STATIN Launches Revised Labour Force Survey

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has introduced key changes to the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

The new LFS incorporates recommendations from the 19th, 20th and 21st International Conferences of Labour Statisticians, commencing January 2024.

STATIN Director General, Carol Coy, underscored that the revisions will ensure survey estimates accurately reflect the labour market.

“STATIN’s primary objective in implementing these changes is to align the Institute with international best practices and respond to our local stakeholders’ needs. This alignment will enhance quality management and the comparability of official statistics across countries,” Ms. Coy said.

She was addressing Wednesday’s (July 17) STATIN Media Launch of the Revised Labour Force Survey and Press Briefing, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The survey population has been adjusted from a minimum age of 14, to 15 years.

The reference week is now fixed – the first full week of the current quarter from Sunday to Saturday. Previously, the reference week was the last full week of the preceding quarter.

STATIN has also introduced a narrow definition of employment and adopted the strict definition of unemployment.

Importantly, the revised employment classification, the strict definition of unemployment, changes to the reference week and the minimum age will influence Jamaica’s unemployment rate.

“By expanding the scope of the labour statistics, we aim to provide more comprehensive and accurate insights into the dynamics of Jamaica’s labour market. These updates are crucial for several reasons. They ensure that our data remain relevant and reliable and reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in statistical methodologies. The changes will also help us to produce data that can better inform policymakers, researchers and the public about the current state and trends in our labour market,” Ms. Coy informed.

Meanwhile, Director of the Surveys Division, Dr. Natalee Simpson, advised that the revised LFS will create a break in the series.

“No longer can you compare the January 2024 findings with the January 2023 findings, which is our usual approach to reporting on the labour force,” she said.

Dr. Simpson shared that STATIN has also introduced three complementary Labour Underutilisation (LU) indicators that will enhance the utility of the data and provide greater insight into labour market conditions.

In addition to the unemployment rate, STATIN will now provide headline indicators that measure the potential labour force, the combined rate of unemployment and time-related underemployment, and the combined rate of underutilisation.