Training Workshop: Enhancing Labour Force Survey Methodologies in Syria

© ILO

© ILO

DAMASCUS (ILO News) - The ILO organized a four-day workshop from 25–28 November 2024 in Damascus, bringing together 23 participants to strengthen labour force survey methodologies in Syria. Attendees included representatives from the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Planning and International Cooperation Commission. This collaborative effort aimed to enhance data collection and analysis, paving the way for evidence-based policymaking to address labour market challenges.

The workshop emphasised the latest international labour standards and methodologies, providing participants with a solid foundation for understanding labour force dynamics. Key topics included employment definitions, non-standard forms of work, and effective survey design principles. These discussions underscored the importance of aligning Syrian labour statistics with global benchmarks to ensure reliable and comparable data.

“The course is a fundamental step in developing and updating the labour force survey at the Central Bureau of Statistics. It enabled the team to establish a solid foundation for designing a questionnaire that aligns with international requirements, ensuring the inclusion of key labour force indicators at the national level. This alignment makes the data comparable with other countries”, said Amina Miro, Assistant Director of Population Statistics, Central Bureau of Statistics.

A core focus of the workshop was the adaptation of the ILO’s standardized labour survey tools to Syria’s unique socioeconomic conditions. Participants explored strategies for addressing data collection challenges, including sampling methods and questionnaire customization. Practical sessions enabled attendees to develop tailored solutions to improve data reliability while capturing nuances specific to Syria’s labour market.

Ms Grace Eid, ILO Labour Statistician for Arab States, who was a trainer during the workshop, said: "There is a great opportunity to update the labour force questionnaire and align it with international standards. The update will enable the country to compute important new labour market indicators which will help better understand the changes and dynamics of the labour market. The team at the Central Bureau of Statistics shared important inputs during the training and showed great interest in the concepts as introduced in the 18th and 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS)."

The analysis of critical labour force indicators formed another pivotal aspect of the workshop. Participants delved into key metrics such as labour force participation rates, unemployment, and the distinction between formal and informal employment. Sessions also spotlighted gender disparities in managerial positions, youth engagement in education and employment, and the broader implications of these trends for workforce planning.

The workshop concluded with a collaborative discussion on the challenges of conducting labour force surveys in Syria, including data gaps, resource constraints, and the complexities of fieldwork in the region. Participants collectively identified actionable steps to enhance data collection processes, improve analytical capabilities, and ensure more robust labour statistics for policymaking.

The insights gained during these sessions are expected to support informed policy decisions that promote workforce development and address labour market disparities.

“The training course provided an opportunity to learn about recommendations from labour market expert conferences and to develop the labour force survey used in Syria. We aim to apply the outcomes of this training by updating the current questionnaire and testing it in the field. This will help us produce a high-quality database capable of generating indicators at the national, regional, and global levels, consistent with both national aspirations and international recommendations”, said Manal Issa Hammoud, Head of the Social Statistics Department, Central Bureau of Statistics.