Description: identified persons not in the labour force who wanted to work, although they were not currently seeking employment (including discouraged workers); examined their recent labour market activities, the type of employment wanted and their reasons for not looking for work. The results of the Survey of Job Opportunities complemented the monthly measures of "discouragement" derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS identifies persons who looked for work in the previous six months but not in the past four weeks, because they believe no work is available. The Survey of Job Opportunities covered a much broader group, since it included all persons who reported wanting a job, whether or not they had ever actively looked for one.

Information collected:
- previous employment information and job search data on discouraged workers (also see the Labour Force Survey description)

Frequency: conducted annually as a supplement to the March Labour Force Survey, except in 1989 and 1990; also conducted in September 1981 and 1984. This survey has been subsumed by the Labour Force Survey as of 1997.

Data availability: data are consistent since 1979

Reference period: March or September Labour Force Survey reference week

Response rates: 95%

What makes the data valuable:
1. provide industry trends
2. can be linked to data from the Labour Force Survey

Products and services:
1. selected issues of The Labour Force (Catalogue no. 71-001-XPB), monthly
2. selected issues of Labour Force Information (Catalogue no. 71-001-PPB), monthly
3. Persons Not in the Labour Force: Job Search Activities and the Desire for Employment (Labour Force Survey Research Papers no. 21, 23, 25, 27 and 30)
4. Microdata files and special tabulations are available on a cost-recovery basis.

Responsible division: Special Surveys