Research and analysis

DCMS Official Statistics Workplan 2024/25

Updated 21 March 2024

1. Introduction

This page outlines the high level priorities and plans for DCMS official statistics in 2024/25. These are based on our current understanding of existing and rapidly emerging user needs. We always value feedback from users. You can contact the DCMS statistics team on evidence@dcms.gov.uk.

A number of DCMS’s Public Bodies also produce Official Statistics. This includes Arts Council England, British Film Institute, Gambling Commission, Historic England, Sport England and VisitEngland. You can find a calendar of all official statistics planned by DCMS and our Public Bodies at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics

Following the machinery of government changes in February 2023, some Official Statistics were transferred to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

2. Our statistics

We are committed to continue to provide robust, high quality and relevant official statistics during a time of new and fast-emerging analytical demands, guided by the principles in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The rest of the work plan sets out more detail about our planned portfolio of DCMS statistics for 2024/25.

2.1 Economic Estimates

Our Economic Estimates provide statistics on the contribution of DCMS sectors to the economy, and so how DCMS drives growth. These help us understand the number and size of businesses in the DCMS sectors, the number and characteristics of those employed in DCMS sectors and how much they earn, how DCMS sectors contribute to UK trade, and the Gross Value Added to the UK economy. 

We are exploring options to develop and expand our range of Economic Estimates, including Research and Development (R&D) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) estimates for DCMS sectors, working closely with the Office for National Statistics. We will review the frequency of our Economic Estimates in line with user needs and will engage with users about any planned changes. 

From April 2024, Economic Estimates for the digital sector will be published by DSIT. 

Gross Value Added (GVA)

• Annual GVA - our most robust estimate
• Monthly GVA - a faster, though less accurate estimate, published quarterly
• Regional GVA

Trade

• Annual Trade in Goods 
• Annual Trade in Services 
• Annual Trade in Tourism

Employment and earnings

• Annual employment - an expanded earnings and employment publication based on Annual Population Survey (APS) data
• Quarterly employment statistics - a faster ‘tables only’ release based on the same data source as the annual publication
• Annual ‘snapshot’ earnings release based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)

Business demography

• Annual business demographics: the number and characteristics of businesses in DCMS sectors.

Satellite Accounts: capturing non-traditional sectors

Satellite accounts provide estimates of the economic contribution of sectors of the economy which are not observable in the traditional system of UK national accounts because they do not directly correspond to SIC economic activity. Work in this area includes:

• Tourism Satellite Account: we will continue to work with the Office for National Statistics to ensure publication of estimates of employment and gross value added by the tourism sector, including exploring options for more timely provisional estimates. 
• Sport Satellite Account: we will explore options for robust measurement of the broader economic contribution of the sport sector

Productivity

In 2023/24, we will have published new productivity statistics which updated our 2019 output per job estimates and which included a measure of output per hour worked, for the first time. In 24/25, we will continue to develop our measure of productivity with the aim of producing estimates as a regular release. We will engage with users to seek views on the methodology and frequency of publishing. 

2.2 Participation Survey

Our Participation Survey provides statistics on adult engagement with DCMS sectors, including cultural sectors, major events and live sport. We have also retained digital questions, on behalf of DSIT, in our survey and publication. These statistics provide important evidence about how and why adults in England do or do not engage, including providing evidence for the levelling up agenda. We will continue to publish quarterly data tables with headline figures, in between a more in depth annual data tables and report. We will be able to produce Local Authority level estimates for data collected in 23/24 as result of a partnership between Arts Council England (ACE) and DCMS, and estimates at ITL2 (county) level for data collected in 24/25.

DCMS is considering options for the structure of our social surveys in the future, ensuring that meeting user needs and achieving value for money remains at the forefront of any survey design. We are running a public consultation until May 2024 and invite views from all interested stakeholders in your current use of the Participation Survey and Community Life Survey and priorities for future design. Any changes would not impact the 2023/24 or 2024/25 Participation Survey or Community Life Survey.

2.3 DCMS-funded cultural institutions

We publish statistics about DCMS-funded cultural institutions. These help us understand how DCMS-funded cultural institutions generate their income, how sponsored museums and galleries are performing against their annual performance indicators and how many visits there are to sponsored museums and galleries.

In the year ahead, we expect to publish:

• Monthly visitor figures for sponsored museums and galleries (published quarterly). Annual performance indicators for sponsored museums and galleries
• Total income of DCMS-funded cultural institutions (including, but not limited to, sponsored museums and galleries)

2.4 Community Life Survey

The Community Life Survey is a key evidence source for understanding more about community engagement, volunteering, social cohesion, wellbeing and loneliness amongst adults (aged 16+) throughout England.

In 2023/24 and 2024/25, DLUHC is funding a boost of the Community Life Survey in order to be able to produce meaningful estimates at the Local Authority Level, and incorporate questions on Pride in Place and Life Chances.  

For these survey years we intend to publish quarterly data tables and annual data tables and report, summarising the key findings.

DCMS is considering options for the structure of our social surveys in the future, ensuring that meeting user needs and achieving value for money remains at the forefront of any survey design. We are running a public consultation until May 2024 and invite views from all interested stakeholders in your current use of the Participation Survey and Community Life Survey and priorities for future design. Any changes would not impact the 2023/24 or 2024/25 Participation Survey or Community Life Survey.

2.5 Reported Treasure Finds

Statistics on Reported Treasure Finds present the number of finds of treasure and portable antiquities reported and recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. We release an account because of the importance of treasure finds in understanding and interpreting history on a national and local level. The scheme is an intrinsic part of cultural protection, preserving important and significant finds for public access.

We published our annual report in November 2023, and plan to publish the next statistics in November 2024.

2.6 Employer Skills Survey

The latest Employer Skills Survey data was published by The Department for Education in September 2023. 

At DCMS, we plan to publish the skills shortages and skills gaps  breakdowns for the DCMS sectors and sub-sectors in spring 2024. This data will cover all UK, and hence will not be directly comparable with our inaugural skills data release in January 2022, which was based on the 2019 Employer Skills Survey that did not cover Scotland. 

Any skills shortages and skills gap breakdowns for the Digital Sector will be published by DSIT.

2.7 Supplementary tables

Over the last year, we have published a wide range of supplementary tables. We will continue to do this for transparency as users request particular cuts of data. If you require a breakdown of our statistics that we have not already published, please contact us on evidence@dcms.gov.uk.

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey, UK Business Data Survey and Economic Estimates for the digital sector have now been transferred to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.