Comparability

Comparability - geographical

There is no EU regulation for the statistics, and only a limited number of countries have a data foundation that allows for the compilation of a comparable commuting statistic.

Comparability over time

Over the years some changes have been done in the data foundation RAS, which have influence on the possibility to compare the statistic over time. The commuting statistic is like RAS comparable from 2008 and forward. Particularly the following data breaks in RAS is important to the commuting statistic.

Data break

In 2015, RAS switched to use the Labour Market Accounts as its data source, and RAS was revised back to 2008. A minor revision of the time series back to 2008 was subsequently carried out in the 2016 publication. In particular, the data break between 2007 and 2008 is significant for comparability. Isolated, this data break led to a decrease in employment of 35,000–50,000 persons. It is not possible to perform a double count for 2007 or 2008 because the previous data source ceased to exist (transition from the Central Information Sheet Register to eIncome). The Central Information Sheet Register, like eIncome, consisted of employer reports submitted to the tax authorities. Employers had the option to indicate that an employee had been employed for the entire year. If this was not the case, the employer was required to provide the start and end dates of the employment period. It is assessed that, in some cases, employers reported that the person had been employed for the entire year even when this was not the case, resulting in an overestimation of employment levels.

There is also a data break in 2003 (November 2002). Changes in the labor market created a need for adjustments in the statistics, and at the same time, improved data sources made the changes possible. The changes in the statistics resulted, among other things, in a change in the priority order for persons in more than one status. For example, the priority was changed for persons who were simultaneously receiving early retirement benefits and employed.

Changes in Danish Industrial Classifications

In 1993 the classification changes from DSE77 to DB93. In 2003 it changes to DB03, and in 2008 to DB07. Read more about the changes and the classification.

Municipal reform

The commuting statistic is published on municipal level in the StatBank. From November 2006 the statistic is published on the new municipals after the structural reform. In the period November 1980-November 2006 the statistic is made up on the municipals before the structural reform. November 2016 is therefore published with data from both before and after the reform.

Coherence - cross domain

The commuting statistics are compiled for employed persons in RAS. A commuter is defined by being employed in RAS and besides of that have an address of residence which is different from the workplace address.

Coherence - internal

Nothing to remark.