ECFT (es)

ECFT stands for Encuesta Comunitaria de Fuerza de Trabajo, labour force survey (LFS), in Spain.

The ECFT is obtained from surveys to the population of the EU Member States (MS), candidates to accession and EFTA (except Liechtenstein). Thus, each MS provides the data feeding into the LFS through a linked survey: in the case of Spain, through the EPA. So, the main labour market indicators in the LFS and EPA are indeed the same.

This said, please note that there are some differences. The most important, if I remember correctly are these two:

-	In the EPA, population under 16 years old are considered inactive (while in the LFS, activity is measured from 15 years old). In practical terms, EPA measures employment (and others) from 16 to 64 years, while LFS measures from 15 to 64 years.

-	Households: in the EPA, only household's members over 16 years are counted. LFS takes into account all households' members (also those younger than 16)