Labour Force Survey Five-Quarter Longitudinal Dataset (December 1992+)

This survey of the United Kingdom has been conducted on a quarterly basis since 1992, with each sample household retained for 5 consecutive quarters, and a 5th of the sample replaced each quarter. The main survey was designed to produce cross-sectional data, but the data on each individual have now been linked together to provide longitudinal information. The longitudinal data consist of 2 types of linked datasets, created using the weighting method to adjust for non-response bias. The 2-quarter datasets link data from 2 consecutive waves, while the 5-quarter datasets link across a whole year (for example January 1999 to March 2000 inclusive) and contain data from all 5 waves. Linking together records to create a longitudinal dimension can, for example, provide information on gross flows over time between different labour force categories (employed, unemployed and economically inactive). This will provide detail about people who have moved between the categories. Also, longitudinal information is useful in monitoring the effects of government policies and can be used to follow the subsequent activities and circumstances of people affected by specific policy initiatives, and to compare them with other groups in the population. There are however methodological problems which could distort the data resulting from this longitudinal linking. The Office for National Statistics is continuing to research these problems and advises that the presentation of results should be carefully considered, and warnings should be included with outputs where necessary.

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