Plotting labour force status shares: Interdependence and ternary plots

Abstract

Data on the proportions in each of the labour force status categories sum to one and form a composition which can be displayed with a ternary diagram. However the points lie in a small region and need to be scaled or transformed if ternary diagrams are to be a useful tool. This paper uses both scaling and transformation to study labour force status. The simple graphic illustration of patterns of movement over time emphasizes the multivariate character of the data and the changing interaction of employment, unemployment and non market work. It shows the importance of heterogeneity in the population and raises many issues about the relative magnitude of different sources of variation.