Time Use Survey (TUS)

• Press release
• Detailed results
• Methodology
• TUS Questionnaires

Description

The main objective of the Time Use Survey (TUS) is to gather primary information in order to understand the amount of unpaid work carried out in households, the distribution of family responsibilities in the household, the participation of the population in cultural and leisure activities and the use of time of special social groups (young people, unemployed, old people, etc.).

The TUS is not a periodic survey and is aimed at a sample of more than 9.500 people. The sample is distributed evenly throughout the year, so that every day is represented. Nevertheless, the sample is increased at the weekend, as these days are considered to be those with greatest variety in the population's behaviour.

Activity diary

All household members aged 10 years old and above must complete the activity diary on a chosen day. The diary's time sheet covers 24 consecutive hours (from 6am to 6am the next day) and is divided into 10 minute intervals. In each of these, the informant should note down the main activity, the secondary activity carried out at the same time (if applicable) and if they are with other persons at the time.

These activities are coded according to the harmonised Eurostat list, which includes 10 main groups: personal care, work, studies, household and family, volunteer work and meetings, social life and entertainment, sports and outdoor activities, hobbies, the media and journeys and unspecified time.

The TUS allows us to gather information on the percentage of persons who undertake an activity during the day, the average time spent on an activity a day (in hours and minutes), the distribution of activities on an average day (workday or weekend) and the percentage of persons who undertake the same activity at the same time of the day (rhythms of daily activity).

• Press release
• Detailed results
• Methodology
• TUS Questionnaires