Labour Force Survey – cross-sectional quarterly data: file for research purposes

Istat releases micro data files for research purposes for the labour force survey since I quarter 2009.

The labour force survey is continuous survey; it provides information on the main labour market indicators (employment status, characteristics of the main job, work experiences, job search, etc.), with breakdown by the main socio-demographic variables.

It is worth highlighting that the survey was modified over time, in particular in 2004, when several changes were introduced concerning the technique, the methodology, and the data analysis point of view. For these reasons such files are not consistent with the microdata files for the previous periods.

Starting with the first quarter of 2021, in compliance with the European Regulation IESS 1700/2019, the survey provides the gross income for employees, obtained through integration with administrative registers. This information replaces the net wage produced until 2020. Validated data is available approximately 18 months after the end of the reference year. Consequently, this information is added to the quarterly microdata files according to this timing.

Availability of labour force survey microdata files

Since I quarter 2014:

standard files are no more released;
public use files are available, freely downloadable from the Istat website.
files for research purposes are available, for academic or institutions researchers, subject to the presentation of a research project and its evaluation made by Istat.

For the period 2008-2013:

standard files are available;
historical public use files are available, freely downloadable from the Istat website.
since 2009, files for research purposes are available, for academic or institutions researchers, subject to the presentation of a research project and its evaluation made by Istat.

For the period 1992-2007: