Can we measure the school-to-work transition of young persons with labour force surveys? A feasibility study

Data gathering in SWTSs is based on retrospective questions addressed to young persons aged 15 to 29 years old. Many of the key elements of the survey can also be found in conventional labour force surveys. The question then arises as the extent to which the results of the SWTS can also be obtained from conventional labour force surveys.

The purpose of the present paper is to examine the feasibility of obtaining data on schoolto-work transitions of young persons from conventional labour force surveys. After an examination of the basic concepts and definitions of the ILO’s SWTS, the paper examine in turn the feasibility of measurement with retrospective questions in conventional labour force surveys and with matched samples in labour force surveys with rotation sample design.