Public microdata for LFS have moved
The public microdata (Public Use Files) for LFS have now moved here from the project environment to the Eurostat production environment.
Gradually more data will become available (more countries and more years). Access no longer requires registration.
Background information for LFS
The EU-LFS (the EU Labour Force Survey) Public Use Files (PUFs) were created to enable interested parties to become familiar with using EU-LFS microdata while protecting the privacy of data providers (Principle 5 of the European Statistics Code of Practice). The data structure of the EU-LFS PUFs is the same as for the EU-LFS Scientific Use Files (SUFs). They provide researchers and trainers the opportunity to develop programs using identical formats and variable names to those that appear in the actual EU-LFS Scientific Use Files. The files have been designed with the purpose that programs and procedures created on the EU-LFS PUFs will function on the EU-LFS SUFs.
The PUFs were constructed with traditional statistical disclosure control methods (global recoding, local suppression, and post-randomisation method), starting with the generation of quarterly PUFs followed by the construction of an annual PUF from the quarterly PUFs.
The PUFs are tailored to the following purposes:
- To enable accredited researchers to develop and write a code that may eventually be applied to the actual EU-LFS SUF after the access is granted
- To train accredited researchers on the use and complexity of conducting analyses with the EU-LFS PUF prior to initiating the process to obtain access to the actual EU-LFS SUF
- For statistical training.
The data cannot be used for any statistical inference to a wider population. With these data, it is not possible to make generalised statements about individual characteristics or relationships between different personal or household characteristics. These files have limited research value; only the EU-LFS SUFs provide a basis for valid analysis. Any calculations based on PUFs or the conclusions drawn from them are to be produced at the sole risk and responsibility of the user with no warranty for accuracy or reliability given by the NSI that produced these EU-LFS PUFs or by Eurostat. Furthermore, neither the NSI that produced these EU-LFS PUFs nor Eurostat can be held responsible for any improper use of this data.
The Public Use Files are developed in agreement with Article 19 of Regulation 223/2009 on European statistics.
The user guide for the Labour Force Survey gives an overview of the variables used in the survey. Further background information is available on Eurostat's website on the dedicated pages on statistics explained.
In a previous phase, Public Use Files were published only for the seven countries that participated in the Centre of Excellence on Statistical Disclosure Control (AT, DE, FI, FR, HU, NL, SI) and only for 2013 (quarters and year).
In a later phase, Public Use Files of other EU countries and for other years were added.