Labour Market and Welfare
The Labour Market and Welfare theme includes statistics measuring different aspects of work and jobs and covers people’s employment, working patterns and the types of work they do. The theme also covers any earnings and benefits they receive. Â
In 2022/23, we published our findings on a range of labour market and welfare statistics, including; Â
- the first set of findings from our review of ONS’ transformation of the Labour Force Survey (November 2022)Â
- confirmation of National statistics designation for the Living Costs and Food Survey (October 2022)Â
- our compliance check of Pensioners’ Income Series statistics (September 2022)Â
We continue to explore public concerns/queries about labour market and welfare statistics through our casework, working alongside statistic producers. For example, highlighting a lack of statistics on Universal Credit Work Capability Assessments and commenting on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) measurement of the Way to Work campaign target.Â
As the cost-of-living crisis continues and as explored in our blog we want to ensure that statistics used to help measure the impact on household incomes, in particular, for those people living in poverty are robust, accurate and timely. We continue to follow-up on our recommendations for our income-based poverty review, with a latest guest blog highlighting some progress made in this important area. Â
More recently, in November 2022 we started our review of HMRC and ONS’ Earnings and Employment statistics using Pay as You Earn Real Time Information (PAYE RTI) and are continuing to provide regulatory support to the ONS as we work on our review of its transformation of the Labour Force Survey.Â
In 2023/24, we look forward to continuing our engagement with statistics producers across the UK and will publish more detail on our regulatory plans over the next coming months.  Â
Contact our regulators for this domain Vicky Stone, Gemma Keane, or Gillian Fairbairn for more information.Â
Planned Work
Project | Geography | Project Type | Timescale |
---|---|---|---|
Labour Force Survey transformation (Office for National Statistics) | United Kingdom | Compliance Checks | April-June 2022 |
Living Costs and Food Survey (Office for National Statistics) | United Kingdom | Assessment: Phase 2 | Continuing from 2021/22 |
Pensioners' income series (Department for Work and Pensions) | Great Britain | Compliance Check | April-June 2022 |
Systemic review of Income-based Poverty Statistics (Department for Work and Pensions, Office for National Statistics, HM Revenue and Customs) | United Kingdom | Systemic Review: Phase 2 | Continuing from 2021/22 |
Pay as You Earn (PAYE) Real Time Information (RTI) (HM Revenue and Customs and Office for National Statistics) | United Kingdom | Rapid Review | Not yet started |
Benefit Cap statistics (Department for Work and Pensions) | Great Britain | Assessment | Not yet started |
Published Correspondence – Labour Market and Welfare domain
Correspondence
Ed Humpherson to David Wallace: Transparency and user engagement in the production of official statistics
19 January 2023
Ed Humpherson, Office for Statistics Regulation to David Wallace, Social Security Scotland
Alex Lambert and Darren Morgan to Mark Pont: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) transformation
16 November 2022
Alex Lambert, Darren Morgan, Office for National Statistics to Mark Pont, Office for Statistics Regulation
Mark Pont to Alex Lambert and Darren Morgan: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) transformation
7 November 2022
Mark Pont, Office for Statistics Regulation to Alex Lambert, Darren Morgan, Office for National Statistics
Alex Lambert to Ed Humpherson: Confirmation of National Statistics for the Living Costs and Food Survey
25 October 2022
Alex Lambert, Office for National Statistics to Ed Humpherson, Office for Statistics Regulation
Ed Humpherson to Alex Lambert: Confirmation of National Statistics for the Living Costs and Food Survey
24 October 2022
Ed Humpherson, Office for Statistics Regulation to Alex Lambert, Office for National Statistics
Publications
Assessment Report: Pay in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Statistics
10 December 2021
Published in: Assessment Report
Assessment Report: The Living Costs and Food Survey
7 July 2021
Published in: Assessment Report
Assessment of Personal Independence Payment Statistics for Northern Ireland (produced by the Department for Communities, Northern Ireland)
13 May 2021
Published in: Assessment Report
Assessment Report: Benefit statistics
18 November 2020
Published in: Assessment Report
Assessment Report: UK employment and jobs statistics
26 March 2020
Published in: Assessment Report
Statistics on Sickness Absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service
30 April 2019
Published in: Assessment Report
News & Events
OSR publishes initial findings following review of Office for National Statistics’ transformation of the labour force survey
14 November 2022
OSR publishes its review of income-based poverty statistics
19 May 2021
OSR statement on the impact of COVID-19 on the Labour Force Survey
5 February 2021
OSR launches its review of poverty statistics
20 November 2020
The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) Publishes its Reviews of UK Benefit Statistics
18 November 2020
The Office for Statistics Regulation encourages ONS to enhance employment and jobs statistics
26 March 2020