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Statistical Institute of Jamaica

Agency overview
Formed	1956 (1956)
Preceding agency	Central Bureau of Statistics
Type	Executive agency
Jurisdiction	Government of Jamaica
Headquarters	Kingston, Jamaica 18°00′30″N 76°47′43″W
Agency executive	Carol Coy, Director General
Website	statinja.gov.jm

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is an executive agency of the Government of Jamaica responsible for disseminating information about government programs, projects, and services.

Functions A

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica was established under the Statistics (Amendment) Act 1984 on April 9, 1984. The Institute has been invested with all the powers formerly vested in the Department of Statistics and previously the Bureau of Statistics (which came into existence in 1946) along with other powers.

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica is an agency of the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The main functions of the Institute are:

   to collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, social, economic and general activities and condition of the people;
   to collaborate with public agencies in the collection, compilation and publication of statistical information including statistical information derived from the activities of such agencies;
   to take any census in Jamaica; and
   generally to promote and develop integrated social and economic statistics pertaining to Jamaica and to co-ordinate programmes for the integration of such statistics, in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The Office of the Director General (ODG)

The organization is headed by the Director General who has overall responsibility for the operations of the Institute and specific responsibility for the non-technical divisions. The Director General is assisted by the Deputy Director General who has responsibility for the technical divisions. The responsibilities of the ODG include monitoring of the Institute’s efficiency in carrying out its functions and ensuring that the Institute operates within various legislations and governing policies.

Divisions

The Institute is further divided into eight divisions, each of which is headed by a Director.

Administrative Statistics

This division provides detailed statistical data and analysis in the areas of External Trade and Indices and Price Analyses.

Census, Demographic and Social Statistics

This division is responsible for matters relating to the planning, execution and administration of all censuses undertaken by the Institute and also for research and analysis based on demographic, social and environment statistics.

Economic Accounting

The responsibilities of this division are to develop, analyze and publish statistics relating to the economic life of the country and to advise on the interpretation of the trends as they develop.

Corporate Services

The main responsibilities of this division include strategic planning, recruitment, personnel administration, provision of office accommodation, transport, purchasing and the management of the financial resources of STATIN. This division is also responsible for research, marketing, public education, the provision of information services and printing services. The Institute’s Library is also a part of this division.

Research Design and Evaluation

The division is responsible for sampling and design, research and methodology, quality management and classification.

Field Services

The Field Services division has the responsibility for the data collection activity undertaken by the Institute for use by the various divisions of the Institute as well as for other organizations.This division is also responsible for producing maps and graphic designs for STATIN.

Functions B

For 70 years, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has been providing official data to the Government and people of Jamaica.

STATIN’s mandate includes collecting, compiling, analysing and publishing information relating to commercial, industrial, social and economic engagements, among other activities.

Among these is the population and housing census, which is undertaken every 10 years.

Director General, Carol Coy, tells JIS News that the survey, which was last conducted in 2011, provides detailed data on the population’s size and characteristics.

This is supported by an annual demographics survey which provides estimates that enable the agency to maintain fairly current statistics over the ensuing periods preceding each census exercise.

The Institute also records movements in the gross domestic product (GDP), which measures the economy’s performance on a quarterly basis. Additionally, it produces the quarterly labour force survey which documents employment developments.

Another key area that is monitored is the survey of living conditions, done in conjunction with the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), which tracks the social welfare of the population.

Ms. Coy also highlights the international merchandise trade survey which monitors imported and exported goods and services.

She informs that the Institute has commenced documenting and producing information and communications technology (ICT) data, as a result of its impact on and importance to the economy.

It also generates information on the environment as well as the consumer and producer price indices.

STATIN also undertakes a number of surveys on behalf of other government agencies and international organisations.

“One of our recent collaborations was with the Social Development Commission (SDC) where we developed community boundaries and maps,” Ms. Coy points out, noting that this should serve to greatly enhance the census data collation exercise.

Ms. Coy tells JIS News that STATIN has adopted international best practices, which ensures that data are produced at a very high standard by a cadre of highly qualified professionals.

She assures persons that “the information they provide is confidential under the Statistics Act, and we cannot provide this to any other party”.

Ms. Coy underscores the importance of data, particularly in relation to economic growth and national development.

“The Government needs information in order to assess the success of its economic and social policies and to make changes where necessary. It also needs to know which sectors in the economy can drive growth and to see if it is meeting its GDP and inflation targets,” she adds.

Ms. Coy says statistics are also vital in market analyses and guiding business investment decisions.

Over the years, STATIN’s operational effectiveness and efficiency has evolved significantly through the incorporation of an electronic data collection system.

Ms. Coy notes that this facilitates timely transmission and receipt of data from other agencies with similar technology.

During this year, STATIN will be conducting several major surveys. These include a household expenditure survey, which will figure in the composition of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Additionally, a survey will be conducted, aimed at improving STATIN’s business registry and providing more timely and relevant information to stakeholders.

All statistics are available free of cost and can be accessed at the agency’s website at www.statinja.gov.jm.

More History

1946 Statistics Act passed. Introduction of Central Bureau of Statistics. The initial programme included the Population Census, External Trade and Retail Price Indices.

1955 The Statistics Act was amended and the name changed to Department of Statistics. The title of the Head of Department was changed to Director of Statistics.

1956 National Accounts programme introduced.

1960 Conducted the 9 Population and Housing Census since 1844. The first Census of Population and Housing as part of the Caribbean Programme.

1961 Main office relocated to 23½ Charles Street,Kingston

1966-1967 Internal Statistics training course introduced Major Business Survey conducted.

1968 Introduction of Continuous Household Survey Programme Field offices set up in Black River, May Pen, Montego Bay and Port Maria in addition to the Kingston office. Start of computerization of some of the processes using government’s Central Data Processing Unit.

1967/68 Agriculture Census conducted.

Six weeks training programme for field officers.

1970 10th Population and Housing Census (2nd Caribbean Census)

The office’s printery was located at 84 Hanover Street – The first Statistical Yearbook was published.

1974 Head office relocated to 9 Swallowfield Road,Kingston 5

1975 Statistical Library fully established as a specialized library.Field offices set up in Linstead, Mandeville, Port Antonio, Savanna-la-mar and St. Ann’s Bay.

1975 Participated in the World Fertility Survey with the conduct of Jamaica Fertility Survey.

1978/79 Census of Agriculture.

1982 The 11th Population and Housing Census (3rd Caribbean Census)

1984 Head office relocated to 2-4 Constant Spring Road Kingston 10.Revision of Statistics Act creating Statistical Institute of Jamaica.

1987 Modular Summer Certificate Course in Economic and Social Statistics Course established at C.A.S.T. (now University of Technology)

1987 Statin hosted the 9th Conference of Commonwealth Caribbean Government Statisticians First Long Service Awards Ceremony

1988 Start of Living Standards Survey. Degree programme in Economic and Social Statistics established at U.W.I. and scholarship programme put in place. Head office relocated to 25 Dominica Drive.

1991 Poplulation and Housing Census (4th Caribbean Census)

1992 Head office relocated to 97b Church Street,Kingston

1996 Census of Agriculture. Staff complement was 499 excluding temporary staff on the Census of Agriculture.The 50th Anniversary Year.

2000 Environment Statistics programme started. Statin hosted the United Nations Social and Gender Statistics Workshop.

2001 Population and Housing Census (5th Census)

2002 Launching of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Quarterly.

2003 Consolidation of Head Office, 97b Church Street nd 9 Swallowfield to 7 Cecelio Ave.Kingston 10.

2004 The Household Expenditure Survey was launched.