Forward Work Program

The Forward Work Program (FWP) provides the schedule of statistical releases over the next four years. This program does not include experimental estimates and research papers. This program is developed through extensive consultation with government, key stakeholders including users of statistics, other government organisations and a range of non-government organisations such as community groups and industry bodies.

The ABS reviews and makes changes to the FWP to ensure it continues to appropriately measure the Australian economy, environment, and society.

Statistical releases are classified into three tiers to assist with prioritising resources. This tiering was developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.

Tier 1 

Statistics representing the foundation work of a national statistical organisation.

Tier 2

Important areas of statistics where there is a significant government outlay or where there is a significant public policy interest.

Tier 3

Other important statistical work currently undertaken to meet identified user requirements.

Footnotes:

1. The Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages release has become the Weekly Payroll Jobs release to reflect the removal of wages indexes. Earning statistics are now available in the new Monthly Employee Earnings Indicator.

2. The Characteristics of Australian Exporters release listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 has been discontinued. The release may be reinstated if user funding becomes available.

3. The Australian National Accounts: Distribution of Household Income, Consumption and Wealth release has been delayed until the Living Costs in Australia Survey results are available.

4. The Government Finance Statistics, Education release will be combined with the Government Finance Statistics, Annual release.

5. The International Trade in Goods and Services release has become International Trade in Goods as the release will not contain estimates for monthly trade in services.

6. From 2023-24, the Marriages and Divorces release will have reduced content to meet international reporting obligations.

7. The Agricultural Census release listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 has been discontinued. More information is provided in the Information Paper: Modernising ABS agricultural statistics which can be accessed on the ABS website.

8. The Energy Use and Electricity Generation statistical release listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 Is now included in the Energy Account, Australia publication.

9. The survey will be released on a yearly basis from 2024-25.

10. The General Social Survey release listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 has been discontinued to resource the growth in new ABS services.

11. The Australian Census Temporary Entrants Integrated Dataset listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 for release in 2023-24 was released ahead of schedule (April 2023). As it is a five-yearly release it does not appear in this Forward Work Program.

12. The Living Costs in Australia Survey release listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 will now be released after the period of this Plan.

13. The Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia release listed in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23 is now combined in the Cultural and creative activities release.

14. The survey will be released on a yearly basis from 2025-26.

15. This release was listed as the Indicators of Migrant Outcomes release in the ABS Corporate Plan 2022-23.

16. The Post Enumeration Survey is known to respondents as the Post Census Review; it is next due for release in 2026–27.

17. The Australian Statistician's Analytical Series and the Australian Statistician's Technical Series are released irregularly and can be accessed on the ABS website.