Labour force survey unemployment and benefits durations

Abstract

This analytical article uses the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to examine headline patterns of unemployment duration to introduce a comparison of unemployment benefit claim duration from both the LFS and the Jobcentre Plus Administrative system. The article shows the similarities between the two sources in terms of the direction of movement, but also the discrepancies in terms of levels of claimants. The LFS Household dataset is used to look at numbers of claimants within a household and their economic statuses. Finally, the article presents gross flows onto and from unemployment benefits using the Longitudinal LFS.