EU LFS quarterly results - reliability limits from 1998 onwards
 
26.03.2021
 
THOSE LIMITS ARE TO BE USED FOR QUARTERLY DATA
 
The EU Labour Force Survey, like all sample surveys, is based upon a sample of the target population. LFS results are therefore subject to the usual types of errors associated with sampling techniques. Based upon the sample design and size in the individual Member States, Eurostat implements basic guidelines intended to avoid publication of figures which are statistically unreliable. These guidelines are summarised below.

  YEAR
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B LIMIT_A LIMIT_B
COUNTRY 11000 26000 11000 26000 11000 26000 13700 26000 11000 26000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 30000 60000 25000 50000 25000 50000 25000 50000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000
EU
EURO_AREA 11000 26000 11000 26000 11000 26000 13700 26000 11000 26000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 30000 60000 25000 50000 25000 50000 25000 50000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000
BE 2000 5000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000
BG . . . . 5500 12000 5500 12000 5500 12000 5500 12000 5500 10000 6000 13000 6000 13000 6000 13000 6000 13000 6000 13000 6000 13000 6000 13000 7000 16000 5700 12700 5900 13300 6100 13700 5700 12800 5800 13100 4600 10400 4700 10600 7600 17100
CZ 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500 750 4500
DK 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000 4000 7000
DE 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000
EE 1500 3000 1500 3000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 6800 15200 6800 15200 5200 12000 5100 11800 5400 12500 5300 12200 5000 11500 4400 10100 4400 10400 4400 10000 4400 10000 4400 10000 4400 10000 4000 9600 4000 9200 4000 9200
IE 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 2500 4100 4100 6800 4100 6800 4800 8100
EL 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000
ES 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000 2000 8000
FR 11000 26000 11000 26000 11000 26000 11000 26000 11000 26000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 35000 70000 30000 60000 25000 50000 25000 50000 25000 50000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000 20000 40000
HR . . . . . . . . 2500 21000 2500 21000 2500 21000 2600 21000 2600 24000 4000 36000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000 4200 38000
IT 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 7500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500 3500 8500
CY . . 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500
LV 2600 4600 2600 4600 2600 4600 13700 22400 6500 10700 8600 14100 6000 9900 6400 10500 7400 12200 3700 6000 3800 6300 4500 7400 5400 8900 4500 7300 4500 7300 4500 7300 3900 6300 3700 6000 3600 5900 3200 5100 3000 4900 3800 6100 4200 6900
LT 5000 12000 5000 12000 5000 12000 5000 12000 5800 23000 5800 23000 5800 23000 5700 23000 7400 29300 5300 21000 5900 23000 4500 18000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000 4500 8000
LU 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1500 500 1000 500 1000 500 1000 500 1000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000
HU 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800 2600 4800
MT . . . . 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3000 1500 3500 1500 3500 1900 4500
NL 1500 8000 1500 9000 1500 7000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000
AT 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000 4000 8000
PL 5000 16000 5100 17000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 5000 20000 10000 20000
PT 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500 7500
RO 2000 14000 2000 14000 2000 14000 2000 14000 2000 14000 2000 14000 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500 6500 11500
SI 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500 1000 10500
SK 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 2500 4500 4000 6000 4000 6000 4000 6000
FI 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000 2000 4000
SE 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 3000 4500 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 2500 4000 5000 8000 5000 8000
UK 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 17000 10000 19000 10000 19000 10000 19000 10000 19000 10000 19000 10000 19000 10000 19000 10000 19000
IS 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000
NO 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 2000 5500 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000 5000 10000
CH 3000 10000 3000 10000 3000 10000 3000 10000 2000 6000 2000 6000 2000 6000 2000 6000 2000 7000 2000 7000 2000 7000 2000 7000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000 1000 10000
ME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500 1500 2500
MK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000 1500 5000
RS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7500 17000 6500 16000 6500 16000 6500 16000 4000 15000 3800 13800 3800 13800 3800 13800 3800 13800 3800 13800 3800 13800
TR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 2000 5000 2000 5000 2000 5000 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500 1500 4500

Values for groups of countries are calculated as the maximum of the values of the countries belonging to the group. EU and EURO_AREA are to be understood in their current composition. Values for other country groups can be derived in the same way.
 
Figures less than those in column A above should not be published; by convention, a dot or full stop is used instead. Figures less than those given in column B but greater than thosein column A should only be published with a warning concerning their reliability. By convention, they appear between brackets.
 
In most cases data released by Eurostat will conform to these rules. In some circumstances data may be provided to researchers without the modifications described above. This is done to enable them deriving their own aggregated tables in the course of their analysis. Once the aggregations have been finalised, the guidelines outlined above have to be observed again. Compliance with this principle is to be considered as acondition of the release of data in this form.
 
NOTE: reliability limits may vary slightly from quarter to quarter due to e.g. transition to other survey structures. For this quarterly extraction the SPRING values are used - a complete list of all limits is also available:
The csv-file reliability_limits.csv contains all quarterly, annual average, yearly and ad_hoc_module limits.