A new report based on analysis in the new Integrated Data Service (IDS) has looked at the differences between estimates of Welsh language ability reported in Census 2021 and the Labour Force Survey.
This report has been produced by ADR Wales in partnership with analysts in the Welsh Government and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is the first published output using the IDS.
The publication is a product of a joint workplan between the Welsh Government and ONS to improve the understanding of Welsh language statistics. The workplan intends to explore the divergence in reporting of Welsh language skills, while looking at the quality of different data sources used to report Welsh language ability and how these might be improved. The workplan also aims to showcase the benefits and value of the IDS and SAIL Databank.
The IDS is a cross-government service, for which the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the lead delivery partner. The service securely enables co-ordinated access to a range of high-quality de-identified data – critical to informing policy decisions and improving public services.
The ADR Wales team within the Welsh Government has been supporting ONS as early adopters testing the IDS. Experts from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank at Swansea University, part of ADR Wales, have been supporting and advising the IDS team.
Future analysis carried out by ADR Wales and ONS as part of the ONS and Welsh Government joint work plan on coherence of Welsh language statistics is expected to look at:
What are the differences in the estimates of Welsh language ability between the main data sources about the Welsh language different, and why are the differences between these data sources changing over time?
How can we improve the collection of information about Welsh language ability that will support public policymaking about the Welsh language for future generations?
Full details of the ‘Differences between estimates of Welsh language ability in Census 2021 and household surveys’ analysis can be found here.