FOI reference: FOI-2024-2445
You asked
I have recently come across your article on "Job quality in the UK – analysis of job quality indicators: 2021", and thought figures 3, 4, 5 were incredible and I would like to get more updated information of paid, unpaid and paid and unpaid overtime, if you do have information specifically about the general age population, location/region and industry would be brilliant as I would like to compare the difference between the two and see if COVID-19 has had an effect on this.
We said
Thank you for your request.
The information you have requested requires an update of information previously published by ONS in the "Job Quality in the UK - analysis of job quality indicators: 2021" publication in December 2022.
At present, ONS is working on an update of that publication. This update is due to include the data on paid and unpaid overtime that you have requested alongside other related Job Quality tables. Work on this output has begun and it is now proceeding through our standard processes that include data preparation and quality assurance. A publication date for the output will be announced on our Release Calendar in due course.
As such, the information you have requested is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.