The EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) is a large-scale, continuous household sample survey conducted across the European Union, as well as in countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). It is the primary source of information on the labour market in the EU, providing comprehensive data on employment, unemployment, and the characteristics of the working population.
The survey aims to gather reliable, timely, and comparable statistics on the labour market, including details on employment, unemployment, underemployment, and various socio-economic characteristics of the labour force. These are crucial for policy-making and monitoring employment trends at the national and EU levels.
The EU-LFS covers all individuals aged 15 and over living in private households. It provides data at national and regional levels, with special attention to different population groups, such as youths, women, and older workers.
The survey collects detailed information on:
The survey is conducted quarterly and/or annually, depending on the country. Each survey wave typically involves a large, representative sample of individuals, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the data.
The survey is harmonized across participating countries, meaning that the methodology, definitions, and classifications are standardized to ensure that the data are comparable across different countries and over time. The data from the EU-LFS are widely used by the European Commission, national governments, researchers, and other stakeholders to analyse labour market trends, assess the impact of policies, and inform decisions related to employment and social policy.
The EU-LFS is crucial for understanding the dynamics of the labour market in the EU, particularly in assessing the effectiveness of employment policies, the impact of economic crises, and structural changes in the economy. It also helps in monitoring progress towards EU-wide targets, such as those related to employment and social inclusion.