Mikrocensus 1997, 1. quarter: Labour Force Survey

This Mikrozensus special survey from March 1996 is similar to the ones from previous years - the European Labour Force Survey (LFS). This special program is identical to the one of the previous year was conducted wholly according to international standards. For many years the European Union has obligated its member countries to annually conduct a standardised labour force survey in spring. Since joining the EU 1995, Austria as a EU-member has to conduct this survey too. The relevance of this survey lies in the fact that the results on employment and unemployment from the LFS directly influences the financial support the Austria regions receive from the European Union. In addition, the data is also used for other support measures (for instance for certain population groups such as teenagers) and for the European administration’s general need for information. Therefore, the basis for this survey was laid down in a European policy (Council Directive EWG No. 3711/91 from 16th December 1991 on the conduction of an annual sampling on the labour force in the Union) This directive also states that member countries can make the answering of the survey compulsive for the population. The ÖSTAT nevertheless wants the participation in the survey to remain voluntary.

本次1996年3月开展的微普查专项调查，与历年欧洲劳动力调查（European Labour Force Survey, LFS）的执行标准保持一致。本次专项调查的实施方案与上一年度完全相同，且全程严格遵循国际规范开展。

长期以来，欧盟均要求其成员国于每年春季开展标准化劳动力调查。奥地利于1995年加入欧盟后，同样需执行此类调查。

本次调查的核心价值在于：欧洲劳动力调查得出的就业与失业统计结果，将直接影响奥地利各地区从欧盟获得的财政支持额度。此外，该数据还可用于其他帮扶举措（例如针对青少年等特定群体的帮扶项目），以及满足欧盟行政部门的通用信息需求。

因此，本次调查的实施依据源自一项欧盟政策：1991年12月16日发布的《欧盟理事会关于在欧盟范围内开展年度劳动力抽样调查的第3711/91号欧共体指令》（Council Directive EWG No. 3711/91）。该指令同时规定，成员国可要求民众强制参与调查，但奥地利统计局（ÖSTAT）仍希望本次调查保持自愿参与的原则。