Presented by Jeanne Majella Louis Third Meeting of the Working Group on International Classifications (GTCI) Bogota Colombia, August 4 - 7, 2014 Progress on Implementation of Classifications in Saint Lucia

Outline of Presentation Areas where Classifications Systems are used within the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Other Agencies using classifications Update/progress on the implementation of classification systems (ISIC,ISCO, CPC etc)

Use of Classifications Systems within the CSO Population and Housing Census (ISCO,ISIC) Labor Force Surveys(ISCO,ISIC) Wages and Hours worked Survey (ISCO,ISIC) Labor Market Needs Assessment Survey(ISCO,ISIC) Household Expenditure Survey Survey of living Conditions

Use of Classifications Systems within the CSO Household Expenditure Survey (ISCO, ISIC, COICOP, CPC) Survey of living Conditions(ISCO, ISIC) Business Register (ISIC) Industrial Production Statistics (ISIC, CPC)

Use of Classifications Systems within the CSO National Accounts (ISIC, CPC; slucom, Saint Lucia’s adaptation/102 products) (COICOP adapted, COFOG, SITC) Consumer Price index/International Comparison Project Foreign Trade Statistics (HS, SITC) Other Socio – Economic Surveys

Other agencies using classification systems Inland Revenue Department (ISIC - needs assistance) CSO to help National Insurance Cooperation(Social Security) ISIC Ministry of Commerce (ISIC, SITC) Registrar of Companies (ISIC)

Agencies who need to implement classification systems Ministry of Health (ISCO,Classification of diseases….??? ) Ministry of Tourism and Creative Industries (ISIC, ISCO, CPC??)needs assistance from CSO Ministry of Sustainable Development and Environment (ISIC, SITC/HS, CPC?? Needs assistance from CSO

Update New initiative: redesigning of Business Register to using mainly data from administrative Records IRD, NIC, CSO…. (technical assistance provided by Statistics Canada)  Update of Supply and Use Table (technical assistance provided by CARTAC; data collection in progress)

Update Sustainable Household Data Collection Programme (SDP) for the Measurement of Living Standards in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Goal - improvement of the frequency and quality of information available on living conditions in the region. The SDP proposal consists of a five- year survey cycle utilizing the OECS Labour Force Survey as the core Household Survey.

Business Register Project  CSO to assist IRD in use of ISIC (not done previously)  Confidentiality issues  Labor Intensive - combination of electronic and manual data collection (strain on resources of CSO)

Project to update SUT  SUT Framework dependent on the use of many classification systems):  ISIC  SITC (Foreign Trade Data manually coded to CPC ?)  CPC  COICOP AND COFOG (Products of Final demand classifications to be coded to CPC)

Project to update SUT Slu Com - Saint Lucia’s adaptation of CPC  The number of commodities articulated is a function of the characteristic of the economy but is as detailed as possible to facilitate balancing the supply and demand of products  Adaptation to be comparable toproducts in last SUT

Project to update SUT Demand for new Data  Tourism Satellite Account (TSA)  Cultural Satellite Accounts  Environment Accounts (SEEA)

ISIC rev 4 This is the classification system which is used most by the CSO and it’s supporting agencies in the statistical system Only CSO staff has experience in the use of ISIC

ISCO The ISCO is used by the CSO in its detailed form (LFS, coding work permits) Coding is done through the use of a drop down menu An adaptation of the ISCO to suit the occupations found in Saint Lucia would make coding easier (any assistance or guidance on how to proceed will be accepted )

CPC Saint Lucia uses an adaptation of CPC - Slucom It’s use presents a great challenge to the CSO (constantly engaged in the exercise of coding and converting other classifications into CPC) (SITC, COICOP, COFOG) Use of concordence/correlation tables (to guide the coding process)

General Comments The correct use of Classification Systems by CSO and other agencies is one of the most important issues facing the CSO Comparability of Slucom product groupings Inclusion of examples in all manuals and training materials Proper documentation of problematic areas and issues

General Comments The establishment of a focal points within all agencies in the Statistical System The inclusion of National Account Statisticians in all discussions, training, encouraged to join the GTCI forum etc.

General Comments Smaller Statistics Offices encounter both financial and human resource constraints; - no units responsible for classifications - no persons on staff trained in the use of classifications systems - inhouse training using the knowledge and experience of all staff who presently use or have used classifications systems

General Comments Importance of training (all available methods) Central Statistics Office Other agencies using the Classification Systems

Way Forward Saint Lucia CSO welcomes any recommendations (GTCI, ILO UNSD etc. that will assist in the implementation of our new work programs) Grateful for the opportunity to be a member of this working group

Thank You Gracias amigos ?