Labor Force Survey, LFS 2012 - Palestine

Abstract --------------------------- 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 The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) carried out four rounds of the Labor Force Survey 2012 (LFS). The survey rounds covered a total sample of about 30,887 households, and the number of completed questionaire is 26,898. The main objective of collecting data on the labour force and its components, including employment, unemployment and underemployment, is to provide basic information on the size and structure of the Palestinian labour force. Data collected at different points in time provide a basis for monitoring current trends and changes in the labour market and in the employment situation. These data, supported with information on other aspects of the economy, provide a basis for the evaluation and analysis of macro-economic policies. 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. Geographic coverage --------------------------- Covering a representative sample on the region level (West Bank, Gaza Strip), the locality type (urban, rural, camp) and the governorates. Analysis unit --------------------------- 1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person. Universe --------------------------- The survey covered all Palestinian households who are a usual residence of the Palestinian Territory. Kind of data --------------------------- Sample survey data [ssd] Sampling procedure --------------------------- 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 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 individuals aged 10 years and older normally residing in their households in Palestine during 2012. ---> Sampling Frame: The sampling frame consists of the master sample, which was updated in 2011: each enumeration area consists of buildings and housing units with an average of about 124 households. The master sample consists of 596 enumeration areas; we used 498 enumeration areas as a framework for the labor force survey sample in 2012 and these units were used as primary sampling units (PSUs). ---> Sampling Size: The estimated sample size in the first quarter was 7,775 households, in the second quarter it was 7,713 households, in the third quarter it was 7,695 households and in the fourth quarter it was 7,704 households. ---> Sample Design The sample is two stage stratified cluster sample with two stages : First stage: we select a systematic random sample of 498 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 498 master sample enumeration areas. Basically, the areas remain fixed over time, but households in 50% of the EAs were replaced in each round. The same households remain in the sample for two consecutive rounds, left for the next two rounds, then selected for the sample for another two consecutive rounds before being dropped from the sample. An overlap of 50% is then achieved between both consecutive rounds and between consecutive years (making the sample efficient for monitoring purposes). Mode of data collection --------------------------- Face-to-face [f2f] Research instrument --------------------------- 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. 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. Response rate --------------------------- The survey sample consists of 30,887 households, of which 26,898 households completed the interview: 17,594 households from the West Bank and 9,304 households in Gaza Strip. Weights were modified to account for the non-response rate. The response rate in the West Bank was 90.2 %, while in the Gaza Strip it was 94.7%. Sampling error estimates --------------------------- ---> Sampling Errors Data of this survey may be affected by sampling errors due to use of a sample and not a complete enumeration. Therefore, certain differences can be expected in comparison with the real values obtained through censuses. Variances were calculated for the most important indicators: the variance table is attached with the final report. There is no problem in disseminating results at national or governorate level for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. ---> 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 8.3% which is very low once compared to the household surveys conducted by PCBS , The refusal rate reached 2.1% which is very low percentage compared to the household surveys conducted by PCBS, and the reason is the short and clear questionnaire . Data appraisal --------------------------- Concept of data quality covers many aspects, starting from the initial planning of the survey to the dissemination of the results and how well users understand and use the data. There are seven dimensions of the statistical quality: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, comparability, coherence, and completeness.