Attendance, use & participation (cultural sector); attitudes to
Attendances/user sessions/visitors (arts, creative industries, heritage & sport); number of
Attendances/user sessions/visitors (Tourism); number of
Businesses; number of
Business start-ups and failures
Courses; number and type of
Demographic split of employment (age, gender, ethnicity)
Demographics of attendees (arts, creative industries, heritage & sport)
Demographics of attendees (tourism)
Employment by occupation
Exports; value of
Funding
Investment (Capital Expenditure)
Multipliers
Pay/earnings
Productivity
Profitability
Qualification levels
Recruitment Problems, including Skills Shortages
Skills gaps
Spend on gambling by age, gender, ethnic group
Spending at Arts, Historic Environments, Museums & Galleries, Sport & Recreation and Creative Industries
Status of employment (self employed, full/part time). Double jobbing
Total number employed
Training; numbers in
Turnover (revenue), Output and Gross Value Added
Unemployed
User and Household Spending on tourism
Vacancies & redundancies
Voluntary work; value of
Volunteers; number of
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Attendance, use & participation (cultural sector); attitudes to
Definition of terms and context
Consumer behaviour and motivation to attend tourism and sport related facilities.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Limited region level information due to small sample sizes.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications. Research by Academic bodies and consultancy companies more on ad hoc basis.
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Attendances/user sessions/visitors (arts, creative industries, heritage & sport); number of
Definition of terms and context
Leisure day visitors (a round trip made from home in one day for the purpose of leisure). Attendance figures, admission charges, type of ownership and seasonal opening of visitor attractions in the UK receiving at least 10,000 visits. Attendance at cinemas, plays, art galleries, ballet, classical concerts, opera and contemporary dance.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
National coverage tends to be split by (tourist regions, counties and selected sub-regional level.
UK Day Visitors Survey unreliably published (supposed to be every 2 years).
Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions produced annually.
Regional data available from Arts Council of England (ACE).
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications. Social Trends is published annual but relevant attendance data are reported every 4-5 years.
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Attendances/user sessions/visitors (Tourism); number of
Definition of terms and context
Overnight visits are split by purpose of trip, number of nights stayed and expenditure.
Tourism day trips are described as leisure day visits that lasted three hours or more and were not taken on a regular basis.
Data on overseas passengers visiting the UK are split by type of trip, number of nights stayed and expenditure.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
National coverage tends to be split by (tourist regions, counties and selected sub-regional level). Issues surrounding reliability of very local data due to small sample size.
Many non-governmental surveys are one-offs or infrequently conducted.
Coverage problems with the bed-space data.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications.
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Businesses; number of
Definition of terms and context
Number and size of businesses (in terms of employees) broken down by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC).
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
ABI data on multi-site companies reliability at sub-national level depends on the accuracy of the IDBR.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey.
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Business start-ups and failures
Definition of terms and context
VAT registrations and deregistration produced for the ONS by the Small Business Service which is an agency of the DTI. Available by Standard Industrial Classification.
Reliability Issues (including comparability
Many micro and small firms do not have to register for VAT. Annual turnover has to be above £55,000. Data are rounded to nearest five companies.
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Courses; Number and type of
Definition of terms and context
Full-time and part-time post-16 study by programme (subject) area.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Regional comparisons possible. Careful interpretation required to map programme area studied to cultural sectors.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Information contained in ISR available from the LSCs at http://www.lsc.gov.uk/National/default.htm
Updated on a rolling basis.
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Demographic split of employment (age, gender, ethnicity)
Definition of terms and context
Industry and occupation data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) can be disaggregated by ethic group, age and gender.
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available at from the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
The LFS provides comparable data for GB & English regions. Sample size issues in LFS for sub-sector information. Note, one person surveyed in the LFS is grossed up by approximately 400 to provide the weighted results. The LFS is a survey and is subject to sample error.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
The LFS is quarterly and is available approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of each quarter. The Census of Population is decennial. Employment results available from 13 February 2003.
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Demographics of attendees (arts, creative industries, heritage & sport)
Definition of terms and context
Age, gender, ethnic group and socio-economic group.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
National coverage tends to be split by (tourist regions, counties and selected sub-regional level. Issues surrounding reliability of very local data due to small sample size. Many non-governmental surveys are one-offs or infrequently conducted.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications.
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Demographics of attendees (tourism)
Definition of terms and context
Age profile of visitors
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
National coverage tends to be split by (tourist regions, counties and selected sub-regional level. Issues surrounding reliability of very local data due to small sample size. Many non-governmental surveys are one-offs or infrequently conducted
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications.
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Employment by occupation
Definition of terms and context
Using occupations will provide useful insights into the type of jobs that people do, rather than the industry that they work in. The Standard occupation Classification SOC (92) was superseded by SOC 2000 in early 2002. Note, this information is not available from the ABI.
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available on the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
The LFS provides comparable data for GB & English regions. Sample size issues in LFS for sub-sector information. Note, one person surveyed in the LFS is grossed up by approximately 400 to provide the weighted results. The LFS is a survey and is subject to sample error.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
The LFS is quarterly and is available approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of each quarter. The Census of Population is decennial. Employment results available from 13 February 2003.
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Exports; value of
Definition of terms and context
Value of sales made either overseas or in the UK to overseas residents.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Industry coverage does not match closely with Cultural Sector definitions. Limited regional coverage, and data does not strip-out oil related exports.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Mixture of monthly, quarterly and annual data.
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Funding
Definition of terms and context
Inward Investment, government and non-government funding.
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Investment (Capital Expenditure)
Definition of terms and context
Spending by companies and organisations that will be productive in the future as well as the present.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Reliability of ABI data on multi-site companies at sub-national level depends on the accuracy of the Interdepartmental Business Register (local unit estimates are based on the local unit employment structure of companies from the Interdepartmental Business Registrar ).Capital expenditure of multi-site companies is allocated pro-rata to employment at the sub-national level.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey.
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Multipliers
Definition of terms and context
Based on the standard industry classification (SIC 92). Typically groups of 2,3 and 4 digit SIC. Both output and employment based multipliers available.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Detailed UK Input-Output tables. No regional estimates, unless count Scotland and Wales I-O Tables.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Latest domestic use tables are 1995 based released summer 2002.
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Pay/earnings
Definition of terms and context
Gross weekly earnings by industry and occupation. Based on full-time employee earnings only.
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available on the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
There are some issues relating to small sample size below broad GB industry & occupation totals. The NES will provide inter-quartile ranges on the data. The LFS is subject to sample error.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
The LFS is quarterly and is available approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of each quarter. The NES is updated annually and IDS fortnightly.
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Productivity
Definition of terms and context
Output/GVA per worker.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Relies on the accuracy of the Interdepartmental Business Register and estimates of employment.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey.
Quarterly estimates from National Statistics.
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Profitability
Definition of terms and context
National Accounts definition is the surplus of value added (turnover) over wages and salary costs.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
ABI data on multi-site companies reliability at sub-national level depends on the accuracy of the IDBR from which the sub national figures are derived. Profits of multi-site companies allocated pro-rata to employment at the sub-national level.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey.
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Qualification levels
Definition of terms and context
Highest National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) equivalent.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Information from the Labour Force Survey is comparable across regions.
Some regional data available from the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
LFS is quarterly. SSCs and National Training Organisations information typically based on ad hoc surveys supplemented with government statistics.
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Recruitment Problems, including Skills Shortages
Definition of terms and context
Recruitment difficulties in the labour market, focusing on reported hard-to-fill vacancies Typically measured by questions about the hard-to-fill vacancies in employer surveys.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
The analysis is hampered by inconsistencies in definition, measurement and methodological approach.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Surveys are typically carried out on an annual basis (e.g. Employers Skills Survey.
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Skills gaps
Definition of terms and context
A divergence between firms' current skill levels and those that are required to meet firms' business objectives. Typically measured by questions about the lack of proficiency of current staff.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
The analysis is hampered by inconsistencies in definition, measurement and methodological approach, and often by insufficient sample sizes.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Surveys are typically carried out on an annual basis (e.g. Employers Skills Survey).
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Spend on gambling by age, gender, ethnic group
Definition of terms and context
How often and how much people spend on gambling and on the national lottery.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Small sample size problems in the FES, particularly for regional coverage.
Headline expenditure estimates on gambling available from Consumer Trends.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Consumer trends is a quarterly publication, the FES annual.
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Spending at Arts, Historic Environments, Museums & Galleries, Sport & Recreation and Creative Industries
Definition of terms and context
Spending includes:
Sports admissions & subscription.
Cinema & theatre admissions.
Other entertainment.
Books, maps & diaries, Newspapers, magazines & periodicals
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
National coverage in the UK Visits to Visitor Attractions and Day Visitor Surveys tends to be split by (tourist regions, counties and selected sub-regional level. Issues surrounding reliability of very local data due to small sample size.
The FES is available on a Government Office and Standard Statistical Regional basis. Consumer Trends detailed national coverage, with less regional disaggregation.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications. The FES is an annual publication.
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Status of employment (self employed, full/part time). Double jobbing
Definition of terms and context
Part-time employment is defined by self-assessment in the LFS, and 16+ hours per week in the ABI. Double jobbing (and indeed third and fourth jobs), is to pick-up those people who have more than one job and attempt to reconcile the ABI (number of jobs) and the LFS (number of people with jobs).
ABI and LFS data are available down to 4-digit SIC (5-digit for ABI), which can be aggregated to create the Cultural Sector.
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available on the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
LFS and ABI provide comparable data for GB & English regions. Sample size issues in LFS for sub-sector information. Note, one person surveyed in the LFS is grossed up by approximately 400 to provide the weighted results.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey. The LFS is quarterly and is available approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of each quarter. The Census of Population is decennial. Employment results available from 13 February 2003.
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Total number employed
Definition of terms and context
The ABI and LFS data is based on the Standard Industrial Classification SIC (92). The SIC is a system used to classify businesses by the type of economic activity in which they are engaged.
An introduction to SIC (92) is available at www.statistics.gov.uk/methods_quality/sic/
ABI and LFS data are available down to 4-digit SIC, which can be aggregated to create the cultural sectors.
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available on the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
LFS and ABI provide comparable data for GB & English regions. There are sample size issues in LFS for sub-sector information. Note, one person surveyed in the LFS is grossed up by approximately 400 to provide the weighted results.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey. The LFS is quarterly and is available approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of each quarter. The Census of Population is decennial. Employment results available from 13 February 2003.
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Training; numbers in
Definition of terms and context
Work or non-work based learning by the industry or occupation that an individual is working in.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Regional comparisons possible within the LFS
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
The LFS is quarterly and is available approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of each quarter.
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Turnover (revenue), Output and Gross Value Added
Definition of terms and context
Value of sales of a sector.
Turnover (or revenue) usually equals sales or gross output for a service sector company. GVA is turnover/sales/output less the value of bought in goods and services or the combined value of wages, salaries and profits
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
ABI data on multi-site companies reliability at sub-national level depends on the accuracy of the Interdepartmental Business Registrar.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
ABI approx one year after mid-December survey. Quarterly estimates from National Statistics and Experian Business Strategies.
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Unemployed
Definition of terms and context
Available on two bases: occupation of previous job and occupation of job looking searched.
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available on the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Careful regional interpretation required see Birtwhistle A., 'Jobcentre vacancy statistics', Labour Market Trends, March, 2001.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Claimant count unemployment estimates are monthly, LFS is quarterly.
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User and Household Spending on tourism
Definition of terms and context
Holidays in UK and abroad by package/hotel/self-catering, and expenditure on attractions.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
National coverage tends to be split by tourist regions, counties and selected sub-regional level. Issues surrounding reliability of very local data due to small sample size. The FES is available on a Government Office Region and Standard Statistical Regional basis.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
All publicly available from relevant bodies. Many surveys conducted on a rolling basis and reported in annual publications.
The FES is an annual publication.
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Vacancies & redundancies
Definition of terms and context
Based on occupational classification
National Training Organisations (NTOs) use government employment data and survey information to identify the size and scale of UK industries that have similar skills issues. Although the NTOs are being superseded by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), useful labour market information can be gleaned from the NTOs web-sites. A full list of these sites is available on the SSDA website.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Careful regional interpretation required.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
Monthly and quarterly.
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Voluntary work; value of (also see volunteers; number of )
Definition of terms and context
Value added to the economy in economic terms.
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
ABI will only pick up organisations that have employees.
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Volunteers; number of
Definition of terms and context
Voluntary and community groups (paid and unpaid) within the Cultural Sector. For example, sports and leisure, arts groups which may provide skill enhancement opportunities for individuals who may not otherwise participate in such activities
Reliability Issues (including comparability)
Calculating the number of volunteers for the Cultural Sector is problematic due to the ad hoc nature of current data collection, and will affect the robustness of the results. This impacts on regional comparability.
Availability (Timeliness & Frequency)
The NCVO have collected national data for several years, with regional and sub-regional data starting to also become available.
