ONS Local has been established by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to support evidence-based decision-making at the local level. We aim to host insightful events that connect our users with exciting developments happening in subnational statistics and analysis at the ONS and across other organisations. On 28th June 2022, Census 2021 released their first results, followed by data covering eight topics and more recently launched a new ‘Create a custom dataset’ tool. We will take you through a tour of the products such as census maps, build a custom area profile, create your own custom dataset tool and pre-built tables, as well as census analysis plans and how you can carry out your own analysis using census data. This event is open to all, however we anticipate it will be of most interest to anyone working at a local level on Census data or on any Census topics. If you have any questions, please contact ons.local@ons.gov.uk

1. Gerald Williams
Census 2021
Products and Analysis

2. Agenda
• Overview
• Census design
• First results and topic summaries
• The multivariate release
• How you can create your own dataset
• Data visualisation
• Census Analysis

3. To make sure the cost and effort of taking a census is worthwhile,
we need to present the results in ways that add value to users.
Products for people to
use to make informed
decisions

4. Understanding our users and their needs
User centred design aims to create systems
that are intuitive, rather than requiring training,
and consider:
• technology, content, interaction, and visual
aspects
• the whole respondent journey
Products are developed iteratively through prototypes
User research aims to understand:
• who are our users?
• what they need?
• how they interact with the product?
User research methods
Surveys A/B
Testing
Card
sorting
Tree
testing
Analytics
Card
sorting
Heat
mapping

5. Understanding our users
and their needs
• User and stakeholder research has
helped provide more clarity on priorities.
• The main insight identified was the
value of having a single translated
source of truth for the definitions
and other metadata.
• The Census 2021 data dictionary
is a bilingual tool has been built
to provide this single source of truth.
User
needs
Technical
capabilities
Legislation
and
policies
What we should build

6. Products for different users
Data Commentary Exploratory Explanatory
Technical user
Expert analyst
Policy influencer
Information forager
Inquiring citizen
Passive citizen
Personas
These products will be accompanied by supporting information around quality and methods

7. Making it easier to find census information
• Users have told us that they want to:
• access census outputs from one place
• learn more about how we ran the census
• be able to find and compare data from
geographic areas
• In response, we have developed a ‘census hub’
where users can go to find census related
information all in one place.

8. First results and topic summaries
Univariate data
• Unrounded data
• Supporting information
• Univariate data covering 8 topics
• Statistical bulletins
• Interactive products

9. Multivariate release – a range of products
Under the umbrella of the Census 2021 multivariate data release, we have a blended
offering, consisting of create a custom dataset tool, pre-built datasets, and analysis reports.
The 'create a custom dataset' tool allows users to select a population type, change the area
type or coverage and add multiple variables by searching for a specific variable or choosing
from a list.
What makes the tool different is that statistical disclosure rules run automatically in the
background and is designed to return as much data as possible. Where disclosure rules will
likely suppress data, these population bases are not included. The tool will inform users how
to improve their query to return the maximum amount of data by removing variables or
changing classifications.

10. Create a custom dataset
• Add or remove certain variables
• Select classifications
• Change area types
• Statistical disclosure rules designed to
return as much data as possible
Pre-built dataset
• Choose from pre-built datasets
• Different geographies can be applied
In some instances, to prevent individuals being identified,
limited or no results will be returned.
Creating ​your own datasets, Pre-built datasets

11. Blended offering example
• Data for ethnic group classification is available
down to 19 tick box categories within the tool
• If the ethnic group (detailed) variable was included in the
‘create a custom dataset’tool this would impact the utility
of any data regarding groups with small populations
• To account for this, the ONS will be producing
bespoke analysis and tables to provide an accurate
representation and interpretations of these more
complex identities

12. Census data:
How you can create
your own dataset

13. Create a custom dataset demonstration

14. Census 2021 Hub

15. How to create a custom dataset
Build the requested table. Apply disclosure control
checks.
Apply confidentiality checks
in less than a second.
Try different combinations,
which are checked
automatically.
Allow the data to be more
relevant to your area.
Download your dataset.
1 2 3
4 5 6

16. Places users can find information
Public Available to all
ONS website ons.gov.uk API*
Nomiswebsite nomisweb.co.uk API*
Census website census.gov.uk
Data and
information
Information
only
*Application programming interface
What is an API?
A communication channel for web applications.
ONS Developer Hub
https://developer.ons.gov.uk/

17. Census data:
Interactive products

18. Interactive products
Census maps Custom area profile How your area has
changed in 10 years
Census quiz Census analysis Scrolly-telling articles

19. Census Maps
Find out more about Census maps
and how to use them in this blog post

20. Build a custom area profile

21. How your area has changed in 10 years

22. Census Analysis
➢ The census analysis programme is a detailed and comprehensive
research programme based on Census 2021 in England and
Wales.
➢ Alongside the production of basic facts and figures of the
population, the programme will produce statistics which highlight
issues of public policy concern.
➢ The programme includes a wide range of topics, covering a
diverse range of sub-populations with over 100 articles across 13
topics.
➢ Our aim is to provide up-to-date and meaningful analysis that will
help users to inform decisions on future policy and services.

23. Census analysis latest releases…
Analysis plans

24. To find out more about our Census 2021 data
analysis plans and releases-
Visit: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/aboutcensus
/censusproducts/analysis or
Email: Census.Customer.Services@ons.gov.uk.

25. Contact us at -
Census.outputs@ons.gov.uk
Any questions?