Emerging trends and best
practices in data dissemination
Nireen Naidoo
Statistics South Africa
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Comments on ABS paper
•Well written document with some good insights
•Statistician’s role extends to ensuring effective
communication of messages that will guide users to make
informed decisions
•Electronic dissemination of publications are free
•Easy access to confidentialised unit records
•The internet is seen as the main channel for information
dissemination
•Writing specifically for web dissemination
•Linking metadata to data in a more user-friendly way
•Email notifications of releases
•Self-help guides
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Migrating from paper to the web
•SA research shows that a third of stakeholders still want paperbased publications
•Electronic products on CD are the most popular, followed by
information received via email and the website*
•Main users of the Stats SA website are academics, students and the
private sector
•About 10% are international users
•All libraries receive electronic copies, but still want printed copies
•All government departments, research and educational institutions,
parastatals and parliament – free aggregated data in Super Table
•10% sample of Census data
•GHS, LFS etc datasets on CD
* 4 main target groups surveyed during stakeholder workshops in all 9 provinces
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Stats SA’s pricing policy
•Market divided into 11 external market segments
•Stats SA’s policy is:
• To promote the widest possible dissemination of information
•To provide access to all stakeholders
•To provide information at no charge*
•Special data runs are charged at R 300 per hour
•Charged in 1996 – generated R 11 million. Census cost R 450
million
•Value is in the use of the statistics
•Generous with granting permission for 3rd party publications
* Some products attract a cost for printing and packaging, but can be downloaded free from the
web. This is to minimise abuse and wastage
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Rules applied to Stats SA’s website
•Ease of navigation
•Quick access
•Ability to find information
•Animations kept to minimum
•Corporate branding
•Two-way communication tool!!
•Feedback is encouraged through various channels
•No log on except for time series
•Regular and immediate updates
•Standardisation of format across website
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StatsOnline user feedback for the period
November 2003 to January 2006
80%
70%
60%
50%
Finding info (Easy)
Navigation (Easy)
40%
Finding info (Difficult)
Navigation (Difficult)
30%
20%
10%
0%
2003
2004
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2005
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Features on the website
•Interactive tools – PX Web, Digital Census Atlas, Ward Profiles
•Publication search- keyword, group, favourites
•Events calendar & publications schedule
•Frequently asked questions
•News
•Key indicator scroll
•Key findings
•Time series – Excel, PC Axis, Ascii
•Weekly newsletter
•Competitions
•Promote communication through invitations to participate in
advisory group meetings, workshops etc
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Challenges faced with the
internet in SA
•www still foreign concept to some stakeholders
•Teach users how to access and use website during workshops and
presentations
•Call centre assists users telephonically
•Large proportions of SA still do not have access to the internet
•Providing information for a wide audience – pitching at the right
level is a challenge
•Speed of access - bandwidth
•Ability to download large amounts of data
•Computer literacy
•Level of statistical literacy
•Understanding of self-help guides
•Internet access is costly – users download information and read it
later
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Initiatives that will impact on
web dissemination
•Writing course – for print and web publications
•Revamp of current releases
•Data warehouse
•Literacy programmes for users and students
•Promotion of the web as first port of call for statistics
•Mind-set of seeing web as a communication tool rather
than just a dissemination tool
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Writing for the web
•Not currently done
•Load pdf’s on web
•Problem with hyperlinked stories is ability to print –
still need print version
•Weekly column by Statistician-General
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Conclusion
•Statistical agencies responsibility to public to communicate
statistics in everyday language
•Web is critical two-way communication tool
•Need to consider audience and their ability to access the web
•Consider country’s adoption of technology
•Linking metadata with data improves understanding of data
•Interactive products give users greater flexibility
•Active dissemination through emails and newsletters needed to
promote web usage
•Print publications still have a place in the product mix
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Thank you
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Disseminated products for the period
January – December 2005
Disseminated products to external users on database:
Statistical releases mailed
Right fax
Emails
177 353
2 748
20 237
Free of charge products mailed
134 927
**Does not include information sent out by call centre or through
marketing activities
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Key findings: P0210 - Labour Force Survey (LFS) September 2005
Press statement:
658 000 jobs were created between September 2004 and September 2005 according to Stats SA’s Labour Force Survey. There was
also an increase in the number of people actively seeking employment, accompanied by a fall in the numbers of discouraged workseekers who did not actively seek employment in the month prior to September 2005. The growth in the numbers of both
employed and unemployed leaves the unemployment rate virtually unchanged at 26,7% in September 2005, as against 26,2% in
September 2004.
Through the conducting of face-to-face interviews with members of over 30 000 households countrywide, Stats SA estimates that
the number of employed in September 2005 exceeded 12 million (12 301 000). This brings the percentage of working-age South
Africans (15–65) in employment to over 40%. The number of discouraged work-seekers (those not actively seeking employment
opportunities) declined from 3,9 million in September 2004 to 3,3 million in September 2005. Over 600 000 people shifted from
being discouraged to actively seeking work or being employed.
In the year to September 2005, agricultural employment continued a downward trend but this was more than offset by
employment gains in trade (which increased by 482 000 jobs), finance (up 148 000) and construction (up 111 000).
Over a longer period, from September 2001 to September 2005, job gains in the labour market were over 1 million (1 120 000), of
which 960 000 were in the non-agricultural formal sector.
Enquiries: Dr Liz Gavin – (012) 310 8028
Key findings:
The unemployment rate remained virtually unchanged at 26,7% in September 2005, as against 26,2% in September 2004, due to
the growth in the numbers of both employed and the unemployed. According to Stats SA’s Labour Force Survey, 658 000 jobs were
created between September 2004 and September 2005. There was also an increase in the number of people actively seeking
employment, accompanied by a fall in the numbers of discouraged work-seekers who did not actively seek employment in the
month prior to September 2005. The number of discouraged work-seekers declined from 3,9 million in September 2004 to 3,3
million in September 2005. Over 600 000 people shifted from being discouraged to actively seeking work or being employed. In the
year to September 2005, agricultural employment continued a downward trend but this was more than offset by employment
gains in trade (which increased by 482 000 jobs), finance (up 148 000) and construction (up 111 000). Over a longer period, from
September 2001 to September 2005, job gains in the labour market were over 1 million (1 120 000), of which 960 000 were in the
non-agricultural formal sector.
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