WHAT IS THE BEST MEASURE OF EMPLOYMENT AND ... - TARA

opportunities are unaware of the fact - and the extent of discouragement if
probably better measured through analysis of the sensitivity of participation to
demand and other factors More generally, few decisions in relation to
participation, employment and hours of work (both demanded and supplied)
are taken other than in the context of the return to employment and of other
income Without linked data on individual and household financial
circumstances, the explanatory power of the LFS is inevitably limited
Paddy Teahon I would like to join Terry Corcoran in thanking Donal Garvey for
his excellent paper and in seconding the vote of thanks to that effect I found
the paper extremely interesting as I am sure all here this evening did I believe
that it shows the usefulness of the Labour Force Survey in generating
information for policy purposes
I should say that I see myself speaking tonight in my capacity as a member of
the National Statistics Board
I would like to talk briefly about three different aspects of the paper or three
ways in which the paper impinges on other policy related issues of the
employment and unemployment situation
the differences between statistics derived from administrative records in
the employment and unemployment area such as the Live Register and
purpose designed statistics such as the Labour Force Survey I believe
there is an important issue of avoiding confusion in the general release
of statistics in this area
the policy uses to which statistics on employment and unemployment
are put and the consequences of what Donal Garvey has had to say
here this^evening
a few brief comments on the future of work and the implications of that
for statistics on employment and unemployment
I believe that, because statistics derived from administrative records become
available earlier and more frequently than those from purpose designed
surveys, these are what are seen to be, and generally accepted as, the
employment and unemployment statistics The Live Register figures are
published each month and are derived without reference to the nature of the
unemployment in question They represent an aggregate view of
unemployment and are generally interpreted in terms of the trend they disclose
rather than the precise level of the different components within them
Unemployment statistics derived from the Labour Force Survey become
available on a much less regular basis, currently once a year, and with a
significant time lag after the date to which they refer The reality is that few
people, outside of those specifically involved in their work or research in this
area, are aware that there is not a one for one correspondence between
statistics from the Labour Force Survey and those from the Live Register I
230