The 'LFS main indicators' section presents a selection of the main statistics on the labour market. They encompass indicators of activity, employment and unemployment. Those indicators are based on the results of the European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), in few cases integrated with data sources like national accounts employment or registered unemployment. As a result of the application of adjustments, corrections and reconciliation of EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) data, the 'LFS main indicators' is the most complete and reliable collection of employment and unemployment data available in the sub-domain 'Employment and unemployment'.

The EU-LFS data used for 'LFS main indicators' are, where necessary, adjusted and enriched in various ways, in accordance with the specificities of an indicator. The most common adjustments cover:

• estimation of missing values, i.e. in case of missing quarters, annual results and EU aggregates are estimated using interpolations of EU Labour Force Survey data with reference to the available quarter(s).
• for all quarterly indicators seasonally adjusted data are available.
• correction of the main breaks in the LFS series.

Those adjustments may produce some differences between data published under 'LFS main indicators' and 'LFS series – detailed quarterly/annual survey results', particularly for back data. For the most recent years, the different series converge, due to the implementation of a continuous quarterly survey and the improved quality of the data.

This page focuses on the 'LFS main indicators' in general. There are special pages for indicators that are listed below:

• Monthly Unemployment: une_rt_m.

Quarterly and annual unemployment figures are derived in line with all other LFS Main Indciators, and no longer aggregated from monthly unemployment series.

• Duration of working life - annual data: lfsi_dwl_a;
• Population in jobless households - annual data: lfsi_jhh_a;
• Labour market transitions - LFS longitudinal data: lfsi_long.

The entry of the new Framework regulation on Social Statistics (IESS) in 2021 created changes in the LFS Main Indicators. Most countries expected breaks for a number of series derived from LFS microdata, therefore Eurostat and participating countries launched a joint break correction exercise to produce comparable data before and under IESS. The 'LFS main indicators' section therefore contains two type of datasets depending on the underlying regulation. The first type of datasets are historical series under the pre-IESS regulation, and include the suffix ‘_h’ for historical series at the end of the table titles. Historical series will remain accessible and are continued until 2020Q4 LFS microdata revisions of previously released EU-LFS series. Reasons for revisions are for example weight revisions due to revised weighting routines, or census revisions. The second type of datasets are new tables that are filled with data under IESS from 2021Q1 on. These tables also include the break-corrected 2009Q1-2020Q4 data that are produced in the break correction exercise. If countries send longer complete time series than starting in 2009, that data will also be used and published. Until fully back-estimated series in line with IESS are available for all countries, EU and EA aggregates were based on the data that is available at the time and was flagged with a break flag. Fully break-free EU and EA aggregates were published for the first time in February 2022. More information can be found on the EU-LFS Breaks in Time Series (Statistics Explained) webpage.

General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)', see link in related metadata. Detailed information on the main features, the legal basis, the methodology and the data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey Eurostat Datasets form the UK component of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS), and consist of a subset of core variables from the UK Quarterly Labour Force Survey (held at the UK Data Archive under GN 33246), alongside primary and secondary derived variables computed by Eurostat from the core variables supplied. The data comprise seasonal or calendar quarters, depending on the date, and are not directly comparable with the UK QLFS quarters. Annual EU LFS datasets from 1999 onwards are also available (see under GN 33399) and 'ad hoc' modules (run each year to supplement the information from the core EU LFS questionnaire) are available from 2002 onwards (see under GN 33400).

Users should note that the LFS Eurostat datasets available from the UK Data Archive comprise UK data only, and no data from other EU countries are included here. Further information about the EU LFS can be found on the Eurostat EU Labour Force Survey webpage.

The UK Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a unique source of articulated information using international definitions of employment and unemployment and economic inactivity, together with a wide range of related topics such as occupation, training, hours of work and personal characteristics of household members aged 16 years and over. The first LFS was conducted in 1973 and continues to be one of the reasons for carrying out the survey. Eurostat co-ordinates information from labour force surveys in the European Union (EU) member states in order to assist the EU in such matters as the allocation of the Social Fund. Between 1984 and 1991 the survey was carried out annually, and moved to a quarterly cycle (the QLFS) from May 1992. Further information may be found in the main LFS documentation (see link below).

LFS Documentation (main LFS)
Besides the EU LFS documentation (see below), documentation is also available to accompany the main UK LFS datasets available from the Archive. This largely consists of the latest version of each document alongside the appropriate questionnaire for the year concerned. However, LFS documentation volumes are updated periodically by ONS, so users are advised to check the ONS LFS User Guidance pages before commencing analysis.


Main Topics:
Topics covered include household and demographic characteristics, country and region of work, employment and self-employment, employment history, working time, occupations and occupational status, job hunting, job changing, education and training, unemployment and economic activity.

The 'LFS main indicators' section presents a selection of the main statistics on the labour market. They encompass indicators of activity, employment and unemployment. Those indicators are based on the results of the European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), in few cases integrated with data sources like national accounts employment or registered unemployment. As a result of the application of adjustments, corrections and reconciliation of EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) data, the 'LFS main indicators' is the most complete and reliable collection of employment and unemployment data available in the sub-domain 'Employment and unemployment'.

The EU-LFS data used for 'LFS main indicators' are, where necessary, adjusted and enriched in various ways, in accordance with the specificities of an indicator. The most common adjustments cover:

• estimation of missing values, i.e. in case of missing quarters, annual results and EU aggregates are estimated using interpolations of EU Labour Force Survey data with reference to the available quarter(s).
• for all quarterly indicators seasonally adjusted data are available.
• correction of the main breaks in the LFS series.

Those adjustments may produce some differences between data published under 'LFS main indicators' and 'LFS series – detailed quarterly/annual survey results', particularly for back data. For the most recent years, the different series converge, due to the implementation of a continuous quarterly survey and the improved quality of the data.

This page focuses on the 'LFS main indicators' in general. There are special pages for indicators that are listed below:

• Monthly Unemployment: une_rt_m.

Quarterly and annual unemployment figures are derived in line with all other LFS Main Indciators, and no longer aggregated from monthly unemployment series.

• Duration of working life - annual data: lfsi_dwl_a;
• Population in jobless households - annual data: lfsi_jhh_a;
• Labour market transitions - LFS longitudinal data: lfsi_long.

The entry of the new Framework regulation on Social Statistics (IESS) in 2021 created changes in the LFS Main Indicators. Most countries expected breaks for a number of series derived from LFS microdata, therefore Eurostat and participating countries launched a joint break correction exercise to produce comparable data before and under IESS. The 'LFS main indicators' section therefore contains two type of datasets depending on the underlying regulation. The first type of datasets are historical series under the pre-IESS regulation, and include the suffix ‘_h’ for historical series at the end of the table titles. Historical series will remain accessible and are continued until 2020Q4 LFS microdata revisions of previously released EU-LFS series. Reasons for revisions are for example weight revisions due to revised weighting routines, or census revisions. The second type of datasets are new tables that are filled with data under IESS from 2021Q1 on. These tables also include the break-corrected 2009Q1-2020Q4 data that are produced in the break correction exercise. If countries send longer complete time series than starting in 2009, that data will also be used and published. Until fully back-estimated series in line with IESS are available for all countries, EU and EA aggregates were based on the data that is available at the time and was flagged with a break flag. Fully break-free EU and EA aggregates were published for the first time in February 2022. More information can be found on the EU-LFS Breaks in Time Series (Statistics Explained) webpage.

General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)', see link in related metadata. Detailed information on the main features, the legal basis, the methodology and the data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.

The labour force participation rate is the percentage of economically active population aged 15-64 on the total population of the same age. According to the definitions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the purposes of the labour market statistics people are classified as employed, unemployed and outside the labour force. The economically active population (also called labour force) is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. Persons outside the labour force are those who, during the reference week, were neither employed nor unemployed. The MIP Scoreboard indicator is the three-year change in percentage points, with an indicative threshold of -0.2 pp. In the table, values are expressed also as percentage of total population. The data source is the quarterly EU Labour Force Survey (EU LFS). The survey covers the resident population in private households.

Corresponds to the number of hours the person normally works. Covers all hours including extra hours, both paid and unpaid. Excludes the travel time between the home and the place of work as well as the main meal breaks.

The Labour Force Survey Ad Hoc Eurostat Datasets form the UK component of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS), and consist of a subset of core variables from the UK Quarterly Labour Force Survey (held at the UK Data Archive under GN 33246), alongside primary and secondary derived variables computed by Eurostat from the core variables supplied. The data comprise seasonal or calendar quarters, depending on the date, and are not directly comparable with the UK QLFS quarters. From 2002-2008 the ad hoc datasets only include data for quarter two of the survey year, as the questions were only asked in this quarter. From 2009, the questions were asked all year. Quarterly EU LFS datasets from 1999 onwards are also available (see under GN 33366), as are annual datasets (see under GN 33399).

Users should note that the LFS Eurostat datasets available from the UK Data Archive comprise UK data only, and no data from other EU countries are included here. Further information about the EU LFS can be found on the Eurostat EU Labour Force Survey webpage.

The UK Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a unique source of articulated information using international definitions of employment and unemployment and economic inactivity, together with a wide range of related topics such as occupation, training, hours of work and personal characteristics of household members aged 16 years and over. The first LFS was conducted in 1973 and continues to be one of the reasons for carrying out the survey. Eurostat co-ordinates information from labour force surveys in the European Union (EU) member states in order to assist the EU in such matters as the allocation of the Social Fund. Between 1984 and 1991 the survey was carried out annually, and moved to a quarterly cycle (the QLFS) from May 1992. Further information may be found in the main LFS documentation (see link below).

LFS Documentation (main LFS)
Besides the EU LFS documentation (see below), documentation is also available to accompany the main UK LFS datasets available from the Archive. This largely consists of the latest version of each document alongside the appropriate questionnaire for the year concerned. However, LFS documentation volumes are updated periodically by ONS, so users are advised to check the ONS LFS User Guidance pages before commencing analysis.

• The dataset is part of Eurostat's collection of population and employment statistics. The code "NAMQ_10_PE" specifically refers to data related to employment and population trends in European countries and likely spans a range of years from 1980 to 2024.

Eurostat provides statistical data on various aspects of the labor market across Europe, including:

• Total Population – The total number of people residing in a particular country or region.
• Labor Force – The portion of the population that is either employed or actively looking for work.
• Employment Rate – The percentage of the working-age population that is employed.
• Unemployment Rate – The percentage of the labor force that is unemployed.
• Youth Employment Rate – The employment rate among young people (typically aged 15-24).

• Sectoral Employment – Employment distribution across various sectors like agriculture, industry, and services.

• **Details of the Dataset **

This dataset would typically cover European Union countries and potentially other European countries (depending on the specific version). The data likely spans multiple years (1980-2024) and provides insights into the demographic and economic changes in these countries over time.

-**Some example insights you might explore:**

Trends in Employment: Analyzing the employment and unemployment rates over time to see how they correlate with major economic events, such as the global financial crisis. Sectoral Shifts: Investigating how the structure of employment has shifted from agriculture and industry to services over the decades. Impact of Population Growth: Exploring how changes in population size relate to changes in employment, labor force participation, and unemployment.

• Link to Eurostat’s Dataset

You can access the Eurostat dataset directly using the following link:

• Eurostat – NAMQ_10_PE Dataset

This link takes you to Eurostat's Labor Force Survey (LFS) data, which includes datasets related to employment, unemployment, and other labor force indicators across EU countries. You can navigate and search for NAMQ_10_PE by using Eurostat’s filtering and search tools. Here, you can download data in various formats such as CSV, Excel, or TSV.

Employed persons aged 15-64 as a percentage of the population of the same age group, by NUTS 2 region. Data based on the EU Labour Force Survey.

The European Union Labour Force Survey is a rotating random sample survey covering the population in private households in currently 34 European countries. The main aim of the LFS is to provide comparable information on employed, unemployed and inactive persons of working age (15 years and above) in European countries. The definitions of employment and unemployment used in the LFS closely follow the International Labour Organisations guidelines. Common classifications used are: NACE , ISCO, ISCED, NUTS. Core topics of the LFS are demographic background; labour status; employment characteristics of the main job; hours worked; second job; previous work experience of person not in employment; search for employment; methods used during previous four weeks to find work; main labour status; education and training; situation one year before survey; income; atypical work. Since 1999 the LFS also includes so called 'ad hoc modules' on a yearly but rotating basis.

EU-LFS 2016 contains the Ad hoc module on young people on the labour market.

EU-LFS 2007 contains the Module on Accidents at work and work-related health problems. The aim of this ad hoc module is to provide a description of the occurrence of accidents at work and of non-accidental work-related illhealth and in particular. The target population for the ad hoc module consists of persons aged 15 or more. For accidents at work the additional filter is on everybody who is working or has worked during the past 12 months. For work-related health problems the filter is on everybody who is working or has worked previously. Finally, the filter for hazardous exposure is on everybody who is working at the time of the survey administration.

EU-LFS 2005 contains the Module on Reconciliation between work and family life. According to the policy needs and taking into account the constraint of 11 variables for the module, the aims and the structure of the module are the following. The first aim is to establish how far persons participate in the labour force as they would wish, and where they are unable to do so, whether the reasons are connected with a lack of suitable care services for children and dependant persons. The second aim is to analyse the degree of flexibility offered at work in terms of reconciliation with family life. The third aim is to estimate how far leave of absence is taken (as specified in Council Directive 96/34/EC of 3.6.1996, OJ L145) . The target group consisted of all persons aged between 15 and 64 (16-64 for ES, UK and NO).

European Union - Individuals using the internet for taking part in online consultations or voting: Active labour force (employed and unemployed) was 11.17% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - Individuals using the internet for taking part in online consultations or voting: Active labour force (employed and unemployed) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, European Union - Individuals using the internet for taking part in online consultations or voting: Active labour force (employed and unemployed) reached a record high of 11.17% in December of 2024 and a record low of 8.41% in December of 2011.

The employment rate of the total population is calculated by dividing the number of person aged 20 to 64 in employment by the total population of the same age group. The employment rate of men is calculated by dividing the number of men aged 20 to 64 in employment by the total male population of the same age group. The employment rate of women is calculated by dividing the number of women aged 20 to 64 in employment by the total female population of the same age group. The indicators are based on the EU Labour Force Survey.

The indicator presents employment rates by age. The employment rate is calculated by dividing the number of persons in employment in a given age group by the total population of the same age group. The indicator is based on the EU Labour Force Survey.

EU-LFS 2010 contains the Module on Reconciliation between work and family life. The first aim is to establish how far persons participate in the labour force as they wish and if not, whether the reasons are connected with a lack of suitable care services for children and dependant persons. The second aim is to analyse the degree of flexibility offered at work in terms of reconciliation with family life. The third aim is to estimate how often career breaks occur and how far leave of absence is taken. Target population: persons aged 15-64 years old

In order to enable international comparisons, particularly within the European Union, Eurostat has set up the Labour Force Survey (LFS). By combining a set of issues, it makes it possible to measure aggregates such as labour force, employment and unemployment in the same way in all countries and in accordance with the recommendations of the International Labour Office (ILO). This survey has been ongoing in Belgium since 1999 (before, only in spring). However, it provides reliable data only at regional level (Wallonia, Flanders, Brussels). Therefore, in order to be able to compare Belgian districts and municipalities with other areas at international level, the IWEPS calculates data calibrated on the Labour Force Survey. The totals, by sex, age and region, correspond exactly to those published by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. These data may differ slightly from the data published by Eurostat, which reviews the whole series each year [...]. The indicator reports the number of people who are unemployed, looking for a job and available for employment in the labour force aged 15 to 64, on an annual average. It measures the imbalance between labour supply and demand. See also: — on our website “\2” — on Statbel’s website, the Labour Force Survey ‘\2’.

The indicator 'part-time employment' represents employees who work part-time as a percentage of total employment. The indicator is based on the EU Labour Force Survey.

This section presents statistical information on the educational variables that are collected in the Labour Force Survey of the National Institute of Statistics, as well as in the Community Labour Force Survey (Eurostat). The indicators of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (2021-2030) that derive from these sources are highlighted. The information is presented disaggregated by autonomous community and by country of the European Union, according to the source used, and with temporary developments since 2002.Line break The results are obtained as annual averages of quarterly data, so the information is updated annually, as the four quarters of the EPA are available, as well as the results derived from the Community survey of Eurostat. From the 2014 results of the EPA, the new National Classification of Education, CNED-2014, based on the International Standard Classification of Education, ISCED-2011, applied in the LFS, is applied; and from 2016, the update of the sectors/fields of study of both classifications (CNED-F and ISCED-F) is applied. These changes in the rankings represent a series break for some of the tables, as indicated in the accompanying notes.

European Union - Individuals using mobile devices to access the internet on the move: Active labour force (employed and unemployed) was 81.26% in December of 2019, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for European Union - Individuals using mobile devices to access the internet on the move: Active labour force (employed and unemployed) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, European Union - Individuals using mobile devices to access the internet on the move: Active labour force (employed and unemployed) reached a record high of 81.26% in December of 2019 and a record low of 36.85% in December of 2012.