Paper and pencil interviewing (PAPI) remains an important method of LFS data collection in many countries and regions around the world. Updating LFS questionnaires implemented through PAPI to incorporate the latest international standards in labour statistics can be an important challenge. The ILO model LFS for PAPI is designed using a modular approach to facilitate selection of topics relevant to the national context and simplified skip instructions to enable interviewers to manage a good quality interview flow using paper questionnaires.
The work-related modules are designed to produce core labour statistics aligned with the latest ICLS standards and good survey practice including:
- The working age population by labour force status; employment, labour underutilization including unemployment, long-term unemployment, time-related underemployment, potential labour force;
- Characteristics of the employed including multiple job holding, occupation, industry, institutional sector, status in employment, informal sector employment and informal employment, contract characteristics, job-related social protection; identification of groups of specific policy interest such as domestic workers, home-based workers, workers in triangular relationships; as well as new approaches to identify dependent contractors and other non-standard forms of employment;
- Optional modules on work in agriculture or fishing, and own-use production of goods.
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Additional modules covering key background characteristics to generate indicators and disaggregations as needed to support monitoring of Decent Work, SDGs and other national and global goals, are also provided including: basic demographics, education, migration status and disability status, aligned with the latest international standards and survey practice on those topics.
