This work programme is analysing data from Statistics New Zealand’s Survey of Working Life (SoWL). This survey collected information on the employment conditions, work arrangements and job flexibility of employed people in New Zealand in the March 2008 quarter. The main topics covered by the SoWL are:

• Length of time in main job
• Employment relationship in main job (temporary – including type of temporary employment, permanent, employer, self-employed)
• Working times and hours
• Work at home
• Job flexibility in main job
• Employer-funded study and training
• Work-related health and safety
• Annual leave entitlement in main job
• Type of employment agreement in main job (collective or individual)
• Union membership in main job
• Satisfaction with main job and with work-life balance.

The Department of Labour initiated this survey and worked closely with Statistics New Zealand to develop the SoWL. The survey was run as a supplement to the Household Labour Force Survey in the March 2008 quarter. It is intended the SoWL be repeated every three years so that changes in people’s employment conditions can be monitored. The first data release from the SoWL can be found on the Statistics New Zealand website at:
Survey of Working Life: March 2008 quarter

The Department is working on more detailed analysis of the survey findings and will produce a series of research papers using the SoWL data. These papers are intended to provide accessible information on different dimensions of people’s jobs and working lives. In 2009/10 papers will be published on:

• Temporary workers and their employment outcomes
• The working patterns of older workers
• Minimum wage and other low wage workers
• Employer-funded education and training
• Health and safety at work.