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REGIONAL STATISTICS

OBJECTIVES

The Regional Statistics program supports high priority information needs for regional statistics by providing relevant analyses, products and services. Regional data may include data relating to cities, urban, rural or remote areas. The activities of the Regional Statistics program are delivered through collaboration with many areas of the ABS and external clients which contribute regional data or analysis on a wide range of topics across economic, environment and social statistics.

The program assists governments at all levels, businesses and communities to understand the characteristics of regions and change in regions across Australia, with current issues centring on regional population characteristics, regional business characteristics, local economic development, and service or infrastructure access in regions. The ABS actively engages with key users of regional data to understand and support regional data needs and emerging priorities, in order to assist local planning.

Over the next four years, the program will focus on improving access to, and enhancing the set of, regional statistics and spatial datasets as the ABS transforms its statistical program. Improved regional statistics, including the development of new indicators, may be produced from a range of sources, including Census, survey, administrative and transactional data, and using a range of techniques (including modelled and linked data). For example, business tax data may be used to develop information about the characteristics of businesses in regions. The program provides expertise in spatial analysis and small area estimation, and will test and develop new methods to produce more relevant and timely regional statistics. The program will engage with users of regional data to ensure that the ABS developments offer the best possible solutions for users.

OUTPUTS

The main outputs of the program are:

• the Data by Region interface and National Regional Profile dataset (cat. no. 1379.0.55.001), which provides a one-stop-shop for regional statistics for regions and is updated at least annually
• estimates and indicators from administrative data, such as the Australian Taxation Office personal income tax data, and data on customers of Centrelink and other agencies
• Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series (cat. no. 6524.0.55.002) providing annual regional statistics on personal income.

• publish a discussion paper outlining future directions for regional statistics - due May 2016
• test and develop new methods for generating regional outputs, including application of small area estimation methods - preliminary results due in June 2016
• actively engage with key data users to understand emerging priority data needs for regional statistics, with key priorities for the medium-term being: regional population and labour force data, regional economic data including business characteristics, and service access - ongoing
• improve ABS dissemination and promotion of information about regional data access and availability through client networks, conferences, seminars and workshops - ongoing
• deliver improved National Regional Profile outputs by progressively building in more flexibility for users to access available data for specific regions - ongoing.