There are two primary ways to calculate unemployment: the survey method and the administrative method. The survey method is the most widely used method around the world and involves surveying a sample of the population to collect information about their labor market activities. The administrative method, on the other hand, involves collecting data from government records including unemployment insurance claims, employment office registries, and tax records.
The survey method involves the collection of data through the use of a questionnaire. The questionnaire is usually administered by trained interviewers who are required to interview a random sample of households or individuals in a specific period. The sample is usually obtained using a stratified random sampling technique, hence providing a somewhat accurate representation of the population. The questionnaire consists of several questions, including age, sex, work status, educational attainment, and labor market activity.
In the labor market activity section of the questionnaire, the respondents are required to provide information regarding their employment status in the past week. They are also asked to provide information concerning their job-seeking activities. Information on job search duration, the reason for leaving their previous job, and the number of hours they worked is also recorded. Depending on the country, the survey can also include other questions such as current occupation and industry.
The survey method has been criticized for having a low participation rate, which might lead to a biased estimation. However, this is usually countered by weighting the sample to match the distribution of the population household income, age, sex, and educational attainment.
The administrative method involves collecting data from government records such as unemployment insurance claims, employment office registries, and tax records. This method is usually advantageous in countries where the government has an efficient system in place to record labor market activity. However, in developing countries, the administrative method is not efficient as not everyone who is unemployed is registered in government records.
In this method, the data collected from government records only include the number of people who register for unemployment . Therefore, it does not provide a comprehensive view of the labor market activity of the population, as some might not register for unemployment benefits.
It is also noteworthy that calculating unemployment through the administrative method is more accurate in developed countries than in developing countries. The reason being that developed countries have an elaborate system for recording people’s labor market activities. In contrast, developing countries, especially those with large informal sectors, lack reliable data on labor market activity.
In conclusion, unemployment is a severe global issue that affects millions of people. Understanding how it is calculated is critical in shaping policies to mitigate its impact on individuals and the economy. The two primary methods of calculating unemployment are the survey method and the administrative method. The survey method involves the use of questionnaires to collect data on the labor market activity of a sample of the population, while the administrative method gathers data from government records. While both methods have their advantages and drawbacks, it is essential to use the most reliable method in ensuring an accurate estimation of the country’s unemployment rate.