OECD Infra-annual labour statistics: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the infra-annual labour statistics published by the OECD?

2. Where can I access OECD infra-annual labour statistics?

3. Where does the data behind the OECD’s infra-annual labour statistics come from?

4. What are the differences between infra-annual LFS data and annual LFS data?

5. What are the differences between infra-annual labour statistics and employment statistics in national accounts?

6. When does the OECD update infra-annual labour statistics?

7. What is the publication calendar for OECD Labour Statistics news releases?

8. Are infra-annual labour statistics subject to revision?

9. How does the OECD group countries into zones for infra-annual labour statistics? Which method is used to compute statistics for these zones?

10. Are the Infra-annual labour statistics seasonally adjusted?

11. Where can I find more methodological information on infra-annual labour statistics?

The OECD publishes infra-annual, i.e. monthly and quarterly, labour statistics derived from Labour Force Surveys (LFS) conducted by its member countries. These statistics provide timely, internationally comparable data on key labour market indicators, based on definitions established by the 19^th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (2013).

Key subjects covered

The infra-annual labour statistics include data on:

• Working-age population (by age and sex groups).
• Labour force status (active vs. inactive population, by age and sex groups).
• Employment (by age and sex groups, economic activity, working time, and employment status).
• Unemployment (including monthly unemployment rates, by age and sex groups).

Data are presented in:

• Levels (e.g., thousands of persons).
• Rates (e.g., employment rate, unemployment rate).

Relationships between key measures

The equations below show the links between OECD labour statistics:

1. Working-Age Population = Labour Force Population + Inactive Population
2. Labour Force Population = Employed Population + Unemployed Population
3. Employment Rate = Employed Population / Working-Age Population
4. Unemployment Rate = Unemployed Population / Labour Force Population
5. Labour Force Participation Rate = Labour Force Population / Working-Age Population

Explore the OECD's infra-annual labour statistics using our two main publication formats:

1. The OECD Data Explorer: Infra-annual labour statistics dataset

Content: This dataset contains predominately monthly and quarterly labour statistics, and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and selected other economies.

Data coverage:

> Working-age population (by age and sex groups).
> Labour force status (active vs. inactive population, by age and sex groups).
> Employment (by age and sex groups, economic activity, working time, and employment status).
> Unemployment (including monthly unemployment rates, by age and sex groups).

Definitions: Data are derived from Labour Force Surveys (LFS) based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.

2.    The OECD statistics news releases

The Unemployment news Release:

> Published in February, March, May, June, September, November and December
> Focuses on latest monthly data on unemployment

The Labour Market Situation news release

> Published in January, April, July, and October
> Focuses on quarterly data on employment and labour force participation as well as the latest monthly data on unemployment

The infra-annual labour statistics published by the OECD derived from Labour Force Surveys (LFS) conducted by OECD countries. The LFS is one of the primary national household surveys. It is designed to produce official statistics on the labour force, employment, and unemployment. These statistics are essential for short-term monitoring, understanding labour market dynamics, and informing employment and economic policies.

Key features of the LFS

1. Standardised definitions
   The LFS follows definitions established by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (2013), ensuring international comparability of data across OECD member countries.
     
2. Purpose
   > Provides detailed and timely information on the labour market for policymakers, economists, and researchers.
   > Helps analyze employment trends, unemployment rates, and other labour market indicators.
     
3. Coverage
   > Targets individuals aged 15 and older living in private households, regardless of citizenship.
   > Exclusions: Individuals in remote areas, military barracks, or institutions (e.g., prisons, long-term care facilities).
    
4. Frequency
   > Conducted continuously or sub-annually (monthly or quarterly) data are published:

Monthly: Australia, Canada, Chile (rolling-quarter), Colombia, Costa Rica (rolling-quarter), Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom (rolling-quarter), and the United States.
For European countries, Iceland, and Norway, Eurostat produces monthly unemployment rates using statistical modelling and interpolation techniques to fill the gaps between quarters.

Quarterly: Most European countries, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Türkiye.
The infra-annual labour statistics, derived from LFS conducted by OECD member countries are collected by the OECD from two primary sources:

National Statistical Offices
These offices provide data for the following countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)
Eurostat supplies data for OECD member countries that are also member states of European Union (EU), as well as those for Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and for the euro area and the European Union aggregates.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) can be conducted at different frequencies, with infra-annual (monthly or quarterly) and annual surveys serving distinct purposes.

Conducted monthly or quarterly (e.g., monthly in the U.S., Canada, and Japan; quarterly in most European countries), infra-annual surveys provide real-time or near-real-time data, enabling short-term monitoring of labour market trends. They focus on headline indicators (e.g., unemployment rate, employment rate, labour force participation) and support timely policy responses (e.g., economic stimulus, labour market interventions).

Annual surveys are conducted once per year. They offer a comprehensive, retrospective view of the labour market over a full year and are used for long-term analysis and structural assessments (e.g., trends in informal employment, working conditions).

OECD countries differ in their approaches to infra-annual and annual Labour Force Surveys (LFS): some derive annual LFS data from infra-annual surveys, while others conduct separate annual surveys. 

National accounts employment data are derived by integrating information from multiple sources such as business surveys, administrative data, and economic models. Depending on the country, these sources may or may not include Labour Force Survey¹ (LFS) data, which results from a standardized, large-scale household survey specifically designed to measure the labour force participation of individuals, including employment, unemployment, and inactivity. In national accounts statistics, employment estimates must be consistent with other national accounts variables, such as output and compensation of employees (i.e. wages, salaries and social contributions).

The main differences between employment data in the national accounts and LFS-based employment figures are as follows: 

• Purpose: National accounts employment data measures employment as part of economic production (e.g., GDP, productivity). In contrast, LFS data emphasize labour market participation and provide insights into the demographic and social characteristics of the working-age population (e.g., age, gender, and education) and characteristics of jobs (e.g., occupation and type of contract).
   
• Coverage: The System of National Accounts (SNA) recognizes two employment concepts:

1. National concept: employment is measured based on individuals’ place of residence, covering all resident individuals in employment whether they work domestically or abroad. This includes, for example, residents commuting to work in another country or working remotely for a foreign employer not recorded domestically.

2. Domestic concept: employment is measured based on individuals’ place of work, covering all individuals working within the territory of a country, irrespective of their place of residence.

The main difference between these two concepts is the net number of cross-border workers. National accounts prioritize the domestic concept of employment, as it is more relevant for analysing employment in conjunction with GDP. LFS data, however, cover resident households, aligning more closely with the national concept of employment.

• Population coverage: LFS-based employment figures do not include certain groups, such as individuals living in institutional or collective households (e.g. conscripts), unpaid apprentices and trainees and, those on extended parental leave. National accounts employment data covers all these groups.
   
• Recording threshold: LFS data exclude individuals below or above specific age thresholds from the definition of employment (e.g., 15-64 years old, though this varies by country). National accounts do not exclude individuals from employment based on age.
   
• Frequency: National accounts employment data are typically published quarterly or annually while LFS data are released monthly and/or quarterly.

The infra-annual labour statistics are updated continuously in line with national release schedules. The IMF also provides the advance Labour Market release calendar for reference.

The timing of updates reflects the frequency of data collection in each country:

1. Monthly Labour Force Statistics

> LFS indicators: updated monthly for Australia, Australia, Canada, Chile (rolling-quarter), Colombia, Costa Rica (rolling-quarter), Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom (rolling-quarter), and the United States.
> Unemployment indicators: Updated monthly for most OECD countries; quarterly for New Zealand and Switzerland.
> Data are typically released 1–2 months after the reference period (e.g., January data are published in February or March).

1. Quarterly Labour Force Statistics

> Employment and Labour Force Participation Rates: Updated quarterly for all OECD countries.
> Data are released 2–3 months after the reference quarter (e.g., Q1 data are published in April or May).

The OECD published two distinct News Releases on Labour Statistics, each following a fixed annual schedule (see the release dates):

• The Unemployment News Release:

> Published on February, March, May, June, September, November and December.
> Focuses on latest monthly unemployment data.

• The Labour Market Situation News Release

> Published in January, April, July, and October.
> Focuses on quarterly data on employment and labour force participation as well as the latest monthly data on unemployment.

Yes, infra-annual labour statistics published by the OECD (and national statistical offices) are subject to revision. As a standard part of the statistical process, revisions help to ensure accuracy, completeness, and reliability of the data.

Why are revisions made?

• Data updates:

> Late or corrected responses from households or businesses may alter initial estimates.
> Seasonal adjustments are refined as more data become available.

• Methodological improvements:

> Changes in survey methods, classifications (e.g., economic activities, occupations), or definitions.
> Rebasing or reweighting of samples to reflect population changes (e.g., census updates).

• Benchmarking:

> Data are reconciled with administrative sources (e.g., tax records, social security data) to improve accuracy.
> Annual benchmarks (e.g., from population censuses or comprehensive surveys) may lead to revisions of monthly/quarterly data.

When do revisions happen?

• Regular updates:

> Monthly/quarterly data are often revised in subsequent releases (e.g., unemployment rates for January may be updated in February or March).
> Annual revisions: Many countries publish finalised annual data 1–2 years after the reference period, incorporating all available information.

• Scheduled Revisions:

> Some countries (e.g., the U.S.) have fixed revision schedules (e.g., annual updates in February for the prior year’s data).
> The OECD aligns its datasets with these national revisions to maintain accuracy.

The OECD calculates aggregated labour statistics for two main zones:

1.  OECD-Total includes all the 38 OECD member countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
     
2. G7 refers to the seven major countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United-States.

Series covered

The OECD zones are computed for the following statistics, categorised into levels and rates:

• Levels (sum of population across countries):

1. Working age population by age and sex groups
2. Labour force population by age and sex groups
3. Employed population by age and sex groups
4. Employed population by economic activities (agriculture, industry including/excluding construction, manufacturing, construction and services) by age and sex groups
5. Employees
6. Unemployed population (including monthly unemployed population) by age and sex groups
7. Inactive population by age and sex groups

• Rate (sum of population divided by relevant denominator):

1. Labour force participation rate by age and sex groups
2. Employment rate by age and sex groups
3. Unemployment rate (including monthly unemployment rate) by age and sex groups
4. Inactivity rate by age and sex groups

Computation method

• Levels are calculated as the sum of the population for all countries in the zone.
   
• Rates are calculated as the sum of the population for all countries in the zone, divided by the sum of the working-age population (or labour force population for unemployment rates).

Handling missing data

If data for one or several countries is missing, the missing observations are estimated in order to calculate the OECD and G7 aggregates, assuming that for those countries, all infra-annual labour market statistics remain unchanged from the last available observation. Estimated values are not published.

The infra-annual labour statistics figures reported by the OECD are seasonally adjusted. When seasonally adjusted are not available from a member country, the OECD undertakes the seasonal adjustment based on the TRAMO-SEATS method. For Germany, the Netherlands and Iceland, monthly trend unemployment figures as provided by Eurostat are collected rather than the more volatile seasonally adjusted data. For Finland, Norway and Sweden, the OECD collects seasonally adjusted unemployment statistics from Eurostat although trend data serve as the headline monthly indicator for Finland and Sweden in relevant European aggregates.

For detailed methodological information on infra-annual labour statistics published by the OECD, you can consult the following sources:

• National Statistical Offices (NSOs): Each OECD member country’s NSO provides specific information about its Labour Force Survey (LFS). NSO’s websites present details on national methodologies, survey frameworks, and data collection processes.
    
• Methodological information on LFS for OECD countries is available on OECD.Explorer.

More comprehensive information and explanations for compiling Labour Force Surveys (LFS) are provided by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Here are the key references:

ILO Guidelines and Resolutions

The ILO’s International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) sets the global standards for LFS. The most relevant resolutions are:

1. 13^th ICLS (1982): Established the standard definitions for employment, unemployment, and economic inactivity, which are used worldwide.
2. 19^th ICLS (2013): Updated guidelines on work statistics, including informal employment and underemployment.

Eurostat and EU-LFS Methodology

For European countries, the EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) follows ILO guidelines and is detailed in

1. Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 and Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2240, which define the methodology for EU-LFS from 2021
2. EU-LFS Documentation, available on Eurostat’s website.

Note: 

1.  Labour Force Surveys are based on definitions provided by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians