The need for reliable labour market data has long been recognized as essential for effective policymaking, macro-economic planning, and understanding societal trends. Traditional methods of collecting such data, such as relying solely on administrative records or surveys with fixed samples, often proved inadequate in capturing the nuanced realities of the labour market. To address these challenges, Labour Force Surveys emerged as a comprehensive household surveys designed to gather wide-ranging and timely information directly from households. Its origins can be traced back to the mid-20th century when statisticians and economists began developing more sophisticated survey methodologies to measure labour market dynamics accurately. Currently LFS serves as a crucial instrument used by National Statistical Offices (NSOs) globally to collect comprehensive data on employment, unemployment, and various aspects of the labour market. Its design is meticulously crafted to provide accurate and reliable insights into the dynamics of the workforce within a particular region or country. For decades, the International Labour Organization has spearheaded efforts to standardize and enhance labour statistics methodologies. Recognizing the pivotal role of the LFS, the ILO and successive ICLS resolutions have continually refined and expanded its scope to capture the evolving nature of work. The 19th ICLS essentially reframed the base of labour statistics, providing updated definitions of employment and unemployment, while also widening the scope of labour statistics through the identification of various forms of paid and unpaid work. This provided a framework to recognize all work people do, at the same time as promoting an expanded range of indicators on the labour market for added insight. The 20th ICLS, held in 2018, built on this base to provide new definitions on work relationships and an updated classification of status in employment to more accurately capture the ever evolving world of work. Subsequently, the 21st ICLS in 2023 addressed both long-standing and emerging challenges, by introducing new standards to measure the informal economy. As the design of Labour Force Surveys is continuously evolving to adapt to changing demographic, economic, and technological trends, innovation in sampling methods, survey techniques, and data processing technologies are constantly being explored to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and relevance of LFS results in relation to capturing complex labour market dynamics. Its comprehensive methodology ensures that policymakers and stakeholders have access to reliable information for understanding and addressing the complex challenges facing the workforce in today's rapidly changing world. For the first time, the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) in full collaboration with the ILO Department of Statistics is proud to offer dedicated training on Labour Force Survey Design. The ITCILO is offering this course as face to face training. This course qualifies for the labour Statistics & Analysis Diploma.
Labour Statisticians from National Statistical Offices (NSOs) or other institutions who are responsible for LFS design.