This chapter presents methodological descriptions of unemployment statistics based on administrative registrations in the 18 countries which had provided the necessary information in time for inclusion in this volume. They are additions to the descriptions on this subject presented in Statistical sources and methods: Vol. 4: Employment, unemployment, wages and hours of work (administrative records and related sources) ILO, Geneva 1989.

The chapter gives basic information on the national institution making the registrations as well as on the rules used to determine whether or not a person will be registered as unemployed. It also provides basic characteristics recorded about the person and his/her work history, as well as some information about the statistics produced and their availability. This should enable the user to determine whether it is possible to obtain the relevant types of unemployment statistics from this source, in particular if statistics are needed with higher frequency or more detailed geographic specifications than usually available from Labour Force Surveys.

Statistics from administrative records are normally not comparable between countries, due to the differences in relevant legislations and administrative capacities. For some countries indications have been given on whether the statistics are comparable over time.

Note:

ISCO-88 is International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88), published by the International Labour Office, Geneva, 1990.

ISIC, rev. 3 is International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, Statistical Papers, Series M, no. 4, rev. 3. published by the United Nations, New York, 1989.

NACE, rev. 1 is Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, published by Eurostat, Luxembourg, 1996.