Accuracy and reliability
Contact info
Labour Market, Social StatisticsMikkel Zimmermann
+45 51 44 98 37
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The statistics summarise the reports of illness that have triggered the payment of unemployment benefits. The expectation is that all sickness benefit cases with payment are reported. Therefore, the statistics can be expected to be accurate in relation to actual payments. However, some cases are not reported until long after the end of the period to which the case relates, which is why the last quarter is not fully updated. The delayed updates result in a revision the following year that is in the order of 0.5 per cent in an upward direction.
Overall accuracy
The statistics calculate the reports of illness that have triggered the payment of unemployment benefits. In this sense, the coverage is 100 per cent. However, when using the statistics, it should be noted that ‘normal’ sick leave of less than 30 days is not included in the statistics because it is the employer who pays for the first 30 days of sick leave. Furthermore, statements of the number of people for the last year are 0.5 per cent too low due to late reports.
Sampling error
Not relevant for this statistic.
Non-sampling error
Not relevant for this statistic.
Quality management
Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on the organisation and management of quality set out in the Code of Practice for European Statistics and the accompanying implementation model, the Quality Assurance Framework. Read more about these on the page Quality in official statistics.
Quality management is supported by common principles, guidelines and managerial responsibility for quality in statistical products and processes. The aim is to ensure a systematic and consistent approach to quality across the entire statistical production.
Quality assurance
Quality assurance at Statistics Denmark is integrated into the statistical production processes and is carried out in accordance with the principles of the Code of Practice for European Statistics. Read more on the page Quality in official statistics.
Quality assurance includes the continuous use of standardised procedures, documentation in line with international standards and internal controls related to data collection, data processing and dissemination. Experience gained from production is continuously used to identify needs for adjustments and improvements.
Quality assessment
Statistics Denmark receives sickness benefit data from the Municipal Sickness Benefit System (KSD). As KSD is responsible for paying out around DKK 15 billion annually to companies and individuals, the system is thoroughly tested and reliable. Statistics Denmark receives data with the least possible transformation of data, as Statistics Denmark itself makes the necessary adjustments. Furthermore, Statistics Denmark has been involved in user testing the programmes that extract data for Statistics Denmark, which is why the quality of sickness benefit data must be considered very good.
Data revision - policy
Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.
Data revision practice
The most recent year will usually be slightly under-dated due to late submissions. Once the most recent year has become the penultimate, the year is routinely recalculated and these are the only revisions made unless an error is detected. The revision is around 0.5 per cent in the upward direction.