Seasonal adjustment The ABS produces a seasonally adjusted series. The DSS labour market payment numbers data are not seasonally adjusted. Classification The ABS classifies a person as unemployed if he or she is aged 15 years and over, was not employed during the week before the interview, has actively looked for full-time or part-time work and is available to start work. From February 2004, people who had not actively looked for work because they were waiting to start a job within four weeks are also classified as unemployed. The Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) series generally count people who are eligible for and entitled to receive a payment aged over 15 years and under Age Pension age. Employment Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients may be employed part-time, but within an income test limit; the ABS classifies a person as "employed" if, among other things, he or she has worked for one hour or more during the survey period. Timing The timing of collections of the series are different: DSS reports monthly average numbers of people both eligible for and entitled to receive Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). These monthly averages are calculated using figures collected for each Friday throughout the reference month. ABS numbers are based on a sample survey which interviews occupants of selected dwellings covering around 0.33% of the total Australian population. These persons are generally interviewed during the two weeks beginning the Sunday between the 5th and 11th of each month and the information obtained relates to the week before the interview takes place. Treatment of partners The ABS series includes unemployed persons whose spouse is working, irrespective of income, whereas Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients are subject to an income and assets test for themselves and their spouse. Pensioners The ABS series includes persons being paid a pension but looking for work (e.g. sole parents in receipt of Parenting Payments looking for work). Non job seekers The overall Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) series includes persons who are not required to undertake jobsearch. These persons are separately identified in Tables 2 and 3,
Seasonal adjustment The ABS produces a seasonally adjusted series. The DSS labour market payment numbers data are not seasonally adjusted. Classification The ABS classifies a person as unemployed if he or she is aged 15 years and over, was not employed during the week before the interview, has actively looked for full-time or part-time work and is available to start work. From February 2004, people who had not actively looked for work because they were waiting to start a job within four weeks are also classified as unemployed. The Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) series generally count people who are eligible for and entitled to receive a payment aged over 15 years and under Age Pension age. Employment Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients may be employed part-time, but within an income test limit; the ABS classifies a person as "employed" if, among other things, he or she has worked for one hour or more during the survey period. Timing The timing of collections of the series are different: DSS reports monthly average numbers of people both eligible for and entitled to receive Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other). These monthly averages are calculated using figures collected for each Friday throughout the reference month. ABS numbers are based on a sample survey which interviews occupants of selected dwellings covering around 0.33% of the total Australian population. These persons are generally interviewed during the two weeks beginning the Sunday between the 5th and 11th of each month and the information obtained relates to the week before the interview takes place. Treatment of partners The ABS series includes unemployed persons whose spouse is working, irrespective of income, whereas Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) recipients are subject to an income and assets test for themselves and their spouse. Pensioners The ABS series includes persons being paid a pension but looking for work (e.g. sole parents in receipt of Parenting Payments looking for work). Non job seekers The overall Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (other) series includes persons who are not required to undertake jobsearch. These persons are separately identified in Tables 2 and 3,