Report on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98

Summary:

Report presented on 28 January 2019 by the European Commission. Regulation (EC) No 577/98 sets minimum standards for the harmonised production of labour force surveys in the European Union and its Member States.

Further information:

This is the Commission’s seventh report on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 577/98 on the organisation of the labour force sample survey in the Community, covering the period 2015-2017. The report evaluates in particular the quality of the statistical methods envisaged by the Member States to improve the results or to lighten the survey procedures.

The report gives an overview of the Labour Force Survey and its role in supporting European Union policies; takes stock of how the Regulation has been implemented in the Member States, candidate countries, and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries; and focuses on ongoing initiatives launched by the European Statistical System (ESS) to improve the quality of the Labour Force Survey.

Background:

The European Union Labour Force Survey is a large sample survey of residents in private households. It provides both quarterly and annual labour market statistics on employment and unemployment, as well as on people outside the labour force. It also collects multi-annual information from ad hoc modules, and provides input for model-based monthly estimates of unemployment and unemployment rates.