The added value of micro-integration: Data on laid-off employees

Micro-integration brings together records from different micro-datasets and subsequently resolves data inconsistencies. From a National Statistical Institute's point of view, micro-integration is a means of improving the quality, compatibility and scope of its datasets. Statistics Netherlands has developed various micro-integration processes. This paper describes the micro-integration process, and development thereof, which underlies a dataset representing jobs which were terminated due to lay-off. The input consists of a dataset representing layoff permits issued by the Employee Insurance Agency. That dataset is not compatible with available datasets on jobs because the statistical unit is person instead of job. Moreover, it is flawed by a substantial representation error in the sense that eight percent of the employees for whom a lay-off permit is obtained are actually not laid off. The micro-integration process transforms the dataset on lay-off permits into a dataset on terminated jobs. The latter is compatible with other datasets containing job characteristics. The debate on flexibilisation of the Dutch labour market as well as the huge increase in lay-offs during the financial crisis have underlined the need for data on involuntary job termination. As such, the dataset on terminated jobs unquestionably adds value to Statistics Netherlands' stock of information.