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Migrant Statistics

Objectives
The Migrant Statistics Program covers the activities of the ABS National Migrant Statistics Unit, which has a focus on temporary and permanent migrant settlement within Australia. The unit develops and compiles a range of survey and administrative data outputs relevant to migrants. Activities include understanding current and emerging policy issues and debates, and determining appropriate statistics to inform decision making relevant to migrants and diverse ethnic groups. The program also provides expertise more broadly within the ABS regarding the collection of data, as well as informing governments and the community about migrant and ethnicity statistics, relevant classifications and standards, and appropriate data analysis.

The major stakeholders of the program are the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and the various Australian, state and territory government agencies providing services to migrant and ethnic groups.

Outputs
The main outputs of the program are:

• the triennial Characteristics of Recent Migrants, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6250.0)
• the Guide to Migrant Statistical Sources (ABS cat no. 3414.0), which contains information about ABS and non-ABS statistical data
• the Migrant Data Matrices (ABS cat. no. 3415.0), which compiles a range of ABS data relevant to migrants in one location.
• the Perspectives on Migrants (ABS cat. no. 3416.0) series, which provides an analysis of data from the ABS and other sources to provide a more comprehensive picture of migrants
• Migrant and Ethnicity Topics @ a Glance page on the ABS website
• statistical activities aimed at promoting and developing national standards such as frameworks, classifications and definitions (e.g. Standards for Statistics on Cultural and Language Diversity (ABS cat. no. 1289.0))
• the coordination and specification of statistical data needs through consultation with data users and, where appropriate, undertaking development work to meet those needs
• the coordination of ABS activity to ensure that issues relevant to migrants are taken into account in statistical development activities.

• undertake the ABS 2011 Census Data Enhancement project to link Census data to migrant settlement records, including subsequent quality assessment, analysis and dissemination of data from the project – ongoing
• undertake a pilot project to link Australian Taxation Office data to migrant settlement records, including subsequent quality assessment and analysis of data from the project – ongoing
• explore, assess and utilise administrative data held within other government agencies for statistical purposes – ongoing
• explore, assess and utilise the administrative data holdings of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and undertake collaborative projects focussed on statistical development – ongoing.

References
Topics @ a Glance - Migrant & Ethnicity