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CSO Surveys logo

Our statistics about Ireland are independent and reliable, because you told us.

The information you give us means we can create a very accurate picture of Ireland, our lives, our economy, our health and our happiness.

What is the Labour Force Survey?

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a voluntary survey carried out in all member states of the European Union under EU legislation by national statistical institutes including the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

It is an ongoing, year-round, large-scale, nationwide survey of households that gives us an accurate measurement of employment and unemployment in Ireland. In addition, it provides information on those outside of the work force. It also provides quarterly labour force estimates as well as other data on social topics such as pension coverage and health indicators.

Why is the Labour Force Survey important?

The statistics we produce are used by individuals, enterprises, local and national government to make policy decisions and to plan for our futures.

The employment and unemployment figures collected by the LFS show the situation at national and regional level, which means that the survey is crucial to planning for job creation, education and training, public and social initiatives and many other areas that affect us all. It also offers a window into educational attainment and employment opportunities. Whether you are employed, looking for work, a homemaker, retired, or a student, we need to represent you in our survey.

We depend on your information, so if you are asked to take part in the LFS, please do so because your voice matters.

74.3%
of people aged 15-64 years were employed in Quarter 4, 2024

Further information on the LFS

Contact Details

If you have any questions about your participation, please contact us.

Email: CSOTakePart@cso.ie

Phone: 021 453 5110

Learn more