Time Use Statistics in the Context of Social Statistics Social and Housing Statistics Section

1. Time Use Statistics in the Context of Social Statistics Social and Housing Statistics Section United Nations Statistics Division

2. Definition • Time use surveys – quantitative summaries of how individuals “spend” or allocate their time over a specified period • Typically over 24 hours of the day

3. Meeting data needs • Economic – quantifying household production and not-for profit activities • Energy consumption – patterns of consumption • Leisure and recreation • Culture and identity • Paid work • Social connectedness • Knowledge and skills

4. Meeting data needs • Standard of living - wellbeing • Older people • Youth • Children • Second hand tobacco exposure • Exercise and sedentary activity • Occupational health and safety • Infectious disease transmission • Intra-household decision-making and division of labor

5. Meeting data needs • In developing countries • Netting economic work of the poor • Improving estimates of national income • Policy guidelines Example: Philippines - unpaid work adds 66% to the GDP - women’s share in GDP rose from 39% to 47% - women account for 60% of all unpaid work

6. Meeting data needs • Contribution of women is often overlooked • Global Gender Statistics Programme focuses on time use statistics • Informal sector • Unpaid work • Caring for family members • Intra-household balance

7. Methodological issues • Three types of units of enumeration • Household • Household member • Time • Seasonality • Workweek vs. weekends • Rare events

8. Classification of time use • Trial International Classification of Activities for Time Use Statistics (ICATUS) • Designed to • Collect data on time use • Measure unpaid work • Type of activity complemented by the purpose of activity (what, with whom and what for)

9. Classification of time use • Harmonized European Time Use Surveys (HETUS) • Gainful work, study • Domestic work • Travel • Sleep • Meals, personal care • Free time, unspecified time use

10. Time use surveys since 1990 • Time use surveys UNSD website • http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sconcerns/tuse/default.aspx

11. Time use surveys since 1990 • Over 62 countries conducted at least one national or pilot survey in the past 20 years • Most of them in developed countries • In seven countries only a pilot survey • Albania, Armenia, Greece, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Slovak Republic • In three countries not by NSO • Denmark, Ireland and Tanzania

12. Time use surveys since 1990 • Twelve countries conducted more than one survey • Australia, Canada, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, UK and USA • Six countries conducted a pilot and full-fledged survey • Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey • Time use surveys not completely integrated as regular surveys in national statistical systems • Periodicity

13. Concluding remarks • Powerful statistical instrument • Measure paid and unpaid work • Measure host of other phenomena • Division of labor within family • Characteristics of family life • Social connectedness • Civic participation • Wellbeing • Happiness?

14. Concluding remarks • Complete diary vs. light form • Further experiments necessary • “Long form/Short form” paradigm? • Advantages and disadvantages – need for evaluation

15. Concluding remarks • International Programme on Time use Surveys • Conduct such a survey at least once in ten years • Implement international guidelines and statistical standards • Disseminate results in timely manner • Procedures for exchanging experiences and training