Abstract

Statistical information on all aspects of the population is vital for the design, implementation and evaluation of economic and social development plan and policy issues. Labour force surveys are one of the important sources of data for assessing the role of the population of a country in the economic and social development process. These surveys provide data on the main characteristics of the work force engaged or available to be engaged in productive activities during a given period and also its distribution in the various sectors of the economy. They are also useful to indicate the extent of available and unutilized human resource that must be absorbed by the national economy to ensure full employment and economic well being of the population. Furthermore, the information obtained from such surveys is useful for the purpose of macro-economic monitoring and human resource development planning. The other broad objective of statistics on the labour force is for the measurement of the relationship between employment, income and other social and economic characteristics of the economically active population for the purpose of formulating and monitoring employment policies and programs, income-generating and maintenance schemes, vocational training and other similar programs. Seasonal and other variations in the size and characteristics of the labour force can also be monitored using up-to-date information from labour force surveys.

In order to further fill the gap in data requirement for the socio-economic development planning, monitoring and evaluation, the Central Statistical Authority (CSA) has conducted Rural Labour Force Survey (RLFS) as a part of the National Integrated Household Survey Program (NIHSP) at the end of 1980. To maintain the continuity and to update the Rural Labour Force Survey of 1981/82 results, another Rural Labour Force Survey was conducted in 1987/88. Also the CSA has conducted the 1976 Addis Ababa Manpower and Housing Sample Survey and the 1978 Manpower and Housing survey in Seventeen Major Towns. Moreover, some data on the labour force were also collected as a part of other surveys such as the 1990 Family and Fertility Survey, 1996 Urban Informal Sector Sample Survey and in the country wide deccennial Population and Housing Censuses of Ethiopia conducted in 1984 and 1994.

The labour force surveys that were conducted earlier were limited in areal coverage and content of the questionnaires. In this respect, both the 1981/82 and 1987/88 surveys covered only the rural part of the country. Till the current survey was conducted, there hasn't been a comprehensive national labour force survey representing both the urban and the rural areas of the country. Moreover, the information that should have been provided through labour force surveys could be said relatively out-dated, as the sector is dynamic and sensitive to economic and social changes. To fill this data gap, a series of current and comprehensive labour force surveys need to be undertaken.

Recognizing this fact, the Central Statistical Authority (CSA) has conducted a national labour force survey in March 1999. The survey is the first of its kind in that it covers the rural and the urban areas and it contains detailed information on the subject. The results of this survey have been already released to users in a publication entitled "Statistical Report on the 1999 National Labour Force Survey (NLFS)" and this presented the data in a former of detailed statistical tables including the concepts and definitions on the major technical terms used in the survey. The CSA hopes that users have benefited a lot from this publication. To increase the utility of the result of the survey, the CSA taught that it necessary to make further analysis on the data. The analytical presentation of this report will be based on the tables that have been presented in the statistical report (Report on Statistical Tables of the 1999 Labour Force Survey, CSA, 1999) and some additional tables produced and included in this report. This chapter presents an overview to the survey background. The 1999 National Labour Force survey was designed to provide statistical data on the size and characteristics of the employed, unemployed, underemployed and the non-active population of the country. In general, the data obtained from the survey is useful for policy makers, planners, researchers and other institutions and individuals engaged in the design and implementation of human resource development projects and programs.

The specific objectives of the 1999 National Labour Force Survey are to :- - collect statistical data on the potential manpower who are available to take part in various socio-economic activities - determine the size and distribution of the labour force; and the status and rates of economic activity and also to study the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of these groups - identify those who contributed to economic development and those who are partially employed, without work and economically inactive - to estimate and assess the levels and characteristics of the unemployed population - generate data on the status and type of professional and vocational training - assess the size and characteristics of children aged between 5 - 14 years that were engaged in economic activities - assess the situation of women's employment or the participation of women in the labour force

Geographic coverage

The survey covered both urban and rural parts of the country, except six zones in Somali Region and two zones in Affar Region

Analysis unit

• Household
• Household member
• Household members aged 10 years and over

Universe

The survey covered all households in selected sample areas except residents of collective quarters, homeless persons and foreigners.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The 1999 National Labor Force Survey covered both urban and rural parts of the country, except six zones in Somali Region and two zones in Affar Region. In addition the residents of collective quarters, homeless persons and foreigners were not covered in the survey. For the purpose of the survey, the survey population in the country was divided into urban and rural categories.

Category I: Urban parts of 26 zones, that is 4 zones in Tigray, 10 zones in Amhara, and 12 zones in Oromiya regions; and 9 zones and 5 special weredas in SNNP Region; and urban parts of Affar, Somali, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela and Harari regions and Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Administration were grouped in this category. Each of the above mentioned urban parts of the zones, except the 5 special weredas in SNNP Region were the survey domains (reporting levels). All in all 47 basic urban domains (Reporting levels) including total urban (regional and country level) were defined for the survey.

Category II: Rural parts of 26 Zones that is 4 zones in Tigray, 10 zones in Amhara, 12 zones in Oromiya regions and 9 zones and 5 special weredas in SNNP regions; and rural parts of Affar, Somali, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela and Harari regions, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Administration were grouped in this category. Each of the above mentioned rural parts of zones and special weredas, except Addis Ababa rural, were the survey domains (reporting levels). All in all 51 basic rural domains (reporting levels) including total rural (regional and country level) were defined for the survey. In addition to the above urban and rural domains, survey results can be reported at regional and country levels by aggregating the survey results for the corresponding urban and rural areas. Definition of the survey domains was based on both technical and resource considerations. More specifically, sample sizes for the domains were determined to enable provision of major indicators with reasonable precision subject to the resources that were available for the survey.

Selection Scheme and Sample Size: In both categories stratified two-stage sample design was used to select the sample in which the Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) were enumeration areas (EAs). Sample EAs from each domain were selected using systematic probability proportional to size; size being number of households obtained from the 1994 Population and Housing Census. From category I, a total of 913 EAs and from category II, a total of 1428 EAs were selected. Within each sample EA, fresh list of households was prepared at the beginning of the survey's fieldwork for urban sites and at the beginning of the 1991 E.C. Agricultural Sample Survey's fieldwork for rural sites. The survey questionnaire was administered to 35 systematically selected households within each of the sampled EAs.

Note: Distributions of sample units by domain (reporting levels) and category are presented in Table 2.1 and Table 2.2 of the 1999 National Labour Force Survey report which is provided in this documentation.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The survey has used a structured questionnaire to solicit the required data. Before taking its final shape, the draft questionnaire was tested by undertaking a Pilot Study. Based on the result of the pilot study the content, layout and presentation of the questionnaire was amended. The content of the questionnaire has been further revised on the basis of the discussion made on the user - producer forum organized by the CSA. The questionnaire used in the field was prepared in Amharic language and most questions have pre-coded answers and column numbers were assigned for each question.

The questionnaire is organized into six sections: Section-1 Area identification of the selected household: this section has

Abstract

Statistical information on all aspects of the population is vital for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of economic and social development plan and policy issues. Labour force survey is among the important sources of data to assess the participation of the population in the economic and social development process of the country. It is useful to indicate the extent of available and unutilized human resources that must be absorbed by the national economy to ensure full employment and economic wellbeing of the population.

The general objective of the 2013 National Labor Force Survey was designed to provide statistical data on the size, distribution and characteristics of the economically active and the distribution in the various sectors of the economy in both urban and rural areas. The data will be useful for policy makers, planners, researchers, and other institutions and individuals engaged in the design, implementation and monitoring of human resource development plans, programs and projects. The specific objectives of this survey are: • Generate data on the size of the potential work force that is available to participate in production process; • Determine the activity status and rate of economic participation of different sub-groups of the population; • Identify those who are actually contributing to the economic development (i.e., employed) and those who are out of the sphere of productive activities; • Identify the size, distribution and characteristics of employed population by occupation and Industry, status in employment, sector of employment and earnings from employment...etc. • Provide data on the size, distribution and characteristics of unemployed population and rate of unemployment; • Assess the situation of women's employment or the participation of women in the labour force; • Provide time series data to trace changes over time.

Geographic coverage

The survey covered all rural and urban parts of the country except the non-sedentary areas of six zones of Somali region.

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals (household members aged 5 years and above)

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Frequency of data collection

Every five years

Sampling procedure

Sampling Frame The list of Sampling Frame obtained from the 2007 Population and Housing Census is used to select EAs. A fresh list of households from each EA was prepared at the beginning of the survey period. The list was then used as a frame for selecting sample households of each EAs.

Sample Design For the purpose of the survey the country was divided into three broad categories, rural (Category I), major urban center (Category II) and other urban center categories (Category III).

Sample Size and Selection Scheme Category I: Totally 842 EAs and 25260 households were selected from this category. Sample EAs of each reporting level was selected using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) systematic sampling technique; size being number of household obtained from the 2007 Population and Housing Census. From the fresh list of households prepared at the beginning of the survey 30 households per EA were systematically selected and surveyed. For the distribution of planned and covered number of samples from each domain see

Category II: In this category 817 EAs and 24510 households were selected. Sample EAs from each reporting level in this category were also selected using probability proportional to size (PPS) systematic sampling; size being number of households obtained from the 2007 Population and Housing Census is used to select EAs. From the fresh list of households prepared at the beginning of the survey 30 households per EA were systematically selected and covered by the study. The table below (Summary Table 2.2) shows planned and covered EAs and households in each domain.

Category III: 127 urban centers, 296 EAs and 8,880 households were selected in this category. Urban centers from each domain and EAs from each urban center were selected using probability proportional to size systematic selection method; size being number of households obtained from the 2007 Population and Housing Census is used to select EAs. From the fresh listing of each EA 30 households were systematically selected and the study carried out on the 30 households ultimately selected. Summary Table 2.3 below shows the number of planned and sampled EAs and households by domain.

For details on sampling design, see: Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency. Analytica Report on The 2013 National Labour Force Survey

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The survey is mainly aimed at providing information on the economic characteristics of the population aged 10 years and above, i.e., their activity status, employment, and unemployment situation during the last seven days prior to the survey date. It has also covered detailed socio-demographic background variables such as age, sex, relationship to the head of household, migration, disability, literacy status, educational level, training and marital status. The survey has used a structured questionnaire to produce the required data. Before taking its final shape, the draft questionnaire was commented by CSA senior staff member from different directorate as well as top management. Based on the comment given by professionals, the content, layout and presentation of the questionnaire were amended.

The questionnaire was organized in to six sections; Section 1: Area identification of the selected household: this section dealt with area identification of the respondents such as region, zone, wereda, etc. Section 2: Socio- demographic characteristics of households: it consisted of the general socio-demographic characteristics of the population such as age, sex, education, status and type of migration, disability, literacy status, educational Attainment, types of training and marital status. Section 3: Economic activities during the last seven days: this section dealt with a range of questions which helps to see the status and characteristics of employed persons in a current status approach such as hours of work in productive activities, occupation, industry, status in employment, earnings from employment, job mobility, service year for paid employees employment in the formal and informal sector and time related under employment. Section 4: Unemployment and characteristics of unemployed persons: this section focused on the size, rate and characteristics of the unemployed population. Section 5: Economic activities during the last twelve months: this section consists of the usual economic activity status refereeing to the long reference period i.e. engaged in productive activities during most of the last twelve months, reason for not being active, status in employment, main occupation and industry with two digit codes. Section 6: Economic activities of children aged 5-17 years: this section comprises information on the participation of children aged 5-17 years in the economic activities, whether attending education, reason for not attending education, whether they were working during the last seven days, reason for working, for whom they are working, types of injury at work place, whether using protective wear while working and frequency of working periods, and orphan hood status.

The questionnaire used in the field for data collection was prepared in Amharic language. Most questions have pre-coded answers. A copy of the questionnaire translated to English is attached as an external resource.

Cleaning operations

The filled-in questionnaires that were retrieved from the field were first subjected to manual editing and coding. During the fieldwork the field supervisors and the heads of branch statistical offices have checked the filled-in questionnaires and carried out some editing. However, the major editing and coding operation was carried out at the head office. All the edited questionnaires were again fully verified and checked for consistency before they were submitted to the data entry by the subject matter experts.

Using the computer edit specifications prepared earlier for this purpose, the entered data were checked for consistencies and then computer editing or data cleaning was made by referring back to the filled-in questionnaire. This is an important part of data processing operation in attaining the required level of data quality. Consistency checks and re-checks were also made based on frequency and tabulation results. This was done by senior programmers using CSPro software in collaboration with the senior subject experts from Labour Statistics Team of the CSA.

Response rate

• For the rural domains, the response rate was 99.60%
• For the major urban centers domains, the response rate was 99.51%
• For the other urban centers domains, the response rate was 99.62%