The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released new microdata, offering researchers and analysts an in-depth view of the country’s labor market engagement over time. The data, which includes information from the Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation survey (Sep quarter 2014 to Mar quarter 2023) and the Participation, Job Search and Mobility survey (Feb 2015 to Feb 2023), is now available in ABS DataLab as supplementary files for the Longitudinal Labour Force (LLFS) microdata.
With this microdata, experts can conduct extensive analyses of social and economic aspects related to labor market participation in Australia. Demographics, such as age, sex, and country of birth, alongside survey month, time in survey, geography, household and family characteristics, employment details, industry, occupation, educational attainment, underemployment, unemployment, and much more, are included in the dataset.
The LLFS data spans multiple time periods, allowing researchers to observe individuals for up to eight months. This makes the data suitable for various analysis types, including cross-sectional, pooled cross-sectional, short panels, and longer pseudo panels.
The current edition of the LLFS covers more than 40 years of Labor Force Survey (LFS) responses from October 1982 to June 2023, with regular monthly updates. ABS DataLab provides access to the detailed microdata in a secure environment, enabling real-time analysis using advanced statistical software.
The availability of this comprehensive microdata will empower policymakers and researchers to gain valuable insights into labor market dynamics and trends over the years. By understanding the complexities of Australia’s labor force, policymakers can make more informed decisions to shape the future of the country’s workforce.