Introduction
This Eurostat article describes the modules of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS). The aim of a module is to provide users with statistics on a specific topic concerning the labour market by adding a set of variables to supplement the core EU-LFS.
This article is part of a set of online articles on the EU-LFS.
Overview of the modules
Since 1999 an inherent part of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) are the modules. These were called "ad hoc modules" until 2020. From 2021 onwards they are named either "regular modules", when the variables have an 8 yearly periodicity, or "modules on an ad hoc subject" for variables not included in the regular data sets.
The Regulation 0577/1998 of 9 March 1998 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey in the Community, in force until 2020, specified that a further set of variables may be added to supplement the information from the core questionnaire of the EU-LFS. The ad hoc modules were set by Commission regulation by group of 3 years. For details on the regulations for the ad hoc modules and their topics and description, please consult the article EU Labour Force Survey – Main features and legal basis.
The Regulation (EU) 2019/1700, also called the Integrated European Social Statistics Framework Regulation (IESS FR), and its Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2240 for the labour force domain, which apply from 1 January 2021, define the regular data sets and the ad hoc subjects. Moreover, the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/256 establishing a multiannual rolling planning lists the topics to be collected from 2021 to 2028 for the 8 yearly variables and ad hoc subjects.
For general information on the availability of microdata for researchers and information on publication guidelines for the module variables, please consult the article EU Labour Force Survey – Data and publication.
Modules by topic
| Year | Topic |
| 2028 | Accidents at work and work-related health problems |
| 2027 | Work organisation and working time arrangements |
| 2026 | Digital platform employment |
| 2025 | Reconciliation of work and family life |
| 2024 | Young people on the labour market |
| 2023 | Pensions and labour market participation |
| 2022 | Job skills |
| 2021 | Labour market situation of migrants and their immediate descendants |
| 2020 | Accidents at work and other work-related health problems |
| 2019 | Work organisation and working time arrangements |
| 2018 | Reconciliation between work and family life |
| 2017 | Self-employment |
| 2016 | Young people on the labour market |
| 2015 | No ad hoc module |
| 2014 | Labour market situation of migrants and their immediate descendants |
| 2013 | Accidents at work and other work-related health problems |
| 2012 | Transition from work into retirement |
| 2011 | Employment of disabled people |
| 2010 | Reconciliation between work and family life |
| 2009 | Entry of young people into the labour market |
| 2008 | Labour market situation of migrants |
| 2007 | Work related accidents, health problems and hazardous exposure |
| 2006 | Transition from work into retirement |
| 2005 | Reconciliation between work and family life |
| 2004 | Work organisation and working time arrangements |
| 2003 | Lifelong learning |
| 2002 | Employment of disabled people |
| 2001 | Length and patterns of working time |
| 2000 | Transition from school to working life |
| 1999 | Accidents at work and occupational diseases |
Description of the modules
Digital Platform Employment (2026)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes (not yet available) | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) (not yet available) | Evaluation report (not yet available) | Results (not yet available) |
Reconciliation of work and family life (2025)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) (not yet available) | Evaluation report (not yet available) | Results (not yet available) |
Young people on the labour market (2024)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) (not yet available) | Evaluation report (not yet available) | Results (not yet available) |
Pensions and labour market participation (2023)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) (not yet available) | Evaluation report (not yet available) | EU-LFS database |
Job skills (2022)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes (including the model questionnaire) | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) (not yet available) | Evaluation report (not yet available) | EU-LFS database |
Labour market situation of migrants and their immediate descendants (2021)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables (presented at the end of Annex I) | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) (not yet available) | Evaluation report (not yet available) | EU-LFS database |
Accidents at work and other work-related health problems (2020)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report
| EU-LFS database |
Work organisation and working time arrangements (2019)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report
| EU-LFS database |
Reconciliation between work and family life (2018)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report
|
Self-employment (2017)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report
|
Young people on the labour market (2016)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report |
Labour market situation of migrants and their immediate descendants (2014)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Model questionnaire Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Accidents at work and other work-related health problems (2013)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report (Zip file) | EU-LFS database Statistics Explained article on Self-reported accidents at work |
Transition from work to retirement (2012)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Employment of disabled people (2011)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report (draft) | EU-LFS database |
Reconciliation between work and family life (2010)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Entry of young people into the labour market (2009)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Labour market situation of migrants and their immediate descendants (2008)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Accidents at work and work-related health problems (2007)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Transition from work into retirement (2006)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Reconciliation between work and family life (2005)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Work organisation and working time arrangements (2004)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Lifelong learning (2003)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Employment of disabled people (2002)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report (not available) | EU-LFS database |
Length and patterns of working time (2001)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (Zip file) | Evaluation report | Article SIF 7/2004 |
Transition from school to working life (2000)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | FAQ Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (not available) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |
Accidents at work and occupational diseases (1999)
| Definition of the module | Guidance for measurement | Implementation by countries | Evaluation of the quality | Results |
| List of variables | Explanatory notes | National questionnaires and instructions (not available) | Evaluation report | EU-LFS database |