STORY
The Office for National Statistics has said an operational error affected the collection of labour market data between 3 May and 10 June. Reuters reported that the error reduced response rates for the Labour Force Survey, which is used to produce official employment and unemployment statistics.
The ONS said the issue was caused by too few interviewers being allocated to the survey while work continued on a replacement system. It said the quality of the July labour market statistics would be reduced as a result, with some smaller effects likely to continue into later releases.
The ONS has faced scrutiny in recent years over the reliability of economic data, particularly after falling response rates during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest issue comes at a politically sensitive time, with employment, wages and inactivity central to the Government’s economic agenda.