2005 Progress Report

Transcription

1 CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY SECRETARIAT THIRTIETH MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF CARIBBEAN STATISTICIANS RESTRICTED SCCS/2005/30/8 Kingston, Jamaica October October Progress Report The Bermuda Department of Statistics Presented to The 30 th Meeting of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) Kingston, Jamaica October 26 th 28 th OUR MISSION We are committed to collect, process, analyze and provide a body of statistical information that is timely, accurate, relevant and reliable for dissemination to the Government and the general public. TOP THREE (3) ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIC GOALS 1. Build technical expertise and personal development for all staff 2. Enhance professional relationships with Government, the market place and the general public. 3. Strengthen and develop operational functions and business processes.

2 STAFFING As at October 2005, the Department was staffed with 28 persons of which 4 are in temporary positions. Two vacancies exists which includes the posts of IT Officer and Statistical Officer II. Division Filled Posts Vacant Posts Temporary six months Administration (includes 3 1 Director) Economics Statistics Business Statistics Social Statistics Research Statistics OVERSEAS TRAINING February 7 th - 11 th 2005 Measuring the Information Society/ ICT Indicators United Nations Office, Geneva, Switzerland; 2 officers. February 14 th 18 th 2005 Export/Import Price Methodology Training Course CARTEC Workshop, Bridgetown, Barbados; 2 officers. February 22 nd - 25 th, 2005 Worksite Visit to Statistics Canada Statistics Canada, Ottawa; 2 officers. February 28 th March 4 th, 2005 United Nations Statistical Commission Meeting United Nations, New York; one officer. April 4 th 5 th, 2005 Strengthening Capacity of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics CARICOM Workshop, Guyana; one officer. April 11 th 13 th, 2005 International Trade in Services Statistics CARICOM & C-TRADECOM Regional Workshop, Bridgetown, Barbados; 2 officers June 1 st -July 31 st, 2005 Summer Institute in Social Research University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 2 officers July 5 th -July 15 th, 2005 Rural/Urban Population Projections Training US Census Bureau, Washington DC; 2 officers 2

3 September 12 th -13 th, 2005 Social/Gender & Environmental Statistics Workshop CARICOM Meeting, Nassau, Bahamas; 1 officer September 15 th -16 th, 2005 Census of Population & Housing Symposium CARICOM Meeting, Nassau, Bahamas; 2 officers September 19 th -30 th, 2005 Economic Statistics Workshop US Census Bureau, Maryland; 1 officer October 10 th -14 th, 2005 Tourism Statistics Workshop Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Antiqua; 2 officers October 25 th -28 th, 2005 Methodology Symposium Statistics Canada, Ottawa; 2 Officers EXTERNAL LOCAL TRAINING March 1 st September 30 th 2005 Sustainable Development Team Secondment - Central Policy Unit, Cabinet Office; 1 officer. April 6 th & 8 th 2005 The 4 Disciplines of Execution Leadership & Management Training workshop; 10 officers April 27 th 2005 Seminar: Introduction to Criminal Prosecutions Department of Public Prosecutions; one officer May 10 th 12 th Habits of Highly Effective People Effective Leadership Bermuda, 5 officers May 18 th 2005 The Role of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) Mr. John Hill, BMA Officer; 15 officers May 30 th 31 st 2005 The Four Roles of Leadership Effective Leadership Bermuda; 1 officer June 16 th 23 rd 2005 Government Portal System Training Department of E-Commerce; 3 officers July 22 nd, 2005 Leadership Empowerment Seminar Leadership Summit, Fairmont Hamilton Princess; 12 officers August 2005 Microsoft Access Training MediaTek; 4 officers September 2005 Plumtree Content Manager & Developer Training Department of E-Commerce; 2 officers 3

4 October 5 th 7 th Habits of Highly Effective People Effective Leadership Bermuda; one officer October 7 th 2005 Project Management Bermuda Employers Council; 4 officers October 20 th 2005 The 4 Disciplines of Execution Bermuda Employers Council; 2 officers INTERNAL LOCAL TRAINING (The Department of Human Resources) Presentation Skills Managing Meetings Performance Appraisals Coaching for Performance Time Management Orientation The Role of the First Line Manager The Administrative Development Programme Certificate in Recruitment Training IN-HOUSE TECHNICAL TRAINING (Department of Statistics) IMPS/CENTS module Economic Activity Survey Lunch & Learn Sessions Employment Survey Lunch & Learn Sessions Environmental Statistics Lunch & Learn Understanding the Balance of Payments framework Understanding the compilation of Gross Domestic Product IBM Query Software CSPro Software 4

5 REGULAR WORK PROGRAMME The regular work programme continues to consist of conducting the on-going surveys for data collection, compilation and dissemination. These include: Monthly Survey of Retail Sales Monthly Survey of Consumer Prices Monthly Survey of Overseas Spending by Residents Quarterly Survey of Construction Activity Quarterly Survey of Hotel Gross Receipts Quarterly Hotel Employment Survey Annual Employment Survey Annual Economic Activity Survey Highlights of Social Statistics Work Programme PROJECTS: NOVEMBER 2004 OCTOBER 2005 Produced a census monograph entitled The Changing Face of Bermuda s Seniors. This report examines the changing dynamics of the population 65 years and older between 1950 and The report covers range of topics including the age-sex structure of the elderly, health, housing, income and the institutional population. The report also includes a set of social indicators. The scheduled time of release to the general public is November Developed an database for respondents interested in replying to the quarterly Hotel Employment Survey electronically. Acquired addresses from 16% of total respondents. The HES questionnaire is being administered via both and post. Produced over 50 tables needed for CARICOM s initiative to produce country National Census Reports. Used CSPro to develop tabulations. Also provided a set of tables for the Study of Black Young Males in Bermuda which is being conducted by Consultant, Professor Roy Wright. Continued developmental work for establishing social/gender statistics and indicators. Maintained contact with stakeholders to acquire current data to up-date questionnaires. However, there are still a number of formatting and formulae recommendations for the tables that were made to CARICOM to ease the update of the tables and burden of response. These recommendations have not been adopted as yet. 5

6 Commenced the development of the 2030 Population Projections for Bermuda s civilian non-institutionalized population by age, sex, race and Bermuda Status. It is expected that the population projections are released before the end of December Highlights of Business Statistics Work Programme PROJECTS: NOVEMBER 2004 OCTOBER 2005 Collaborated with the Commission for Unity & Racial Equality (CURE) to provide feedback on the CURE legislation impending changes needed as a result of the merger between the Annual Review of the Workforce Survey and the Employment Survey in August Income from employment, employee benefits, recruitment and departures are new variables added to the questionnaire as a result of the change in legislation. Conducted the 2005 Employment Survey from August 2005 to October Published the 2005 Facts & Figures pamphlet an annual publication which shows a three-year series of social and economic indicators. It also provides a brief account of historical significant events influencing the development of Bermuda. Produced the semi-annual publication The Bermuda Job Market: Employment Briefs. This report highlights the main findings of the annual employment survey. Commenced the developmental work of the re-weighting and re-basing of the Consumer Price Index with the intent to up-date the compilation methodology for the Index. The project began in April 2005 with an expected release date for the revised data series by January A CPI user guide will be produced for the lay reader and a technical manual that details the methodology. Project implementation will involve the contracting of technical assistance from the International Technical Centre of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for two one-week periods. Highlights of National Accounts & Economic Statistics Work Programme PROJECTS: NOVEMBER 2004 OCTOBER 2005 Developed a Media Database - a repository of newspaper/magazine articles on various sectors of the Bermuda economy. The data base serves as a resource for industry analysis and assists staff in their analytical write-ups. Officers rotate on a monthly basis to collect relevant news articles and meet weekly with the Economic Statistician to discuss the articles. All articles are filed by industry and date in individual binders. 6

7 Undertook extensive planning and preparatory work for the take-over of the Balance of Payments (BOP) Program from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. A vision statement, set of desired results, and a detailed Gantt chart was produced to steer the administration of the survey and data compilation. A BOP standard components technical manual was compiled and included definitions, concepts, recommendations for quarterly and annual methodology, data sources, etc. Plans are now being put in place to meet with major key stakeholders, continue research on the BOP classification systems and assess resource requirements to sustain a BOP program. The annual Economic Activity Survey was conducted from April to June An 80% response rate was obtained. During the administering of the survey a pilot test was implemented to test the use of a CD Rom questionnaire for selected business sectors. Also a new EAS User guide was developed for respondents. For the first time ICT indicators were collected from business respondents. A total of eight new questions were included on the different industry questionnaires. A MS Access database was developed and used to compile the survey results. Produced an ICT information paper highlighting ICT indicators for the household sector. Produced and published preliminary and final estimates of Gross Domestic Product. Produced and published the Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics Prepared monthly press releases for Retail Sales Index and Consumer Price Index Produced Mileage Allowance Measure for Government & Union Negotiations Highlights of Research Statistics Work Programme PROJECTS: NOVEMBER 2004 OCTOBER 2005 The data processing phase for the 2004 Household expenditure survey was completed by February An initial press release was issued in March 2005 highlighting the main results of the survey. Officers produced an analytical report in September 2005 for dissemination to the general public. The dissemination plan has been posted on the Department s website. Organized a lunch and learn session for key stakeholders of environmental statistics and indicators. Roughly 25 persons attended from both the public and private sectors. Eight sets of completed environmental questionnaires were returned to CARICOM by August Preliminary work was carried out on the development of a comprehensive trade database management system. Project management sessions were held to develop a vision statement and desired results for the delivery of trade data statistics. Two meetings were held with HM Customs to build work relationships and to understand the Customs CAPS system for future transfer of trade data. 7

8 In May 2005, the International Adult Literacy & Life Skills survey was released. Of the seven countries participating, Bermuda obtained the highest response rate of 82%. Bermuda received top ranks with Norway on prose literacy and experienced a comparable score with Canada on document literacy and numeracy. A local consultant has been hired to write the National Literacy report for Bermuda with an expected release in December CONSULTANCY SERVICES PROVIDED Ministry of Education, Research, Measurement & Evaluation Section assisted in the review of proposals from three overseas vendors for the Bermuda testing Program for assessing students in the middle schools. Ministry of Health & Family Services assisted Health Promotions Coordinator to plan a Youth Survey for Children younger than 11 years old on health attitudes and behaviour. Ministry of Health & Family Services extensive compilation of socioeconomic statistical data and information in preparation of a National Health Summit. Department of Human Resources produced projections of potential job vacancies at the senior management level in the Civil Service. Used projections to assist with the production of an analytical report on forecasting trends. National Office for Seniors & the Physically Challenged provided technical support in questionnaire design in preparation of their Access Awareness Week. The Coalition for the Protection of Children/Habitat for Humanity provided technical support in sample design for a survey on affordable housing. National Health Council officers are members of the Council s IT subcommittee and provide on-going support for the development of a data collection, management and storage framework for the compilation of health statistics and information. ADMINISTRATION New Appointments: 2 Statistical Officers I, 2 Statistical Officers II, 2 Survey Clerks. Promotions: Statistical Officer I Participated in a panel discussion: Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) - Pay Equity 8

9 Developed a 3 year succession plan to prepare 5 Officers to fill the posts of Statistician. 2005/06 ON-GOING PROJECTS On-line filing of Employment Survey. Analysis of family formation census data. Development of productivity and welfare indicators. Development of labor market indicators. New benchmark figures for personal household final consumption for GDP. Compilation of GDP using the Supply and Use Table (SUT) ****** 9