Continue to support our surveys

THE YEAR 2016 marks the 70th anniversary of the provision of official statistics to the Government and people of Jamaica on a regular basis. The need for statistical information to assist policymakers following the implementation of Adult Suffrage, led to the passing of the Statistics Act of 1946. This Act gave birth to the Central Bureau of Statistics, which had the responsibility to work on the 1943 census data as well as providing data on international merchandise trade. The 1943 Population and Housing Census had been undertaken to determine the size of the population in preparation for Adult Suffrage and the election of 1944.

With the expansion of the work of the bureau, the Statistics Act was amended in 1955 to convert the agency into a full-fledged department of Government. This amendment also led to the agency being renamed the Department of Statistics. The Act was again amended in 1984 to convert the organisation to a statutory body now called the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). This change broadened the scope of the institute and provided some level of autonomy.

STATIN, as the primary provider of statistical data in Jamaica, has always played a pivotal role in the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistical information on the social, environmental and economic conditions of the Jamaican people. This information is critical to the development of policy aimed at improving the lives of Jamaicans. The statistics produced over the years has expanded in response to stakeholder needs and the following are some of the statistics provided by STATIN:

The Population and Housing Census – Provides information at the lowest geographic level on the size of the population and the distribution by age, sex, religion, education, occupation etc. This once-adecade snapshot is critical to the planning needs of our country.

Consumer Price Index – Measures movement in consumer

IIprices, and is the primary indicator of inflation.

Producer Price Index – Tracks the movement in producer prices in the manufacturing and mining industries.

Gross Domestic Product – Measures the economic performance of the country.

Employment & Earnings – Provides information on employment and, earnings by industry for firms with 10 or more permanent employees.

International Merchandise Trade Statistics – Provides detailed information on imports and exports of goods.

Labour Force – Tracks unemployment and employment in the country.

Demographic Statistics – Provides estimates of the population size, distribution and composition along with the annual statistics on births, deaths, marriages.

IIIIIIEnvironment Statistics – Presents information on the state of Jamaica’s environment.

Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) – Measures the access and use of ICT by households and individuals along with the information on the ICT infrastructure of Jamaica and the trade in ICT goods.

IIPROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENCE

In order to provide this wide range of statistics, STATIN undertakes a number of surveys on both households and businesses as well as accesses administrative data from a number of ministries, departments and agencies. The information received by STATIN is kept confidential as stipulated under the Statistics Act and is used for statistical purposes only.

The institute has maintained its professional independence over the years and is committed to observing and adhering to ethical principles, international standards and best practices in producing official statistics. In this regard, STATIN has sole responsibility for choosing the statistical standards, methods and procedures it uses, and the content and timing of its statistical releases.

STATIN is proud of its role in contributing to nation building over the past 70 years. This success, however, could not have been possible without the dedication of the staff who sometimes have to undertake their duties under trying circumstances.

We thank the Government and people of Jamaica for their support over the last seven decades. We encourage you, whether in your capacity as a householder or the owner of a business, to continue to support our surveys. This is critical to STATIN fulfilling its mandate to provide information necessary for the growth and development of our country. We also encourage all Jamaicans, whether in the public or private sector, to make full use of the statistics produced, as evidenced-based decision-making is critical if Jamaica hopes to compete successfully on the global stage. CAROL COY Director General Statistical Institute of Jamaica

The institute has maintained its professional independence over the years and is committed to observing and adhering to ethical principles, international standards and best practices in producing official statistics.