ABS data is an important resource for many social researchers. Current data and publications are made freely available and updated daily. Here are just a few important statistical publications and initiatives that have been released in the past few months. These releases will be useful for many students and researchers.
The Yearbook of Australia 2008
The Yearbook provides a comprehensive statistical overview of current social and economic conditions in Australia. It covers just about every aspect of Australian life from geography and demography to government, politics and international relations, the environment, labour force data, housing and health and many other data categories. The yearbook also contains feature articles summarising the statistical history or background of an important issue. Recently these essays have reflected the theme of a specific year. The 2008 yearbook contains sections on geohazards, water and drought in recognition of The International Year of the Planet Earth and one on scouting, for Australia’s year of Scouting. Past years have contained many diverse articles including Australia's Involvement And Activities In The United Nations, 1945-95 (1995), The 1967 Referendum (2004), Blue - Green Algae (1992) The Australian Flag (1983) and in 1974 A History of Roads in Australia. Feature articles were regularly included in yearbooks from the 1970s onward. You can access the yearbook via the icon on the ABS homepage.
The Yearbook of Australia online 1901-2008
ABS is now reaching the completion of a project to make all Yearbooks available online. Volumes from 1908 onward are now available from the ABS website. The yearbook is particularly useful for researchers who require key data on a specific topic or who wish to compare social and economic trends across a number of years. For example I am looking at divorce statistics in the 1970s and 2005. Google may find the answers but the Yearbook will ensure that researchers have authoritative data. Access the yearbook archive via the ABS homepage.
The ABS Themes Page
This page is not new but keep it in mind. This page organises statistical data by subject/theme and provides access to both ABS data and links to all the main publishers of Australian statistical information and analysis within a specific area. This page lists key ABS publications and provides a gateway to other statistical sources and technical information about the data. If you need a starting point for locating data on a topic this is a useful page to begin a search. You can access themes from the menu bar at the top of the ABS Homepage.
New from the 2006 Census
Several new community profiles are now available from the ABS census website.
Community profiles provide statistical compilations of data from the census. This week ABS will release (Friday 29th February 11.30 am) the Working Population Profile. This profile contains data on how people work, their incomes, whether they work full-time or part-time, working longer hours, the industries in which they work, which occupations use the Internet in their work and how people travel to work.
The Expanded profile was released late last year and provides access to extended census data on the characteristics of persons, families and dwellings. Data is available detailing relationships within families, living costs and dwelling structures.
Future Releases
Many researchers are asking about the release dates of two products CDATA and the SEIFA Indexes
SEIFA indexes are compiled from different socioeconomic variables and allow researchers to rank an area/region on the basis of their SEIFA score - educational/economic advantage/disadvantage. The indexes will be released in March 2008.
CDATA – (basic description) allows researchers to select and customize their own geographic areas and combine geography with selected data to create maps, tables and graphs. CDATA is expected in mid 2008.
Using ABS data
ABS provides information on citing ABS sources.
Examples are available for print, audiovisual and web resources.
Keeping up-to-date
You can keep up-to-date by setting up a free email notification or using the ABS RSS feed or by just visiting the ABS homepage where media releases and product information is available, and updated daily.