Labour Force Survey 4. quarter 1985 - 1. quarter 1987, panel

SSB has conducted official quarterly labor force surveys (LFS) from Q1 1972. The survey aims to provide labor authorities and others knowledge about the occupational structure of population and development over time. The surveys provide the basis and statistical material for occupational forecasting and labor market research. In the LFS respondents are interviewed two consecutive quarters, then after two more quarters they are interviewed again in two consecutive quarters. Labour Force Survey 1972 is the first complete LFS year long survey. Originally it was intended that such statistics would be a more analytical supplement to the monthly employment statistics based on the insurance fund membership files. The insurance fund-based statistics, however, fell away when health insurance was included in the National Insurance Scheme from 1 January 1971, the LFS has gradually evolved to become the main source of knowledge about the state of the labor market.

General information on the Labour Force Surveys: http://www.nsd.uib.no/data/ny_individ/norStudy/aku.html

Summary of AKU panels with detailed explanations for panel files:
Data collection for the LFS was started somewhat experimental in 1971, but the data are first published in 1972. It may be helpful to look at the following section of the detailed view:

Pool 1977|1978|1979|1980|1981|1982 |1983|1984|1985|1986|1987 |
Quarter 1234 |1234|1234|1234 |1234|1234 |1234|1234|1234|1234|1234
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52 |____|____|____|____|____|____|___X|X__X|X___|____|____|____| 599_1 = 1985,1
53 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|XX__|XX__|____|____|____| 599_2 = 1985,2
54 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|_XX_|_XX_|____|____|____| 599_3 = 1985,3
55 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|__XX|__XX|____|____|____| 599_4 = 1985,4
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56 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|___X|X__X|X___|____|____| 600_1 = 1986,1
57 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|XX__|XX__|____|____| 600_2 = 1986,2
58 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|_XX_|_XX_|____|____| 600_3 = 1986,3
59 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|__XX|__XX|____|____| 600_4 = 1986,4
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60 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|___X|X__X|X___|____| 601_1 = 1987,1
61 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|XX__|XX__|____| 601_2 = 1987,2
62 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|_XX_|_XX_|____| 601_3 = 1987,3
63 |____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|____|__XX|__XX|____| 601_4 = 1987,4

Panel files are created by linking four interviews from an ordinary interview round of the LFS. In the table above this means one could connect all the pools (lines) labeled X. Participation 4th time is used as the criterion for the selection process.
In 1975 there was a break in the panel systematics, see 1975. The Labour Force Survey of 1976, adopted a slightly modified questionnaire and you came back to the original 6-quarterly rotation schedule which have been stable since.

If one looks at a particular column, for example 1st quarter of 1984, we will see that 1/4 of the respondents are included for the fourth time, for the third time, etc. The total sums the the material for one block. Quarterly weighting allows one such block (column) to be balanced with national figures. To give proper weighted figures for a annual volume consisting of four quarters, the quarterly weights has to be divides by 4.

The panels goes horizontally and each panel will have 4 weights, one for each quarter. Although they do not differ much, the weights will be prepared independently and each of them should be used for the data which the quarterly weight is made. Weighted figures apply to a pool, which means approx. 25% of the total quarterly sample, and one has to multiply by 4 to get the approximate national quarterly figures.

By "Approximate national quarterly figures" it means that differences from the quarterly national weighted figures can appear, because of the selections and whitdrawal in the connection of the panels. Because of the whitdrawal inflated numbers will be lower than the national total figures. The main point of the weights is not to give national totals, but rather to ensure the best possible representation.

This panel consider pool 60 in the table above.