The results presented in these experimental statistics aim to provide monthly estimates of the principal aggregates of the labour market, as well as the related rates. Specifically, monthly estimates are provided for the population aged 16 and over in relation to economic activity (active population, employed population, unemployed population and inactive population), as well as activity, employment and unemployment rates, from January 2005.
Idescat produces these estimates by combining information from the quarterly Economically Active Population Survey with monthly indicators of Social Security affiliations and registered unemployment, which act as auxiliary variables. Monthly estimates are obtained using temporal disaggregation techniques, which allow high-frequency series to be derived from lower-frequency information, while ensuring consistency with the quarterly reference data. This methodology follows Eurostat's recommendations.
Nowcasting of the most recent monthly values is also performed using time series models (ARIMAX models), when information from the Economically Active Population Survey is not yet available, but monthly affiliation and registered unemployment indicators are.
As these are experimental statistics, the disseminated results may be subject to revision and improvement and are not considered official statistics.