Source: European Parliament
The Commission publishes unemployment statistics based on the EU Labour Force Survey (EU LFS)[1]. The EU-LFS serves as the primary source of labour market information in the EU.
However, it does not provide specific data on permanent seasonal workers (PSW), as a distinct category. During their active work season, PSW are classified as employed, but in the off-season they are categorised as unemployed if actively seeking work, or as outside the labour force otherwise.
1. PSW figures at the national level would offer country-specific insights for this specific group. For detailed information on PSW, dedicated national data could be the most suitable source. For country-specific analyses, the Commission often relies on figures published by national providers to complement the findings.
2. In European official statistics released by Eurostat, the employment status of individuals is determined according to internationally recognised methodologies and in compliance with EU regulations. The EU-LFS is conducted consistently across countries and over time, guided by Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2240 on the organisation of a sample survey in the labour force domain[2], and adheres to the International Labour Organisation definitions. Eurostat validates the quality of survey data and metadata to ensure they comply with EU regulations and provide harmonised information.
3. The Commission considers that out-of-work PSW who are not actively seeking employment cannot be classified as unemployed under existing statistical definitions. No revision of the data collection methodology is planned.