Data Services

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household sample survey which collects data on the labour market activities of the working age population of Canada. It generates a wide range of estimates relating to the employed, the unemployed, and persons not in labour force. The survey is conducted monthly and the data files made available through the DLI are bundled together, requiring separation before analysis can be done.

The author division has provided us with the following information:

"All Labour Force Survey historical data ( Public use micro file)" have been revised to reflect a new method of estimation as well as population counts based on the 1996 Census.

Also in January 1999, to harmonize with other STC data sources, the LFS introduced a new definition of the public and private sectors. Instead of basing the definition only on ownership, the new definition is also based on whether the workplace is publicly or privately funded.

The largest impact of this conceptual change was for those working in hospitals and universities. To preserve historical consistency as much as possible, workers in these industries were recoded from private to public back to 1976. Also, estimates by class of worker has been revised back to January 1987."

We have received revised data for 1999 and 2000, but still have the unrevised data from 1976 to 1998. Statistics Canada has indicated that they will supply the revised data from 1976 to 1998. No time estimate was provided but once we have received these new data we will update the files on the DLI site.

Note on occupation series:

Harmonization with Census occupation concepts from January to June 1999 has affected the comparability of current LFS occupation data through time. The management group was most affected, with a portion of those formerly classified as managers now most likely coded to business, finance and administrative and sales and service occupations. Investigations are still underway to improve these series. It is expected that results of this work will be available later in 2001.

DOCUMENTATION:

• User's Guide, revised edition (Feb. 2001) in PDF format
• Report on the impact of the 1990 changes to the education questions in PDF format
• SPSS syntax file for use with raw data file (below) between 1976 and 1998, provided as a zip&license=DLIped text file.
• SPSS syntax file for use with raw data files for 1999 and 2000 (below) provided as a zip&license=DLIped text file.

DATA:

The following surveys are available for use; if you need the raw ascii data file, please contact the UNB DLI contact:

Steps to Obtain Data Files Electronically:

Links to electronic versions of documentation and SPSS or SAS command files are provided where they exist.

1. Click on the file you require to download the datafile to your hard drive. This will take you to the Statistics Canada DLI license under which the files are provided to UNB Libraries. After entering your email account, an authorization screen will appear.

2. You must enter your PIN number and your email address to obtain the file A dialogue box will appear with the note: "unknown file type" at the top.

3. Click on SAVE FILE, and indicate where on your hard drive you wish the data file saved. For example, you may wish to save your file to c:\temp and you would indicate this in the dialogue box which will appear when you click on SAVE FILE.

• To unzip&license=DLI a file if you work with DOS, download pkz204g.exe into the same directory as you are putting the file. After you leave Netscape and are at the DOS prompt and have expanded the file, type: pkunzip&license=DLI filename
  
• To unzip&license=DLI a file if you work in Windows 95, download winzip&license=DLI95.exe
  

Document maintained by:
Government Documents, Data and Maps Department
E-mail address: Hamilton@unb.ca
Last update: 01/07/19

This document http://doc.lib.unb.ca/gddm/data/Ftp_lfs.html