Economics

 How unemployment is measured  Potential issues with measurement

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The term labour force includes those who are employed and those who are unemployed. i.e. people who are currently working + people actively seeking & able to work

 The unemployment rate is the number of people unemployed divided by the labour force.

 The Live Register (Monthly)  The Quarterly National Household Survey (Quarterly)  The two sets of figures measure different things, but both give us useful insights into current labour market trends.

 The Live Register counts the unemployed people who are registered at the local offices of the Dept. of Social, Community and Family Affairs for either unemployment benefit, or unemployment assistance. * The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment per se. It includes part-time workers (those who work up to three days a week), seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA). However the live register figures are often used to see what trends there are in unemployment (i.e. increase or decreases in people seeking unemployment benefits)

 Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and the latest estimated number of persons unemployed as of the third quarter of 2013 was 282,900.  CSO Household Surveys  dy8FId2GE dy8FId2GE

 Quarterly National Household Survey – 40,000 households are surveyed quarterly. Uses ILO (International Labour Organization) classification. The population used is those 15 years old or older.  Compiled: From household surveys conducted continuously throughout the year. The results are published in four quarters Q1 December - February, Q2 March - May, Q3 June - August, Q4 September - November. The ILO definitions of 'unemployed' and 'in employment' are  'Unemployed': persons who in the week before the survey, were without work and available for work and had taken specific steps, in the previous four weeks to find work.  'In Employment': persons who worked in the week before the survey for one hour or more for payment or profit, including work on the family farm or business and all persons who had a job but were not at work because of illness, holidays etc. in the week.  The 'Labour Force' is the combination of these two totals.

 The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from the most recent Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) was 12.8% in the third quarter of  The standardised unemployment rate (SUR) from the live register in November 2013 was 12.5%, down from 12.6% in October 2013

 The rate from the live register was 12.5%  The rate from the QNS was 12.8%  Can you think of any reasons that might explain the difference?

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 Increase in part time work – remember that the QNHS asks if you have worked minimum one hour in the past week and considers you employed if you have  Increases in emigration- highest emigration figures in Europe in This does not include those who left on 1 year visas etc. but who may not actually return

 The live register and the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) show labour trends  The QNHS is regarded as the official Irish unemployment figure (12.8%).  There are many flaws in these measures but they are useful when the flaws are understood.