Jersey is set to follow Guernsey with the creation of an e-census to gather a more robust estimate of the island’s population numbers.
At the moment, the States is obliged to carry out a traditional census once a decade, with the Statistics Unit left to make its own annual estimate based on that information, combined with other data such as Social Security registrations.
Under the new plan, the Unit will report not just net migration flows, but also how many people come to Jersey, where they work, and how many people leave.
It will be backed up with a new Statistics and Census Law that has just been passed which will place statistical production onto a new statutory basis and see the Statistics Unit rebranded as Statistics Jersey.
In 2021, the next traditional census will be used to test the accuracy of the e-census.
The Chief Statistician, Dr Duncan Gibaut, said: “This new legislation secures for the future a high quality and independent Statistics Jersey. We exist to provide a relevant, accurate and objective data service for all islanders and businesses and to help the States of Jersey make informed, evidence-based decisions.”
“The legislation allows us to continue to move forwards and make improvements to the way we work, for example using data already held by the States of Jersey wherever possible. Businesses and Islanders can be reassured that any data shared with us will be kept confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes.”
Guernsey has been publishing an e-census since 2015, and is now able to assess the size and make-up of its population on a quarterly basis. You can see the latest report here.
It shows there were 62,299 people living in the island at the end of 2016, compared to the estimate of 104,200 in Jersey. You can see the latest Jersey population report here.
The last census in Guernsey was held in 2001, while the project to develop an e-census began in 2006 before being rolled out nearly a decade later.
The States of Guernsey cites the advantages as follows: “Population statistics are available more frequently than in other jurisdictions and at a lower cost. The first collection of information, which was published in the Electronic Census Report in March 2015, includes a breakdown of population by parish, school catchment and voting district along with a host of other information in addition to regular updates to population trends.”
The new law puts an onus on Statistics Jersey to re-use data already collected by the States of Jersey wherever possible, reducing the burden placed on businesses and people. The law provides a legal gateway for data from across the public sector to be shared with Statistics Jersey for statistical purposes. Statistics Jersey hope in particular to be able to develop an ‘e-census’, whereby administrative data held by government departments is used to supplement traditional census methods in order to count the resident population of Jersey.
Statistics Jersey will continue to use voluntary surveys to gather information from households and businesses. It may run mandatory surveys of businesses if the essential information cannot be obtained through other means.
