Abstract |
Labour force surveys are one of the most important sources of data for assessing the role of the population of the country in the economic and social development process. These surveys provide data on the main characteristics of the work force engaged or available to be engaged in productive activities during a given period and its distribution in the various sectors of the economy. It is also useful to indicate the extent of available and unutilized human resources that must be absorbed by the national economy to ensure full employment and economic well being of the population. Moreover, it further provides an input for assessing the meeting of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the country’s poverty reduction strategy framework (PASDEP-Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty). The other broad objective of statistics on the labour force is for the measurement of relationship between employment, income and other social and economic characteristics of the economically active population for the purpose of formulating, monitoring and evaluation of employment policy and programs. Seasonal and other variations and changes over time in the size and characteristics of the employment and unemployment can be monitored using up-to-date information from labour force surveys. The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) has been providing labour force and related data at different levels and with varying content details. These include the 1976 Addis Ababa Manpower and Housing Sample Survey, the 1978 Survey on Population and Housing Characteristics of Seventeen Major Towns, the 1980/81 and 1987/88 Rural Labour Force Surveys, and the 1984 & 1994 Population and Housing Census. A comprehensive national labour force data representing both urban and rural areas was also provided based on the 1999 and 2005 Labour Force Surveys. The 1996 and 2002 Surveys of Informal Sector and most of the household surveys also provide limited data on the area. Moreover, some information can be derived from small, large and medium scale establishment surveys. Considering the dynamic and sensitive nature of the sector and also in response to the demands of different data users, the CSA had launched a Bi-annual Employment Unemployment Survey program starting from October 2003 GC. In this way, the Agency had conducted two rounds in October 2003 and April 2004 and the results were published in Statistical Bulletin 301 and 319. Mean while, the 2005 Labour Force Survey (LFS) had been conducted to update the 1999 National Labour force survey. Here after, based on data need assessment it was decided to undertake the continuous survey annually instead of bi-annually. Accordingly, the third survey in the series was conducted in April 2006. This report presents some of the summary of findings of the survey together with statistical tables. |