On January 28, 2025, the Wage and Employment Dynamics (WED) Stakeholder Group convened for another engaging and insightful meeting. This event brought together a diverse network of academics, policymakers, and data users to discuss the latest advancements in wage and employment research through our data linkage projects.
Advancing Data Linkages
We have now successfully linked the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) to the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) and Self-Assessment records, and to the 2011 Census. Work is well underway to integrate ASHE with the Migrant Worker Scan dataset, with the next project linking to the 2021 Census due to start soon. These advancements will provide a richer, more detailed picture of wage and employment patterns across the UK, offering unprecedented opportunities for research. The WED Project will be moving into the next phase in April 2025, and this meeting provided an excellent platform for discussing opportunities for utilising WED datasets for informing both research and policy going forward.
You can find the slides for this Stakeholder Group Meeting here.
A Platform for Emerging Researchers
This meeting also served as a platform for new researchers, including PhD students and fellows funded by ADR UK, to showcase their work. We were delighted to hear from several scholars who are using linked ASHE data to explore pressing labour market issues:
- Dr. Kathyrn Fair : Investigating how structural inequalities shape skillsets in the UK labour market.
- Dr. Daniel Derbyshire: Examining factors affecting the disability pay gap in England, using ASHE-Census 2011 linkages.
- Dr. Mimosa Distefano: Analysing how local economic conditions influence job-to-job mobility and employment opportunities.
- Dr. Darja Reuschke : Exploring multiple employment patterns using ASHE and HMRC Self-Assessment data.
- Ramakrishnan Radhakrishnan : Studying employment dynamics in the community care sector.
These research projects underscore the breadth and depth of insights that linked administrative data can provide, helping to inform policies that support fair wages and inclusive employment practices. You can find out more about these projects here.
We also shared a list of ASHE users, collated from the ONS Public Register of accredited projects. This serves as a way to keep the community connected, and provide insights into what the data can do. You can find this list here.
Expanding the WED Community
We discussed the continued development of the WED Knowledge Hub, a free-to-access platform designed to foster collaboration among ASHE data users. This initiative aims to create a sustainable research community by facilitating peer-to-peer engagement, document sharing, and networking opportunities. If you are a researcher or policymaker interested in using ASHE data, we encourage you to join the community KnowledgeHub.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the next phase of the WED project in April 2025, we are excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead. Our focus remains on strengthening existing networks while cultivating new collaborations. The upcoming linkage of ASHE to the 2021 Census will further enhance our ability to analyse long-term employment trends, supporting evidence-based policy decisions.
We extend our gratitude to all the stakeholders who participated in this meeting, contributing their expertise and insights. It was promising to see such a positive and productive use of such an expansive and knowledgeable network.
Stay connected with us as we continue to explore the evolving landscape of employment and wages in the UK!