INTERNATIONAL LABOR COMPARISONS
International Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics
Country Notes and Data Sources
Last
Updated:
August
2014
Last
Updated:
April 2014
This file contains country-specific information for data products associated with The Conference
Board database “International Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics,” which can be found at
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram/laborforceannual. The scope of coverage and definitions
explained in the Technical Notes apply generally to all countries in the International Labor
Comparisons (ILC) program series. In this document, each country note consists of four parts: (1) the
major data sources used to create the estimates, (2) the adjustments made by ILC to convert national
data to US concepts, (3) any remaining deviations from US concepts that limit comparability across
countries, and (4) breaks in series that limit comparability over time.
Definitions according to US concepts and summary of adjustments for comparability
To the extent possible, country data are obtained from a national labor force survey and are adjusted
to concepts used by the US Current Population Survey (CPS):

The working-age population refers to the civilian, non-institutional population.
Adjustment: Members of the armed forces and institutional populations are excluded.

The working-age population refers to persons aged 16 years and over; there is no upper age
limit.
Adjustment: The working age population varies by country and refers to persons aged 14, 15,
or 16 years and over. ILC adjusts lower or upper age limits for some countries. For workingage population age limits by country, see Table 1 and country notes below.

The employed are persons who, during the reference week, worked for at least 1 hour as paid
employees; worked in their own business, profession, or on their own farm; or did work as
unpaid workers in an enterprise operated by a family member for at least 15 hours.
Adjustment: Persons in the armed forces and unpaid family workers who work less than 15
hours per week are excluded from the employed.

The unemployed are persons without work, who are currently available to start work, and who
were actively looking for a job (i.e. excludes passive job search) during the 4-week period
ending with the reference week.
Adjustment: For some countries, unemployment is adjusted to address persons waiting to start
a new job and persons looking for a job for longer or shorter than the 4-week period. The
direction of the adjustment varies according to national labor force definitions. See country
notes below.
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 1
Table 1. Compulsory Schooling and Labor Force Survey Age Limits
Country
Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Age at which
Compulsory Schooling
Ends
17
16-18
16
15-18
16
15
15
16-18
16
15
15
16
Sweden
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
Lower Age Limit
(Labor Force Survey)
Upper Age Limit
(Labor Force Survey)
15
16 (adjusted by ILC)
15
15
15
15
14
15
15
15
15
16
No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit
64
No limit
No limit
No limit
(adjusted by ILC)
No limit
16
16 (adjusted by ILC)
17.5
16
16-18
15
16
16
No limit
Country Notes and Data Sources
Australia
Data Sources. Australian Bureau of Statistics: Labor Force Survey (monthly since 1978, quarterly for
prior years).
Adjustments. ILC removes the institutionalized population from the published civilian working age
population.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Unemployment includes some forms of passive job search
(i.e. “checking noticeboards”).
Breaks. For all series, there is a break in 1986. In April 2001, the Australian labor force survey
questionnaire was redesigned to adhere more closely to International Labour Organization (ILO)
guidelines; data were revised for April 1986 onward, creating a break in 1986. The redesign reduced
the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage point in 1986.
For the sectoral employment series, there is an additional break in 1985 due to a change in the
industrial classification system used. For 1970-1984, sectoral data are based on the Australian and
New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 1993; data for 1985 onward are based on
ANZSIC 2006.
For the unemployment and labor force series, there is a break in 2001, which reflects the
reclassification of persons waiting to start a new job from not in the labor force to unemployed. The
reclassification raised the adjusted unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage point in 2001.
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 2
Canada
Data Sources. Statistics Canada: Labor Force Survey
Adjustments. Statistics Canada provides The Conference Board with underlying labor force statistics
adjusted to US concepts for 1976 onward. Data for employment, unemployment, and the working age
population are adjusted to exclude 15-year-olds. Unemployment is further adjusted to:




Include full-time students looking for full- time work
Exclude passive jobseekers
Exclude persons unavailable for work due to personal or family responsibilities or vacation
Exclude persons waiting to start a new job who did not seek work in the past four weeks (for
1994 onward only since these persons are similarly counted among the unemployed in the
United States for prior years)
The adjustments to unemployment have had a growing impact over time, reducing the annual
unemployment rate by 0.2-0.4 percentage point in the 1980s, 0.4-0.9 percentage point in the 1990s,
and 0.7-1.0 percentage point in the 2000s. For further information on the adjustments and their
impacts, see "International unemployment rates: how comparable are they?" Monthly Labor Review,
June 2000, pp. 3-20, at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2000/06/art1full.pdf.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Employment includes unpaid family workers who work
less than 15 hours per week.
Breaks. For all series, there are breaks at 1976 and 1996, which reflect updated population controls.
For 1976-1995, data are based on 2001 census population counts; data for 1996 onward are based on
the 2006 population census.
The break at 1976 further reflects the implementation of the adjustments described above. Namely,
for 1970-1975, all series refer to persons 15 years of age and older and unemployment data are
unadjusted; for 1976 onward, all series refer to persons 16 years and older and unemployment data
are adjusted to US concepts.
For the sectoral employment series, the break in 1976 also reflects a change in the industrial
classification system used. For 1970-1975, sectoral data are based on the Canadian Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC); data for 1976 onward are based on the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS). The change in classification system reduced the share of employment
in manufacturing from 15.7 to 15.0 percent in 1998.
For the adjusted unemployment and labor force series, there is an additional break in 1994, which
reflects a change in the definition of unemployment. Persons waiting to start a new job who did not
actively seek work in the past four weeks are included among the unemployed prior to 1994; this
group is excluded for 1994 onward.
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 3
France
Data Sources. National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE): L'enquête Emploi (a
labor force survey, which has been continuous since 2003 and was annual or semi-annual for prior
years); Eurostat: Labor Force Survey; OECD: Labour Force Statistics.
Adjustments. ILC removes from the published working-age population persons in the armed forces
and the institutional population. ILC removes from published employment persons in the armed
forces and unpaid family workers who worked less than 15 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. None.
Breaks. For all series except employment and working-age population, there is a break in 1975,
which reflects a change in estimation methods and a revised definition of unemployment due to the
introduction of a criterion on work availability.
For the sectoral employment series, there is a break at 2008 due to a change in the industrial
classification system used. For 1970-2007, sectoral data are based on the Statistical Classification of
Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE) Revision 1.1; data for 2008 onward are
based on NACE Revision 2.
Germany
Data Sources. Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis): Mikrozensus (a labor force survey, which has been
continuous since 2004); Eurostat: Labor Force Survey; OECD: Labour Force Statistics.
Adjustments. ILC removes persons in the armed forces from published working-age population and
employment series. ILC also removes from published employment unpaid family workers who
worked less than 15 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. The adjusted civilian working age population includes
institutionalized persons. Unemployment includes some forms of passive job search (i.e. “studying job
advertisements”).
Breaks. For all series there are breaks in 1991 and 2005. The 1991 break reflects the inclusion of
former East Germany. Prior to 1991, data refer to former West Germany; data for 1991 onward refer
to Germany (unified). The unification raised the adjusted unemployment rate from 4.3 to 5.4 percent
in 1991. The 2005 break reflects a change in the periodicity of the German labor force survey data
collection. Prior to 2005, data were collected in April of each year; for 2005 onward, data are collected
continuously.
Italy
Data Sources. Istituto nazionale di statistica (Istat): Rilevazione continua sulle forze di lavoro (a labor
force survey, which has been continuous since 2004 and was quarterly for prior years); Eurostat:
Labor Force Survey (the series used refer to persons in the armed forces and unpaid family workers
only)
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 4
Adjustments. ILC removes persons in the armed forces from published working-age population and
employment series. ILC also removes from published employment unpaid family workers who
worked less than 15 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. None
Breaks. For all series, there are breaks in 1986, 1991, and 1993; working-age population is not
affected by the 1986 break. The 1986 break reflects a revision in the survey questionnaire, resulting
in a significant increase in the number of people reported as seeking work in the past 30 days. This
revision raised the adjusted Italian unemployment rate from 6.3 to 7.5 percent in 1986. The 1991
break reflects a revision in the method of weighting sample data, which raised the adjusted
unemployment rate from 6.6 to 6.9 percent in 1991. The 1993 break reflects a change in the
frequency of Italy’s labor force survey. The survey became continuous in 2004 and Italy’s National
Institute of Statistics (Istat) revised its definitions to more closely follow ILO and Eurostat
recommendations; data were revised back to 1993, causing a break in that year. The revisions raised
the unemployment rate by approximately 0.5 percentage point in 1993.
For the sectoral employment series, the 1993 break also reflects a change in the industrial
classification system used; data for 1993 onward are based on the Statistical Classification of
Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE) Revision 2.
Japan
Data Sources. Japan Statistics Bureau: Labor Force Survey (monthly since 1947); Japanese Ministry
of Defense
Adjustments. ILC removes persons in the armed forces from published working-age population and
employment series. ILC also removes from published employment unpaid family workers who
worked less than 15 hours per week.
For 1985 onward, ILC adjusts published unemployment series to:
 Exclude inactive jobseekers awaiting the results of previous job applications.
 Include unemployed persons who have sought a job in the previous two to four weeks.
 Include unemployed persons waiting to start a new job.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. None.
Breaks. For the adjusted unemployment and labor force series, there is break at 1985, which reflects
a change in the definition of unemployment due to the implementation of the adjustments described
above. For all series, there is a break at 2005, which reflects updated population controls; data for
2005 onward are based on 2010 census population counts.
For the sectoral employment series, there is a break at 2002 due to a change in the industrial
classification system used. For 1984-2001, sectoral data are based on the Japan Standard Industrial
Classification (JSIC) Revision 10; data for 2002 onward are based on JSIC Revision 12.
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 5
Mexico
Data Sources. INEGI's Encuesta Nacional de Ocupación y Empleo (a labor force survey, which has
been continuous since 2005); the President's Informe de Gobierno (annual report of the government);
Mexico's Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) Informe de Labores (annual report)
Adjustments. ILC removes from the published working-age population persons in the armed forces
and the prison population. ILC removes from published employment persons in the armed forces,
unpaid non-family workers, and unpaid family workers who worked less than 15 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Data on the armed forces and the institutional (prison)
population are from administrative sources, not from the national labor force survey.
Breaks. For the sectoral employment series, there is a break at 2010, which reflects updated
population controls. For 2005-2009, data are based on 2005 population counts; data for 2010 onward
are based on the 2010 population census.
Netherlands
Data Sources. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek: Enquete Beroepsbevolking (a labor force survey,
which has been continuous since 1986 and was biennial for 1973-85). The series used are those
according to international definitions.
Adjustments. ILC removes persons in the armed forces from published working-age population and
employment series. ILC also removes from published employment unpaid family workers who
worked less than 12 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Adjusted employment includes unpaid family workers
who worked 12-14 hours during the reference week. (Under US concepts, all unpaid family workers
working less than 15 hours are excluded).
Breaks. For the adjusted series, there are breaks in 1983, 1987, 1992, and 2000; working-age
population is not affected by the 1992 break. The 1983, 1987, and 2000 breaks reflect changes in
sources. The 1992 break reflects a change in labor force definitions.
New Zealand
Data Sources. Statistics New Zealand: Household Labor Force Survey (HLFS).
Adjustments. For the sectoral employment series, ILC removes breaks due to changes in the
industrial classification system used. For 1986-2013, adjusted sectoral data are based on the
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Employment includes unpaid family workers who work
less than 15 hours per week.
Breaks. None.
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 6
South Africa
Data Sources. Statistics South Africa: Quarterly Labor Force Survey
Adjustments. ILC removes from published employment unpaid family workers who worked less than
15 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. The upper age limit of the working age-population is 64;
therefore, all series refer to persons ages 15 to 64.
Breaks. None.
South Korea
Data Sources. Statistics Korea (KOSIS): Economically Active Population Survey (a labor force survey,
which has been monthly since 1982 and was quarterly for prior years)
Adjustments. For the unemployment series, ILC removed a break in 2000 due to a change in the job
search criterion from one week to four weeks. For 1970-2013, adjusted unemployment data refer to
persons who have actively looked for work in the past four weeks.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Employment excludes unpaid family workers who worked
less than 18 hours during the reference week. (Under US concepts, only unpaid family workers
working less than 15 hours are excluded).
Breaks. For all series, there is a break in 1991, which reflects updated population controls.
For the sectoral employment series, there are additional breaks at 1992, 2000, and 2004 due to
changes in the industrial classification system used. For 1970-1991, sectoral data are based on the
Korean Standard Industrial Classification (KSIC); data for 1992-1999 are based on KSIC Revision 6;
data for 2000-2003 are based on KSIC Revision 8; and data for 2004 onward are based on KSIC
Revision 9. KSIC Revision 9 is structured after the International Standard Industrial Classification of
All Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 4. Changes in the industrial classification system through KSIC
Revision 8 have a marginal impact on the employment series presented. The change between KSIC
Revisions 8 and 9, however, have a relatively larger impact on the data, especially for industry and
manufacturing, which is a subset of industry.
Spain
Data Sources. Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE): Economically Active Population Survey (a labor
force survey, which has been continuous since 1999, quarterly between 1975 and 1998, and was
semi- annual for prior years)
Adjustments. ILC removes persons in the armed forces from published working-age population and
employment series. ILC also removes from published employment unpaid family workers who
worked less than 15 hours per week.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. None.
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 7
Breaks. For all series, there are breaks in 1996 and 2005. The 1996 break reflects updated population
controls; the 2005 break reflects the introduction of a new questionnaire.
For the sectoral employment series, there is an additional break at 2008 due to a change in the
industrial classification system used. For 1977-2007, sectoral data are based on the Statistical
Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE) Revision 1.1; data for 2008
onward are based on NACE Revision 2.
Sweden
Data Sources. Statistics Sweden: Arbetskraftsundersökningarna (AKU, a labor force survey, which
has been continuous since 1993 and was monthly for prior years.)
Adjustments. National labor force data have an upper age limit of 74. ILC adds persons aged 75 and
over to published labor force statistics. For 1987-2004, ILC also adds to unemployment series fulltime students who were both seeking work and available for work.
ILC removes from the published working-age population persons in the armed forces and the
institutional population. ILC also removes persons in the armed forces from published employment.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. None.
Breaks. For all series except working-age population, there are breaks in 1987 and 2005. The 2005
break reflects the introduction of a new questionnaire. The 1987 break reflects many changes. First, a
new questionnaire was introduced in that year. Questions regarding availability for work were added
and the period of active work-seeking was reduced from 60 days to 4 weeks. These changes reduced
the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage point in 1987. Second, Statistics Sweden implemented new
estimation procedures and a new reference week system in 1993. These revisions were implemented
for 1987 onward, which raised the unemployment rate by 0.2-0.5 percentage point for 1987-1993.
Third, for the adjusted series, the break additionally reflects the classification of students seeking
work as unemployed rather than not in the labor force. This change was implemented for 1987-2004,
which raised the unemployment rate by up to 2.2 percentage points.
For the sectoral employment series, there is an additional break at 2009 due to a change in the
industrial classification system used. For 2009 onward, sectoral data are based on the Statistical
Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE) Revision 2.
Turkey
Data Sources. Turkstat Household Labor Force Survey (the series used refer to employment and
working age population); Eurostat Labor Force Survey (the series used refer to unemployment only)
Adjustments. ILC removes from published employment unpaid family workers who worked less than
17 hours per week. Additionally, unemployment data from Eurostat adjust HLFS data to exclude
persons who actively sought work for more than 4 weeks from the unemployed.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Adjusted employment excludes unpaid family workers
who worked 15-16 hours during the reference week. (Under US concepts, only unpaid family workers
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 8
working less than 15 hours are excluded). The upper age limit of unemployment is 74; therefore, all
unemployment series refer to persons ages 15 to 74. Unemployment also includes some forms of
passive job search.
Breaks. None
United Kingdom
Data Sources. Office for National Statistics (ONS): Labour Force Survey (biennial for 1979-1983,
annual for 1984-1991, and continuous since 1992); Eurostat: Labor Force Survey; OECD: Labour
Force Statistics.
Adjustments. The 1971-91 series are based on administrative and labor force survey data and were
created by ONS to be consistent with the series for 1992 onward. For all years, ILC removes persons
in the armed forces from published working-age population and employment series.
Remaining Deviations from US Concepts. Employment includes unpaid family workers who work
less than 15 hours per week.
Breaks. For the sectoral employment series, there are breaks at 1984 and 1997. The 1984 break
reflects a change in the source used. For 1971-1983, data are from the OECD; data for 1984 onward
are from ONS. The 1997 break reflects a change in the industrial classification system used. For 19841996, sectoral data are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 1992
(UKSIC 1992); data for 1997 onward are based on the UKSIC 2007 (comparable to NACE Revision 2).
United States
Data Sources. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Current Population Survey
Adjustments. None
Breaks. For all series, there is a break in 1994, which reflects a major redesign of the labor force
survey (CPS) questionnaire and its methodology. For information on the breaks in series and their
impacts, see "Historical Comparability" in the "Household Data" section of the BLS publication,
Employment and Earnings, at www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.
For the sectoral employment series, there is an additional break at 2000 due to a change in the
industrial classification system used. For 1970-1999, sectoral data are based on the US Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC); data for 2000 onward are based on the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).
© 2014 The Conference Board, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Conference Board and the torch logo are registered
trademarks of The Conference Board, Inc.
www.conference-board.org/ilcprogram | 9