"This article gives some background to how the Labour Force Survey longitudinal data sets are constructed and looks at the benefits of this data source in analysing changes over time. The strength of the data is in looking at the flows of people between the three main economic activity states and this provides the main focus for the article. Changes in the proportions remaining in the same categories over the two time periods, along with changes in the size of the flows between the three main categories are investigated, and some broad conclusions drawn about their causes. Some background is also given to the methodological issues which users should be aware of when using the longitudinal data sets."

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