Labor Force Survey, LFS 2011
Palestine, 2011
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Reference ID
PAL_LFS_2011_HD_V1
Producer(s)
Economic Research Forum, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
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Jan 23, 2017
Last modified
Jan 23, 2017
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Identification
Survey ID
PAL_LFS_2011_HD_V1
Title
Labor Force Survey, LFS 2011
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Palestine | PAL |
Study type
Labor Force Survey [hh/lfs]
Series information
The Palestinian Labour Force Survey Programme consists of an integrated series of labour force surveys, the first of which was issued in October 1995. This programme conducts surveys quarterly.
Abstract
<p style="border:solid thin black;"> THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 100% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE PALESTINIAN CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS</p>
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) carried out four rounds of the Labor Force Survey 2011 (LFS). The survey rounds covered a total sample of about 31,190 households, and the number of completed questionaire is 28,083.
The importance of this survey lies in that it focuses mainly on labour force key indicators, main characteristics of the employed, unemployed, underemployed and persons outside labour force, labour force according to level of education, distribution of the employed population by occupation, economic activity, place of work, employment status, hours and days worked and average daily wage in NIS for the employees.
The survey main objectives are:
- To estimate the labor force and its percentage to the population.
- To estimate the number of employed individuals.
- To analyze labour force according to gender, employment status, educational level, occupation and economic activity.
- To provide information about the main changes in the labour market structure and its socio economic characteristics.
- To estimate the numbers of unemployed individuals and analyze their general characteristics.
- To estimate the rate of working hours and wages for employed individuals in addition to analyze of other characteristics.
The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing labor force surveys in several Arab countries.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) carried out four rounds of the Labor Force Survey 2011 (LFS). The survey rounds covered a total sample of about 31,190 households, and the number of completed questionaire is 28,083.
The importance of this survey lies in that it focuses mainly on labour force key indicators, main characteristics of the employed, unemployed, underemployed and persons outside labour force, labour force according to level of education, distribution of the employed population by occupation, economic activity, place of work, employment status, hours and days worked and average daily wage in NIS for the employees.
The survey main objectives are:
- To estimate the labor force and its percentage to the population.
- To estimate the number of employed individuals.
- To analyze labour force according to gender, employment status, educational level, occupation and economic activity.
- To provide information about the main changes in the labour market structure and its socio economic characteristics.
- To estimate the numbers of unemployed individuals and analyze their general characteristics.
- To estimate the rate of working hours and wages for employed individuals in addition to analyze of other characteristics.
The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing labor force surveys in several Arab countries.
Kind of data
Sample survey data [ssd]
Unit of analysis
1- Household/family.
2- Individual/person.
2- Individual/person.
Version
Version
V1.0: A cleaned and a harmonized version of the survey dataset, produced by the Economic Research Forum for dissemination.
Version date
2016-10
Version notes
All documentation available for the original survey provided by the Statistical Agency, and for the harmonized datasets produced by the Economic Research Forum, are published, along with a copy of all occupation and economic activity classifications used during the harmonization process.
However, as far as the datasets are concerned, the Economic Research Forum produces and releases only the harmonized versions in both SPSS and STATA formats.
However, as far as the datasets are concerned, the Economic Research Forum produces and releases only the harmonized versions in both SPSS and STATA formats.
Scope
Notes
Household: Includes geographical characteristics, household composition, LFS classification of household members, head's and spouse's characteristics, dwelling characteristics and ownership of durables.
Individual: Includes demographics, nationality and immigration, education, current labor status, main, secondary and last held job characteristics, wages and incomes, unemployment characteristics and inactivity reason(s).
Individual: Includes demographics, nationality and immigration, education, current labor status, main, secondary and last held job characteristics, wages and incomes, unemployment characteristics and inactivity reason(s).
Topics
| Topic | Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| Demographics | ERF |
| Education | ERF |
| Nationality and immigration | ERF |
| Labor Force | ERF |
| Employment | ERF |
| Unemployment | ERF |
| Wages and incomes | ERF |
Coverage
Geographic coverage
Covering a representative sample on the region level (West Bank, Gaza Strip), the locality type (urban, rural, camp) and the governorates.
Universe
The survey covered all Palestinian households who are a usual residence of the Palestinian Territory.
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Economic Research Forum | |
| Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics | Palestinian National Authority |
Sampling
Sampling procedure
<p style="border:solid thin black;"> THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 100% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE PALESTINIAN CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS</p>
The methodology was designed according to the context of the survey, international standards, data processing requirements and comparability of outputs with other related surveys.
---> Target Population:
It consists of all Palestinian households who are staying normally in the Palestinian Territory (west bank and gaza strip) during the year of 2011.
---> Sampling Frame:
The sampling frame consists of all enumeration areas which were enumerated in 2007, each numeration area consists of buildings and housing units with average of about 124 households. These enumeration areas are used as primary sampling units (PSUs) in the first stage of the sampling selection.
---> Sampling Size:
The sample size was about 7,820 households in the 60th round and 7,802 households in the 61th round, and 7,784 households in the 62th round and 7,784 households in the 63th round, and there is 50% overlapping among households between each two consecutive rounds.
---> Sample Design
The sample of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) which implemented periodically every quarter by PCBS since 1995, so this survey implement every quarter in the year 2011(distributed over 13 weeks).
The sample is two stage stratified cluster sample with two stages :
First stage: we select a systematic random sample of 502 enumeration areas for the whole round, and we excluded the enumeration areas which its sizes less than 40 households.
Second stage: we select a systematic random sample of 16 households from each enumeration area selected in the first stage, se we select a systematic random of 16 households of the enumeration areas which its size is 80 household and over and the enumeration areas which its size is less than 80 households we select systematic random of 8 households.
---> Sample strata:
The population was divided by:
1- Governorate (16 governorate)
2- Type of Locality (urban, rural, refugee camps).
---> Sample Rotation:
Each round of the Labor Force Survey covers all of the 502 master sample enumeration areas. Basically, the areas remain fixed over time, but households in 50% of the EAs are replaced each round. The same household remains in the sample for 2 consecutive rounds, left for the next two rounds, then selected for the sample for another two consecutive rounds before it is dropped from the sample. A 50% overlap is then achieved between both consecutive rounds and between consecutive years (making the sample efficient for monitoring purposes).
The methodology was designed according to the context of the survey, international standards, data processing requirements and comparability of outputs with other related surveys.
---> Target Population:
It consists of all Palestinian households who are staying normally in the Palestinian Territory (west bank and gaza strip) during the year of 2011.
---> Sampling Frame:
The sampling frame consists of all enumeration areas which were enumerated in 2007, each numeration area consists of buildings and housing units with average of about 124 households. These enumeration areas are used as primary sampling units (PSUs) in the first stage of the sampling selection.
---> Sampling Size:
The sample size was about 7,820 households in the 60th round and 7,802 households in the 61th round, and 7,784 households in the 62th round and 7,784 households in the 63th round, and there is 50% overlapping among households between each two consecutive rounds.
---> Sample Design
The sample of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) which implemented periodically every quarter by PCBS since 1995, so this survey implement every quarter in the year 2011(distributed over 13 weeks).
The sample is two stage stratified cluster sample with two stages :
First stage: we select a systematic random sample of 502 enumeration areas for the whole round, and we excluded the enumeration areas which its sizes less than 40 households.
Second stage: we select a systematic random sample of 16 households from each enumeration area selected in the first stage, se we select a systematic random of 16 households of the enumeration areas which its size is 80 household and over and the enumeration areas which its size is less than 80 households we select systematic random of 8 households.
---> Sample strata:
The population was divided by:
1- Governorate (16 governorate)
2- Type of Locality (urban, rural, refugee camps).
---> Sample Rotation:
Each round of the Labor Force Survey covers all of the 502 master sample enumeration areas. Basically, the areas remain fixed over time, but households in 50% of the EAs are replaced each round. The same household remains in the sample for 2 consecutive rounds, left for the next two rounds, then selected for the sample for another two consecutive rounds before it is dropped from the sample. A 50% overlap is then achieved between both consecutive rounds and between consecutive years (making the sample efficient for monitoring purposes).
Response rates
The survey sample consists of about 31,190 households in 2011, which 28,083 households completed the interview; whereas 18,650 households from the West Bank and 9,433 households in Gaza Strip. Weights were modified to account for non-response rate. The response rate in the West Bank reached 95% while in the Gaza Strip it reached 96%.
Weighting
The weight of statistical units (sampling unit) in the sample is defined as the mathematical inverse of the selection probability where the sample of the survey is two stage stratified cluster sample, so In the first stage, we calculate the weight of enumeration areas which depending on the probability of each enumeration area(a systematic random sample), then In the second stage we calculate weight of households in each enumeration area, Initial households weights resulted from product of weight of first stage and weight of second stage, final households weights obtained after adjustment of initial weights with the households estimates mid 2011 on the level of design strata (governorate, locality type).
For the 10years and over persons file we add the final household weight for each person ,then we adjust the initial person weight with the persons estimates mid of 2011 on the level of (Region (west bank, gaza strip), Sex (male, female), Five -year age groups(14 groups)) then we obtain the final adjusted person weight.
For the 10years and over persons file we add the final household weight for each person ,then we adjust the initial person weight with the persons estimates mid of 2011 on the level of (Region (west bank, gaza strip), Sex (male, female), Five -year age groups(14 groups)) then we obtain the final adjusted person weight.
Survey instrument
Questionnaires
The survey questionnaire was designed according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) recommendations. The questionnaire includes four main parts:
---> 1. Identification Data:
The main objective for this part is to record the necessary information to identify the household, such as, cluster code, sector, type of locality, cell, housing number and the cell code.
---> 2. Quality Control:
This part involves groups of controlling standards to monitor the field and office operation, to keep in order the sequence of questionnaire stages (data collection, field and office coding, data entry, editing after entry and store the data.
---> 3. Household Roster:
This part involves demographic characteristics about the household, like number of persons in the household, date of birth, sex, educational level…etc.
---> 4. Employment Part:
This part involves the major research indicators, where one questionnaire had been answered by every 15 years and over household member, to be able to explore their labour force status and recognize their major characteristics toward employment status, economic activity, occupation, place of work, and other employment indicators.
---> 1. Identification Data:
The main objective for this part is to record the necessary information to identify the household, such as, cluster code, sector, type of locality, cell, housing number and the cell code.
---> 2. Quality Control:
This part involves groups of controlling standards to monitor the field and office operation, to keep in order the sequence of questionnaire stages (data collection, field and office coding, data entry, editing after entry and store the data.
---> 3. Household Roster:
This part involves demographic characteristics about the household, like number of persons in the household, date of birth, sex, educational level…etc.
---> 4. Employment Part:
This part involves the major research indicators, where one questionnaire had been answered by every 15 years and over household member, to be able to explore their labour force status and recognize their major characteristics toward employment status, economic activity, occupation, place of work, and other employment indicators.
Data collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | 2011-03-31 | First round |
| 2011-04-01 | 2011-06-30 | Second round |
| 2011-07-01 | 2011-09-30 | Third round |
| 2011-10-01 | 2011-12-31 | Fourth round |
Data Collectors
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics | Palestinian National Authority |
Data processing
Cleaning operations
---> Raw Data
The data processing stage consisted of the following operations:
1. Editing and coding before data entry: All questionnaires were edited and coded in the office using the same instructions adopted for editing in the field.
2. Data entry: At this stage, data was entered into the computer using a data entry template designed in Access. The data entry program was prepared to satisfy a number of requirements such as:
- Duplication of the questionnaires on the computer screen.
- Logical and consistency check of data entered.
- Possibility for internal editing of question answers.
- Maintaining a minimum of digital data entry and fieldwork errors.
- User friendly handling.
Possibility of transferring data into another format to be used and analyzed using other statistical analytic systems such as SPSS.
---> Harmonized Data
- The SPSS package is used to clean and harmonize the datasets.
- The harmonization process starts with a cleaning process for all raw data files received from the Statistical Agency.
- All cleaned data files are then merged to produce one data file on the individual level containing all variables subject to harmonization.
- A country-specific program is generated for each dataset to generate/ compute/ recode/ rename/ format/ label harmonized variables.
- A post-harmonization cleaning process is then conducted on the data.
- Harmonized data is saved on the household as well as the individual level, in SPSS and then converted to STATA, to be disseminated.
The data processing stage consisted of the following operations:
1. Editing and coding before data entry: All questionnaires were edited and coded in the office using the same instructions adopted for editing in the field.
2. Data entry: At this stage, data was entered into the computer using a data entry template designed in Access. The data entry program was prepared to satisfy a number of requirements such as:
- Duplication of the questionnaires on the computer screen.
- Logical and consistency check of data entered.
- Possibility for internal editing of question answers.
- Maintaining a minimum of digital data entry and fieldwork errors.
- User friendly handling.
Possibility of transferring data into another format to be used and analyzed using other statistical analytic systems such as SPSS.
---> Harmonized Data
- The SPSS package is used to clean and harmonize the datasets.
- The harmonization process starts with a cleaning process for all raw data files received from the Statistical Agency.
- All cleaned data files are then merged to produce one data file on the individual level containing all variables subject to harmonization.
- A country-specific program is generated for each dataset to generate/ compute/ recode/ rename/ format/ label harmonized variables.
- A post-harmonization cleaning process is then conducted on the data.
- Harmonized data is saved on the household as well as the individual level, in SPSS and then converted to STATA, to be disseminated.
Data appraisal
Estimates of sampling errors
---> Sampling Errors
Data of this survey affected by sampling errors due to use of the sample and not a complete enumeration. Therefore, certain differences are expected in comparison with the real values obtained through censuses. Variance were calculated for the most important indicators, the variance table is attached with the final report. There is no problem to disseminate results at the national level and government level.
---> Non-Sampling Errors
Non-statistical errors are probable in all stages of the project, during data collection or processing. This is referred to as non-response errors, response errors, interviewing errors, and data entry errors. To avoid errors and reduce their effects, great efforts were made to train the fieldworkers intensively. They were trained on how to carry out the interview, what to discuss and what to avoid, carrying out a pilot survey, as well as practical and theoretical training during the training course.
Also data entry staff were trained on the data entry program that was examined before starting the data entry process. To stay in contact with progress of fieldwork activities and to limit obstacles, there was continuous contact with the fieldwork team through regular visits to the field and regular meetings with them during the different field visits. Problems faced by fieldworkers were discussed to clarify any issues.
Non-sampling errors can occur at the various stages of survey implementation whether in data collection or in data processing. They are generally difficult to be evaluated statistically. They cover a wide range of errors, including errors resulting from non-response, sampling frame coverage, coding and classification, data processing, and survey response (both respondent and interviewer-related). The use of effective training and supervision and the careful design of questions have direct bearing on limiting the magnitude of non-sampling errors, and hence enhancing the quality of the resulting data.
The implementation of the survey encountered non-response where the case (household was not present at home) during the fieldwork visit and the case (housing unit is vacant) become the high percentage of the non response cases. The total non-response rate reached 4.7% which is very low once compared to the household surveys conducted by PCBS, The refusal rate reached 0.8% which is very low percentage compared to the household surveys conducted by PCBS, and the reason is the short and clear questionnaire.
Data of this survey affected by sampling errors due to use of the sample and not a complete enumeration. Therefore, certain differences are expected in comparison with the real values obtained through censuses. Variance were calculated for the most important indicators, the variance table is attached with the final report. There is no problem to disseminate results at the national level and government level.
---> Non-Sampling Errors
Non-statistical errors are probable in all stages of the project, during data collection or processing. This is referred to as non-response errors, response errors, interviewing errors, and data entry errors. To avoid errors and reduce their effects, great efforts were made to train the fieldworkers intensively. They were trained on how to carry out the interview, what to discuss and what to avoid, carrying out a pilot survey, as well as practical and theoretical training during the training course.
Also data entry staff were trained on the data entry program that was examined before starting the data entry process. To stay in contact with progress of fieldwork activities and to limit obstacles, there was continuous contact with the fieldwork team through regular visits to the field and regular meetings with them during the different field visits. Problems faced by fieldworkers were discussed to clarify any issues.
Non-sampling errors can occur at the various stages of survey implementation whether in data collection or in data processing. They are generally difficult to be evaluated statistically. They cover a wide range of errors, including errors resulting from non-response, sampling frame coverage, coding and classification, data processing, and survey response (both respondent and interviewer-related). The use of effective training and supervision and the careful design of questions have direct bearing on limiting the magnitude of non-sampling errors, and hence enhancing the quality of the resulting data.
The implementation of the survey encountered non-response where the case (household was not present at home) during the fieldwork visit and the case (housing unit is vacant) become the high percentage of the non response cases. The total non-response rate reached 4.7% which is very low once compared to the household surveys conducted by PCBS, The refusal rate reached 0.8% which is very low percentage compared to the household surveys conducted by PCBS, and the reason is the short and clear questionnaire.
Data appraisal
Errors in data processing, such as coding and punching. The data underwent checking and completion of missing information in the office and logical checks were computerized as well as manually, including call-backs if needed.
Response errors which resulted from misunderstanding of the questions, interviewers’ bias in asking the questions and in probing. Thorough training, supervision, and various quality control checks were used to minimize bias resulting from these kinds of errors.
Response errors which resulted from misunderstanding of the questions, interviewers’ bias in asking the questions and in probing. Thorough training, supervision, and various quality control checks were used to minimize bias resulting from these kinds of errors.
Data Access
Access authority
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Research Forum | Economic Research Forum (ERF) | www.erf.org.eg | erfdataportal@erf.org.eg |
Confidentiality
| Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required? | Confidentiality declaration text |
|---|---|
| yes |
To access the micro data, researchers are required to register on the ERF website and comply with the data access agreement. The data will be used only for scholarly research, or educational purposes. Users are prohibited from using data acquired from the Economic Research Forum in the pursuit of any commercial or private ventures. |
Access conditions
Licensed datasets, accessible under conditions.
Citation requirement
The users should cite the Economic Research Forum and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics as follows:
OAMDI, 2016. Harmonized Labor Force Surveys (HLFS), http://erf.org.eg/data-portal/. Version 1.0 of Licensed Data Files; LFS 2011- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). Egypt: Economic Research Forum (ERF).
OAMDI, 2016. Harmonized Labor Force Surveys (HLFS), http://erf.org.eg/data-portal/. Version 1.0 of Licensed Data Files; LFS 2011- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). Egypt: Economic Research Forum (ERF).
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The Economic Research Forum and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics have granted the researcher access to relevant data following exhaustive efforts to protect the confidentiality of individual data. The researcher is solely responsible for any analysis or conclusions drawn from available data.
Copyright
(c) 2016, Economic Research Forum | (c) 2011, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Contacts
Contacts
| Name | URL | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Research Forum (ERF) - 21 Al-Sad Al-Aaly St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt | erfdataportal@erf.org.eg | www.erf.org.eg |
Metadata production
Document ID
PAL_LFS_2011_HD_V1
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Economic Research Forum | Cleaning and harmonizing raw data received from the Statistical Agency |
Date of metadata production
2016-10
Metadata version
Version
Version 1