All persons aged 15 years and over, excluding institutionalized persons, foreign citizens on short-term stay, and persons residing abroad. Age, sex, education level, duration of unemployment, industry and occupation of last job, status in last employment, reasons for leaving last job, and method of job search. The period for active job search is the four weeks before survey week, and the reference period for availability to start work is the two weeks following the survey week. The survey is quarterly, with interviews conducted continuously through the quarter. Selected dwellings remain in the survey for five consecutive quarters.
Fieldwork is undertaken continuously throughout the year.
A permanent survey organization conducts the survey. Interviewers are staff of regional statistical offices. The total nonresponse rate is 6 percent.