The potential for new family statistics from the Household Labour Force Survey explores the potential for new statistics and new research on families, drawing on data collected in the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS).
HLFS data are limited in that they do not reflect the full diversity that exists in arrangements for the financial support and care of children. However, this paper concludes that cross-sectional tables on the structure and labour force status of families with dependent children, drawn from the HLFS, would be a useful addition to official statistics with high relevance to public policy.
Longitudinal data from the survey are less suitable for official statistics due to biases in the sample that can be matched between quarters of the survey and the care that needs to be exercised in generalising and interpreting transitions for that sample. However, these data have potential as a basis for new research on residential mobility by family type, and on family and labour market transitions for selected sub-groups of the population.
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Citation
Wilson, M, Johnston, S, & Macky, R (2010). The potential for new family statistics from the Household Labour Force Survey. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand
Published in December 2010 by
Statistics New Zealand
Tatauranga Aotearoa
Wellington, New Zealand
ISBN 978-0-478-35376-1 (online)
info@stats.govt.nz