Unemployment rate - annual data
methods, notes and classification
DATA_DESCR The data used to calculate the 3-annual moving averages of the unemployment rate are theáUnemployment - LFS adjusted series. This series form aácollection of monthly, quarterly and annual series based on the quarterly results of the EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), which are, where necessary, adjusted for breaks in the seriesáand enriched in various ways, in accordance with the specificities of an indicator. Harmonised unemployment is published in the section 'LFS main indicators', which is a collection of the main statistics on the labour market. However the harmonized unemployment indicators are calculated with special methods and periodidicty which justify the present page. This page focuses on the particularities of the estimation of harmonised unemployment (including unemployment rates). Other information on 'LFS main indicators' can be found in the respective ESMS page, see link in section 21.2. General information on the EU-LFS can be found in the ESMS page for 'Employment and unemployment (LFS)'. Detailed information regarding the survey methods, organization and comparability issues is available on the EU-LFS webpage.
CLASS_SYSTEM Not applicable
STAT_CONC_DEF The definitions of employment and unemployment, as well as other survey characteristics follow the definitions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. The definition of unemployment is further precised in Commission Regulation (EC) Noá1897/2000. This domain comprises collections of monthly, quarterly and annual averages of unemployed persons and unemployment rates. The relevant definitions are as follows: Unemployed persons are all persons 15 to 74 years of age (16 to 74 years in ES, SE (1995-2000), UK, IS and NO) who were not employed during the reference week, had actively sought work during the past four weeks and were ready to begin working immediately or within two weeks. Figures show the number of persons unemployed in thousands. The duration of unemployment is defined as the duration of a search for a job or as the length of the period since the last job was held (if this period is shorter than the duration of search for a job). Employed persons are all persons who worked at least one hour for pay or profit during the reference week or were temporarily absent from such work. This variable is needed for the calculation of the unemployment rate,áthe long term unemployment rate and the very long term unemployment rate (see definition below). For the unemployment rate, only persons from 15 to 74 years of age are used. The unemployment rate is the number of people unemployed as a percentage of the labour force. The labour force is the total number of people employed and unemployed.
STAT_UNIT Persons.
STAT_POP The EU LFS results cover the total population usually residing in Member States, except for persons living in collective or institutional households. While demographic data are gathered for all age groups, questions relating to labour market status are restricted to persons in the age group of 15 years or older. For exceptions, please consult EU LFS webpage: Comparability of results.
REF_AREA EU Member States.áá Data for Cyprus refer only to the areas of Cyprus controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Data for France include the overseas departments (DOM).
BASE_PER Not applicable
UNIT_MEASURE Unemployment rate in % of labour force. The rate published for year t is in fact the average of the rates of year t-2, t-1 and t.
Methods 
Explanatory Notes 
Variables