2: 2010 questionnaire (1.16 Mb Pdf)

2009 update Volume 2: 2009 questionnaire (911.1 Kb Pdf)

2008 update Volume 2: 2008 questionnaire (721 Kb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 2: 2007 questionnaire (855.8 Kb Pdf)

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3. Volume 2a: Transitional questionnaire

2007 release Volume 2a: 2007 transitional questionnaire (951.8 Kb Pdf)

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4. Volume 3: Details of LFS variables

2026 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (PDF, 2.9MB)

2025 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (PDF, 2.9MB)

2023 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables 2023 (Version 2 - July to September 2023) (PDF, 5.0MB)

2023 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables 2023 (Version 1 - April to June 2023) (PDF, 2.9MB)

2022 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (PDF, 5.3MB)

2021 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (PDF, 3.0MB)

2020 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (PDF, 2.5MB)

2019 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (PDF, 2.5MB)

2018 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (PDF, 2.8MB)

2017 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (PDF, 2.6MB)

2016 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (PDF, 2.6MB)

2015 update Volume 3: Detail of LFS variables (2.2 Mb Pdf)

2014 update Volume 3: 2014 details of LFS variables (2.01 Mb Pdf)

2013 update Volume 3: 2013 details of LFS variables (1.62 Mb Pdf)

2012 update Volume 3: 2012 details of LFS variables (856.3 Kb Pdf)

2011 update Volume 3: 2011 details of LFS variables (924.4 Kb Pdf)

2010 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (2.42 Mb Pdf)

2009 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (2.41 Mb Pdf)

2008 update Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (1 Mb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 3: Details of LFS variables (1.11 Mb Pdf)

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5. Volume 3: Details of LFS variables, 1992 to 2002

2007 release Volume 3: Details of LFS variables 1992–2002 (1.87 Mb Pdf)

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6. Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables

2020 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (PDF, 10.4MB)

2019 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (PDF, 10.4MB)

2018 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (PDF, 10.4MB)

2017 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (PDF, 10.4MB)

2016 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (8.93 Mb Pdf)

2015 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (8.93 Mb Pdf)

2012 update Volume 4: 2012 LFS standard derived variables (2.72 Mb Pdf)

2011 update Volume 4: 2011 LFS standard derived variables (5.46 Mb Pdf)

2010 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (1.68 Mb Pdf)

2009 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (1.82 Mb Pdf)

2008 update Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (2.9 Mb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 4: LFS standard derived variables (2.58 Mb ZIP)

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7. Volume 4a: LFS education derived variables

2022 update Volume 4a: LFS Education Derived Variables (PDF, 484.9KB)

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8. Volume 5: LFS classifications

2024 update Volume 5: LFS classifications (PDF, 2.1MB)

2009 update Volume 5: LFS classifications (559.3 Kb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 5: LFS classifications (548.7 Kb Pdf)

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9. Volume 6: APS user guide

2026 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 843B)

2024 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 862.9KB)

2023 update Volume 6: APS user guide 2023 (PDF, 801.7KB)

2022 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 1.3MB)

2019 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 858KB)

2018 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 1.0MB)

2017 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 858KB)

2016 update Volume 6: APS user guide (PDF, 858KB)

2015 update Volume 6: APS user guide (861.5 Kb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 6: Local area data (685.4 Kb Pdf)

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10. Volume 7: LFS variables, 1979 to 1991

2007 release Volume 7: LFS variables 1979–1991 (622.3 Kb Pdf)

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11. Volume 8: Household family variables

2008 update Volume 8: Household and family data (179.8 Kb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 8: Household and family data (382.5 Kb Pdf)

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12. Volume 9: Eurostat and Eurostat derived variables

2018 update Volume 9: Eurostat 2010 to 2017 (PDF, 3.9MB)

2010 update Volume 9: Eurostat and Eurostat derived variables (1.7 Mb Pdf)

2009 update Volume 9: Eurostat and Eurostat derived variables (2.32 Mb Pdf)

2007 release Volume 9: Eurostat and Eurostat derived variables (2.67 Mb Pdf)

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13. Volume 9a: LFS user guide Eurostat ad hoc modules, 2008 to 2019

2020 update Volume 9a: LFS User Guide Eurostat Ad Hoc Modules 2008 to 2019 (PDF, 2.5MB)

2019 update Volume 9a: LFS User Guide Eurostat Ad Hoc Modules 2008 to 2018 (PDF, 3.3MB)

2017 update Volume 9a: Eurostat ad hoc modules (PDF, 1.9MB)

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14. Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the LFS: which dataset should I use?

2026 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 878KB)

2024 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 878KB)

2022 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 770KB)

2020 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 860KB)

2019 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 779KB)

2017 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 762KB)

2016 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey: Which dataset should I use? (PDF, 762KB)

2015 update Volume 10: Analysis of data collected by the Labour Force Survey user guide (1.48 Mb Pdf)

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15. Volume 11: Longitudinal user guide

2022 update Volume 11: Longitudinal user guide (PDF, 232.4KB)

2021 update Volume 11: Longitudinal user guide (PDF, 411KB)

2017 update Volume 11: Longitudinal user guide (PDF, 411KB)

2015 update Volume 11: LFS Longitudinal User Guide (293.3 Kb Pdf)

2011 update Longitudinal guide (94.6 Kb Pdf)

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