Job autonomy index

Definition

Share of the employed labour force who have control over the way they work. Based on three items:

  • Order of tasks
  • Methods of work
  • Speed or rate of work.

Unit of observation

Total population with contract of employment.

Reporting unit

Total population with contract of employment.

Operationalisation

Survey question, from European Working Conditions Survey "In your main job, are you able, or not, to choose or change:

  • Your order of tasks
  • Your methods of work
  • Your speed or rate of work"

Complementary indicators

  • Share of the employed labour force who can participate in key decisions about the organisation of their work. Index based on ESWC questions:
  • "Within your workplace, are you able to discuss...?
    • Your working conditions in general
    • The organisation of your work when changes take place
  • If ‘YES’, do these exchanges of views take place...?
    • With your colleagues
    • With your superiors
    • With staff representatives
    • With outside experts
    • On a regular basis
    • On a formal basis"

Relation to existing indicators

While the compound indicator is not used outside of academic research, the component variables are well established as part of the European Working Conditions Survey.

Methodological issues concerning application of the indicator

Use of a Likud scale for response (rather than binominal responses) might be able to increase validity of the indicator for cross-country research.

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