Covid-19 and the production of statistics

Due to the coronavirus illness (Covid-19) we anticipate that there will be some changes in terms of our regular statistical production.

The current disruption could affect the quality of some of our statistics, such as lower accuracy, or it could mean there is less detail available, such as fewer local and regional breakdowns. It may also affect the release times, such as the change in publication time for Market Sensitive Statistics to 7am. This change relates to the Labour Force Report and the Quarterly Employment Survey. In some cases, the production of some data series may need to be suspended. We are looking at how we can move data collection to other modes, such as online or telephone interviewing.

Decisions will be made on a case by case basis, taking into account what information is currently relevant given the situation, with the three pillars of the Code of Practice for Statistics (Trustworthiness, Quality and Value) guiding our decisions. Giving everyone access to statistics at the same time remains a fundamental principle of the Code, but where this cannot be maintained we will be open and transparent about this and any other potential effects on our statistics.

NISRA is also working to support the NI Government, including the NI Departments in their response to Covid-19, by providing up to date data and information and is working collaboratively with the Government Statistical Service and the UK Statistics Authority.

The NISRA website now has a new dedicated page containing links to all the latest NISRA statistics relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We will keep you informed on the NISRA website and our social media channels (follow us on twitter @NISRA and Facebook @nisra.gov.uk) as developments unfold. We remain committed to providing the best and most accurate information we can, serving the public good at a time when it is needed the most.

For information regarding the status of individual releases, please check the relevant pages on our website and the NISRA part of the UK wide release calendar.

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