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Accuracy and reliability

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Short term statistics, Business statistics
Paul Lubson
+45 39 17 35 42

pal@dst.dk

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Number of Persons Employed in the Construction Industry

The quality of the statistic is assessed as being high. There are no quantitative measures of the total uncertainty. The sample uncertainty for the total employment is estimated to be approximately 0.5 pct. The uncertainty that results from non-response, wrong reported numbers and misunderstandings has little effect on the numbers. The statistic is reliable in the sense that previously published numbers rarely are revised.

Overall accuracy

No quantitative measures of uncertainty have been calculated besides the sample uncertainty, which is 0.5 pct. for the total employment. For the construction industry totals the sample uncertainty is under 3.5 pct., while the totals for the types of construction work are under 5 pct. For the cross between industry and type of work, the sample uncertainty can be as high as 50 pct., but generally lies in the range 5-15 pct. The uncertainty of the quarterly changes, however, is far smaller, since the professional units in the sample are not replaced each quarter. The over coverage is estimated to be under 1 pct., un-weighted. The number has been estimated from the number of respondents that point attention to the fact that they have been placed in the wrong industry. The uncertainty that results from non-response, wrong reported numbers and misunderstandings has been sought minimized by control and re-contact with the companies. The variable that the companies are asked about is well defined, so misunderstandings are estimated to be few. The response rate is high.

Sampling error

Sample uncertainties for the scaled employment numbers have been calculated. For the total employment the sample uncertainty is approximately 0.5 pct. For the construction industry totals the sample uncertainty is under 3.5 pct, while the totals for the types of construction work are under 5 pct. For the cross between industry and type of work, the sample uncertainty can be as high as 50 pct, but generally lies in the range 5-15 pct.

Non-sampling error

The statistic has a number of sources of systematic errors. The systematic errors are estimated to be small. The over coverage is estimated to be under 1 pct., un-weighted. The number has been estimated from the number of respondents that point attention to the fact that they have been placed in the wrong industry. The uncertainty that results from non-response, wrong reported numbers and misunderstandings has been sought minimized by control and re-contact with the companies. The variable that the companies are asked about is well defined, so misunderstandings are estimated to be few. The response rate is high.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

The quality of the statistic is estimated as being high. For the total employment the sample uncertainty is approximately 0.5 pct. For the construction industry totals the sample uncertainty is under 3.5 pct, while the totals for the types of construction work are under 5 pct. For the cross between industry and type of work, the sample uncertainty can be as high as 50 pct, but generally lies in the range 5-15 pct. The over coverage is estimated to be under 1 pct., un-weighted. The number has been estimated from the number of respondents that point attention to the fact that they have been placed in the wrong industry. The uncertainty that results from non-response, wrong reported numbers and misunderstandings has been sought minimized by control and re-contact with the companies. The variable that the companies are asked about is well defined, so misunderstandings are estimated to be few. The response rate is high. By publication, around 90 pct. of the professional units have answered.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

Only final numbers are reported. In case of changes in the statistical methods, revisions of earlier numbers are performed. The last time this happened was in the 3. quarter of 2013.