Australian Longitudinal Survey, 1985: Wave 1, Level 2

This is the first wave of the youth area sample component of the Australian Longitudinal Survey. Successive waves of this youth sample component will be carried out from 1985 to at least 1988 (see also SSDA Studies No. 377 and 410 for details of the first and second waves of the ALS list sample). The 1985 wave consisted of 9000 interviews with people aged 16 to 25. A multi-stage household based sample designed to represent all Australians in the age cohort, except those residing in sparsely settled areas, was employed. The survey aims mainly at providing data on the dynamics of the youth labour market, and in particular to address questions which are not readily covered with available sources of cross sectional data. Labour market variables include job history, job search behaviour, job training and transition from school/study to work. Background variables and topics related to the main labour market theme include education, occupation, health and attitudes to women working. Basic demographic variables include age, sex, size of household, country of birth, racial origin, parental education and occupation, spouse's education, religion, income and whether resident in an urban or rural area.