Cases and Challenges of Linking Administrative Data in the Survey on Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Program

Abstract

Surveys using administrative data have clear advantages, such as reduced respondent fatigue, reduced survey time, and improved reliability of survey findings. The 2022 Survey on the Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Program was conducted using, in addition to face-to-face interviews, health care use information (National Health Insurance Service) combined with income-and-asset information (Korea Social Security Information Service). The survey involved obtaining from the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged basic information on those participating or waitlisted for participation, as of July 31, 2022, in the senior employment program. Individuals were selected from the sample for interview surveys. Then data linkage was undertaken using the unique identification numbers of those surveyed face-to-face, combining administrative records from the National Health Insurance Service and the Korea Social Security Information Service. This study highlights the problem of dealing with missing data, which affected 711 individuals—or 19.8 percent of a total of 3,596 people surveyed —identified as not in receipt of basic pensions. Addressing this issue remains a concern for future survey endeavors.