Also from the ABS: "Bushfires resulted....>

AUSTRALIA: Also from the ABS: "Bushfires resulted in disruption to ABS data

collection operations in some regions in New South Wales and Victoria during

January 2020. In New South Wales, some areas within the 'Capital Region', the

'Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven' region and the 'Mid North Coast' region

could not be included in the survey for January, accounting for around 3.3% of

the total sample in the state. In Victoria, some areas within the 'Latrobe -

Gippsland' region were also unable to be surveyed, accounting for around 0.8% of

the Victorian sample. As a result, there was slightly higher than usual survey

non-response in these areas. The Labour Force Survey has a robust survey design,

with a large sample, a high level of response, and sophisticated weighting and

estimation methods. Given the scale of the bushfires, the ABS undertook

additional quality assurance of January data, to ascertain whether any

additional statistical methods were required to minimise the effect of a higher

level of non-response on key headline Labour Force statistics."