(2) how many jobs there were in the third sector in each (a) year since 2004 and (b) month since January 2008; and if he will make a statement.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking:
how many jobs there were in the third sector in (a) each year since 2004 and (b) each month since January 2008; and if she will make a statement. (269359)
how many new jobs were created in the third sector in (a) each year since 2004 and (b) each month since January 2008; and if she will make a statement. (269358)
Information on the number of jobs in the third sector is not available centrally. However, quarterly estimates on those aged 16 and over employed in charities, voluntary organisations and trusts can be provided for 2007 and 2008. These are shown in the attached table. Monthly estimates are not available.
The estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. This is indicated in the table.
The figures in the table are derived from the LFS microdata, weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. They are not entirely consistent with employment figures published in the current monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release, which are weighted using more tip-to-date population estimates.
People (thousand) 2004 Q4 624 2005 Q4 630 2006 Q4 668 2007 Q4 671 2008 Q1 701 2008 Q2 721 2008 Q3 724 2008 Q41 *716 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below: Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 = CV[le]5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV [le]10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV [le]20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.). Source: ONS Labour Force Survey