INTERNAT I ONAL f$TAIDARDS
FOR LABOUR STATISTICS
International Labour Office
C-eiieva
1971
7/
27
II I I I I I I I I II
49580
II II
(t:
INTR'TAIONAL ST.NDARDS FOR LABOUR STATISTICS
International standards and recommendations for labour
statistics are enshrined primarily in the resolutions of the
International Conferences of Labour Statisticians, the first
These resolutions have been
of which took place in l923
cJ.,lected together and published in The International
Standardisation of Labour statistics, 1ie third and latest
edition being that of 1959 (ILO Studies and Reports New
The next edition will incorporate the
Series, No. 53)
resolutions of the Tenth (1962) and Eleventh (1966) conferences,
also possibly those of the Twelfth Conference (which may be
The resolutions of the Tenth and Eleventh
held in l972)
Conferences are referred to, in the notes below, under the
particular topics concerned and may be found in the following
reports on the proceedings
Tenth International Conference of labour Statisticians
ILO,
1962 (mimeographe)
The Eleventh International Conference of
l966 ILO, Geneva, 1967
Labour
l962;
Statisticians
The international standards framed by the international
conferences of labour statisticians have been developed on the
basis of preparatory techucal studies on statistical methods,
report is
prepared by the International i,sabour Office0
submitted on each item of the agenda of the conference dealing
with the purposes of the statistics under discusion, national
practices in col1ecton and tabulation of the data, the concepts
and definitions employed, the essential features of the
tecbniaues and o.lasifications used, together with proposals
These methodological
for new or revised international standards0
reports therefore are useful to the different countries for study
in conjunction with the conclusions and recornmendations of the
Oonseguently selected
conference relevant to the same subject0
reports among these are referred to in the following pages0
References are also made to two important tecbnical studies which
have been prepared recently and are expected to be issued in
1972 as part of the preparations for the Twelfth International
iethods and
Conference of Labour Statisticians namely: Sce
nditure Survee (Report III, Twelfth ICLS,
Uses of Pamil1
l9)Taiad Statistics of/ap'es and Eoyee Income (Report II,
Twelfth ICLS, 1972TT
2
EMFLOiLNT
ELTLOYiENT,
AND UNEPWLLOJENT STATI STIUS
LAI3OUR FORCE
The international standards for statistics of the labour
force, emploient and unem.plon.ent are in the form. of a resolution of the International Conference of Labour Statisticians
which has been published in the report: The Eh International
Conference o' Labour Statisticians, 1954; ILO, 1954, as well
as in The International Standardisation o Labour tati,stics,
Studies and Reorts, Nw Series, No0 53, IIO, l959 Goncerning
underemployment, international statistical standards have been
published in: The Eleventh_International Conference of Labour
Statisticians, 1966; IiO, T6 as well as in BiJnof
Labour Stati.stics, 1st quarter, l967
LIetliodological studies prepared for consideration by the
Sixth, Eighth and Eleventh International Conference of Labour
Statisticians, were as follows:
- Eml-ment Uiemlient and Labour force Statistc
A Studj o' Metiods; Studies and Reports, New Series,
(Pa37ffO 1948;
- E±o
and Unelo eut Statistics; Report IV,
Eighth International Conference o Labour Statisticians,
G-eneva, 1954;
- Lieasurement o Underem1oyi'aent Concerts and iethods;
Report IJ, Eleventi nternational Oonfei
of Labour
Statisticians, Geneva, 1966
Finally, recoim-nendations on the methodology of labour force
sample surveys, particularly as regards the interpretation and
application of the international standard definitions of employment and unemployment, are given in Elandbook of Household
Sur-s, Studies and Llethods, Series F, ITo0 10, 1964: United
Nations (in collaboration with lEO, flO, VHO, UNESCO)0
The Resolution of the Eighth International Conference of
Labour Statisticians, 1954, concerning Statistics of the
Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment deals with objectives,
definitions, classfioation, scope and nature o the statistics
required for a L2ini]flUm pro'rasniie of benol'miark and current data0
These standards are a revision of those adopted by the Sixth
Conference, l947
The Resolution concerning Measurenieirb and Analysis of
Underemployment and Uidertitilisation of Manpower, adopted
by the Eleventh International Conference of Labour Statisticians, 1966 deals with general objectives, concepts of
underemployment, elements and methods of measurement and
unemployment, elements and methods of
analysis of
measurement and analysis of invisible unemployment9 potential
underemployment, proposed further study of underemployment
in agriculture and development of statistics of underemployment within the framewor of a comprehensive programme of
manpower statistics0
visible
The most comprehensive and detailed international study
producea up to the present time on the methodology of
statistics of the labour froe, employment and unemployment
is the publication mentoi.ed above
This
and_Labour Prce_Statstis; A Study of Me.',ods.
study dealt with objectives9 definitions, reporting systems,
sources of data9 types of statistical series, coverage,
sampling, collection of data, and other aspects of the
statistics and proposed international statistical standards
The recommendations of the Sixth International
in this field0
Conference of Labour Statisticians, 1947 were based on this
They were subsequently reviewed in the report prepared
study.
for the Eighth International Conference of Iabour Statisticians
Employment and Unemployment Statistics,
19549 under the tit1e
The latter summarLsed more
Report IV (mentioned above).
recent developments in this field of statistics and, after
reviewing and analysing in detail the recommendatioms adopted
in 1947, made new proposals whih led to the adoption in 1954,
by the Eighth Conforence, of the resolution mentioned above
containing the existinG standards for labour force, employment
and unemployment statistics.
rent The methodological study Ieasurement of Underem
Gncet_and Iiethods, Report IV submitted to the Eleventh
Conference, 1966, discusses the nature of underemployment,
the factors to consid' in choosing among concepts and
definitions, and problems of measurement in relation to the
various possible statistical sources and types of surveys.
It analyses the methods and techniques for obtaining underemployment data in a large number of national labour force
sample surveys as well as in socio-economic, income, and
other related surveys, and concludes with draft new recommendations to replace and supplement those adopted in 1957
The conclusions and recormendations
by the Ninth Oonfernce0
of the Eleventh Conference, reached after considering this
The Eleventh International
study, have been published in
Conference of Labour Statisticians, 1966
-4-..
WAGES
HOURS OF WOPX
TD LABOTJR COST
Five references are included in this Sections They are
Statistics .of Ta.es an Ei.yployee Incoae, Twelfth
of Labour thtisticians,
rtII, ILQ Geneva (1972);
3S and Pro1lS
tics Studies and Reports,
New Series No
16; ILO, Geneva,
.1949;
tics o Lbour Cct, :aoenth I.tcrnatioñal
Conference of Labour Statisciane, Rort II,
ILO, Geneva, l966
3tatstjc
ol
ou:c 0± ::ork Tonth L..tornational
C6eioé
Láoui" tatis-bicianr, ejp_III,
ILO, Geneva, l963
.
and Reports, New Series NoL2 45, ILO,
0-eneva,
S
1956
The first-mentioned report deals with an integrated system
of wages and related statistics while the remainder deal with
specific areas of wagesr statistics,
The earlier international standards in the field of wages
statistics are mainly contained in. Convention No 63 concerning
Statistics of 1Jages and Hours of Work, adopted by the International Labour Conference in l938
Part II of the Convention
deals with statistics of average earnings and hours actually
worked and Part ill deals with statistics of time rates o±
wages and normal hours of work, relating to "wage earners in
mining and manufacturing industries including building and
construction", Par-b IV of the-Convention deals with statistics
of wages and hours of work in agriculture. The text of this
Conven-bion is reproduced. in The Inte:-rj,a-bional Standardisation
of Labour Statistics, Studies and Iepor-bs, i1ew Series No, 53,
ILO, Geneva, 1959.
The same document contaizs other international standards
adopted prior to 1959, notably on methods of obtaining earnings
statistics from payrolls. Standards adopted more recently
- in .1962 on hours of work statistics
an.d. in 966 on labour
cost statistics - re referred to in the notes which follow,
5
Statistics of Wa es and Eree income,
Twelfth InternationaJ Conference of Labour
Statisticians; Report II, ILO, Geneva (1972)
This report presents a detailed review of existing
inteniatioial standards and of national practices in the
collection and compilation of statistics of wages and hours
comprehensive study of agricultural wages staof work0
tistics and the special problems of collection and compilation
of these statistics is included.
The relationships between
the concepts of earnings compensation of employees, labour
The features of an
cost and employee income are discussed.
integrated system of wages statistics, cevering agricultural
and non-agricultural sectors and serving the, needs of both
developed and aeveloping countries, are described.
The
system envisaes the compilation of mutiiaUy consistent
statistics of earnings, wage rates, hours of work, labour
cost and, finally, wage stracture and ditrbution
Guidelines are provided on programmes of compilation of basic
wages statistics to meet short-term and long-term objectives
and uses.
The report concludes with a draft resolution for consideration by the Twelfth International Conference of Labour
Statisticians, posibly during 1972.
This resolution contains
proposals to bring up-to-date and complete various international
standards relating to statistics of wages and to consolidate
them within the framework of an integrated system of. statistics
of wages and hours of work.
VTaeParofl Statistics, Studies and
Reports, New Series No. 16, ILO,Geneva
1949
This report was prepared for the Seventh International
Conference of Labour Statisticians held in Geneva in September
It deals mainly with the methods of collection and
1949.
It also
compilation of wage statistics from. establishments.
discusses some of the problems raised by wages statistics
derived from sources such as censuses of manufactures,
Other
production censuses or social insurance returns.
topics dealt with include estimates of total wages and
salaries, the methods for obtaining data on social charges
and the effectiveness of Convention No. 63 concerning
statistics of wages and hours of work0
The Seventh International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1949) after considering this report, adopted two
resolutions.
(i) resolution concerning the methods of
6
obtaining statistics of earnings from payrolls and (ii)
resolution on the Convention concerning statistics of wages
and hours of work.
These resolutions are reproduced in
The International Standardisation of Labour Statistics,
Studies and Reports, New series No. 53, ILO, Geneva, l959
Statistics of Labour Cost, Eleventh
International Conference of Labour Statisticians,
Report II (mimeographed), ILO, Geneva, 1966
This report comprises six chapters and two appendices.
It deals with objectives concepts and definitions, and the
methods of collection and compilation, claseiication and
publication of labour cost sbatistics;
T}e differences
between labour cost and làbour income are also discussed
in the reportb
The Eleventh International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1966) after considering the report, adopted a
comprehensive resolutio concerning statistics of labour
cost, including an international standard classification of
labour cos components. This resolution is reproduced inc
Eleventh International Conference of Labour Statisticians,
1966 (offsetTILO, Geneva, 1967.
Statistics of Hours of TTork, Tenth
International Conference of Labour Statisticians,
Report III, ILO, Geneva, 1962 (mimeographed)
After reviewing the various uses and objectives of statistics of hours of work and the definitions and the metb,ods used
in different countries, the report suggests a standard definition
of hours actually worked.
It also contains a review of the
main problems encountered in the collection and tabulation of
statistics of hours of work and suggests certain solutions.
The Tenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians
(1962) after considering the report, adopted a resolution
concerning statistics of hours of work covering general
objectives, definitions, methods of data collection and
tabulation of data.
This resolution is reproduced in
Tenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians 1962
Llimeographed)TILO, Geneva, J.962.
7
International Coarisons of Real Ves,
Studies and Reports New Series No. 45
ILO, G-eneva, .1956
This publication is concerned with the methods whereby
the different types of data relating to money wages consi.rner
prices and patterns of wage earners' consumption can be
combined to yield a measure of real wages, i.e. of the
purchasing power of money wages iu terms of the goods and
services which wage earnersoonsume. It discusses the
conceptual problems involved and present a theoretical
structure for real wage comparison0 It also analyses the
gap between theory and practice and the 1imitatio.s imposed
by the deficiencies in the statistics available.
CQI'TStJIIER ]?R10E I1'TDICE
-
Computation of Consumer Price Indices (Special problems),
D. 160 1970.,TX.ICLS/IV/CPIT ILO
Geneva
This publication contains in Part I the conclusions and
recoimiiendations of the Tenth International Conference of
Labour Statisticians, 1962, concerning special problems in
the computation of consumer price index numbers, including
the text of the reso'ution on the subject adopted b the
This resolution recalls the standards adopted
Oonferenc;e.
by the Sixth Conference, .1947, and supplements and broadens
them.
Part II reproduces the background report submitted to the
Tenth Conference dealing with concepts and definitions, the
types and purposes of consua.er price indices, national practices
and special problems concerning the computation of consumer
price indices, Problems discussed include limited-vorsus
multipurpose indices, index revision, the continuity of series
between differently weighted periods, effects of cuality
changes and appearance of new products, oasonal influences,
durable goods, housing, rate of interest, insurance and taxation.
t
HOUSEHOLD E]ENDITUR
SURVEYS
I
Scoe, Ltethods anö Uses of Pamlly
nditure
Twelfth International Conference of
Labour Statisticians, Report III, ILO, Geneva, .1972
The report deals with objectives scope and uses of
household income and expenditure snrveys, concepts and
definitions, classifications of houehold income and
expenditures, and tabulation, analysis and presentation
of results. It also contains review of recent developments in housebold income and expenditure surveys. A
draft resolution is appended for consideration by the Twelfth
International Conference of Labour Statisticians, possibly
in 1972. This drat resolutioi. proposes new international
standards for household income and expenditure surveys to
replace those concerning methods of family living studies,
adopted in 1949 by the Seventh Conference0
Household
urve
Useful information on the methods employed in various
tes of household sample surveys executed in different
countries is given in FamilLivinj' Studies, A;osium;
ILO, Studies and Reports, New ories, No. 63. National
experts contributed, papers dealing with sample surveys of
househbld budgets (urban rural, etc.), food. consumption,
demographic subjects, health conditions, consumer finances,
levels of living, rural living conditions, underemployment
and labour force. Many examples are given in these papers
on the adaptation and application Qf international standards
to meet the national circistances and requiremsnts in
particular countries, including some developing countries.
I
-9-
STATISTICS OP IUSTRIAL INJURIES
AND OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Thr.ee ILO publications are inoluded in this sections
Statistics of Industrial Inies, published in 1970,
incorporating the recommendations of the Tenth International
Conference of Labour Statisticians (1962) and the background
ieraL
report presented to that Conference;
of Labour Statistics, Eighth International Conference f Labour
"Methods of Statistics of
Statisticians, Report I, Part II
Occupational Disases°, issued in 1954; and The_International
Standardisation of Labour Statistics, 1959,
text of the ruon oi erning statistics of occupational
diseases, adopted in.
l954
Statistics of Industrialuries
ILO, Geneva
This publication contains the conclusions and recommendations of the Tenth Intenational Conference of Labour Statisticians, 1962, concerning the establishment of statistics of
industrial injuries and contains also the background report
on the subject submitted to the Conference for its considerations
t
Part I of this document presents a summary of the
discussions and conclusions of the above-mentioned Coiference
on the various aspects of the compilation of statistics of
employment injuries, including the text of the resolution on
The new international standards
the subject which was adopted
for statistics of employment injuries replace those adopted
The
in 1923 and 1947 by the First and Sixth Conerences0
recommendations include standard definitions for fatal cases,
permanent disablment and temporary dsablement the comparative
measures to be computed (i0e frequency rates, calculated on
the basis of man-hours worked, and incidence rates calculated
on the average number of workers eosed to risk) and model
The latter consist
classifications of employment accidents0
of four different classifications of industrial accidents,
namely classifications according to(a) type of accident,
(b) the agency related to the injury or to the accident, (c) the
nature of the injury, and(d) the bodily location of the injury
- 10 -
Part II consists of the background report presented to
the Tenth International Conference of Labour Staticticians
It contains a review of the rob1ems to be faced in standardicing employment injury statistics and the difficulties of
international comparisons in this fielcl
Differences in
national definitions in the scope f the statistics and in
the methods used in existing national statistics of employment injuries are i1lustrated
In particular, an analysis
ismade of the classifications used and the advantages of a
multiple classification system. are discussed
Statistics of 0ccupational Diseases
The General flrt on Pross of Labour Statistics
(Eighth International Conference of Labour Statisticians
Report I, 1L02 1954) Part II, examines methods used for
the establishment of statistics of occupational diseases
and reviews the basic concepts and defiuitions, a well
as the sources of such statistics.
It gives a brief
account of existing international instruments concerning
occupational diseases and discusses the problems of
international comparisons of statistics of occupational
diseases
Chapter VIII of the International Standardisationof
Labour Statistics (N, ILO, l953 reproduces the text
of the resolutiOn concerning statistics of occupational
diseases9 adopted by the Eighth International Conference
of Labour Statisticians, l954
This resolution provides
indications concerning the type of data to be collected
and published, the range of diseases to be included and
the classifications to be usea for presenting the statistics0
CIPICATION OP OOOUP.TI0NS
International Standard Classification
of
1969
ISCO, as thisciassification is cormiionly kaown, is a
systematic list of occupational categories - in many cases
corresponding with a specific "occupation",, "trade" or
"profession" and in others, with a broader range of types
of work which together form a ho,ogeneous occupational
All occupations of the econonically active
category
The, bJassification struccivilian population are cóvered
ture has four levels providing successively finer detail
- thus, it has eight major groups subdivided into 83 minor
(two-digit) groups, 284 unit (three-digit) groups and finally
A definition is given
into 1,506 occupational categories
of the scope of each category and groups
The objectives of the classification are to provide
a systernatic basis for presentation of occupational data
relating to different countries, in order to facilitate
international comparisons; to provide a model for countries
to use in developing or revising national occupational
classifications; to provide su.Imary classification structures
suitable for presentation of statistical data such as those
derived from censuses and manpower surveys; to provide a
standard list of defined occupational categories for international communication of occupational information in
connection with international migration, vocational training
schemes and other activities0
The Introduction to the volume explains the structure
of 1500 and its uses, the basic principle of classification
of jobs according to the work perfomed and how this principle
is applied in practice to identify groups of related occupations,
as well as how the different groups have been arranged to
create a logical and systematic occupational classification
structure0 It explains the basis of classification of
occupations which refer wholly to managerial or other
supervisory functions, or those which contain supervisory
as well as other functions0 Various other classification
procedures, including the manner of dealing with foremen,
trainees and instru.ctors, are also discussed0
- 12 -
The volume is completed with a detailed index of some
5,500 entries - Expanded Alphabetical list of Titles - which
enables the user to determine, generally without difficulty,
in which category of 1500 a particular occupation has been
classifi ed.
The volume also contains a conversion table showing the
new codes and titles corresponding with the unit groups of
bhe classification appearing in the earlier edition of 1500,
published in 1958.
OTHER LAB0UL TATISTI0S (INDUSTRIAL DISUT]
COLLECTIVE
REELNT
0CIAL SCUIIITY
Industrial Dis utes
Methods of
ilinStatistic of Industrial Dijutj
ILO, Studied and Reports series N, No. 10, 1926
On the basis of this methodological study, the Third
Interna-bional Conference of Labour Statisticians, 1926,
adopted a resolution which defines "industrial dispute"
and sets out recommendations concerning the details of
disputes to be coJlected and classified., including the
outcome, method of settlement, i1dustI,r concerned and the
size of the dispute as measured by the nunbors of establishments affected, workers involved and. man-days lost.
Other
recommendations relate to the classifications to be used
and calculation of frequency and, severity rates,
The full
text of the 'esolution is given in The International Standardisation of Labour Statistics, ILO Studies and Reports,
Iew Series, No. 53, 1959.
Collective Arrreernen-bs
Methods of_Com1Dilin.-r statistics of Collective Areern,ents
ILO, Studies and Reports, Series I
ITo. ll 1926
On the basis of this methodological study, the Third.
International Conference of Labour Statisticians, 1926,
adopted a resolution setting out detailed definitions, methods
and. classifications for statistics of collective agreements.
To the present day, however, very few countries have compiled
and published such statistics.
The full text of the resolution is given in The International Standardisation of
Labour Statistics, ILO, Studios and Reports, New Series,
No. 53,1959.