On Thursday 4 December 2025, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) hosted its annual Research Capability 2025 event in London, a one-day conference designed to bring together researchers, policymakers, data users and producers to celebrate innovative research using secure data and explore how evidence can be shaped for public benefit.
The theme for this year’s event was “Research for the public good”, with sessions including keynote talks, tailored workshops and opportunities to connect with peers working across the national secure data ecosystem. Representing the Wage and Employment Dynamics (WED) Project, Dr. Damian Whittard presented an overview of how the WED datasets can be used to deepen understanding of labour market dynamics in the UK. Damian discussed key themes emerging from the WED project and how these data resources are being used within the ONS Secure Research Service (SRS) to explore labour-market change.
The presentation focused on how linked administrative data enable more detailed and dynamic analysis of the labour market, supporting research into earnings trajectories, job mobility and employment patterns across the UK. By working with longitudinal data, researchers are able to move beyond single-point measures and gain a clearer understanding of how individuals’ employment and pay evolve over time.
Damian highlighted the analytical potential of WED datasets for addressing complex labour-market questions, particularly those relating to economic change, inequality and regional variation. He also reflected on the importance of collaboration between researchers, policymakers and data infrastructure providers in ensuring that these resources are used effectively and responsibly for the public good.
The session generated discussion around future research opportunities and how insights from WED data can contribute to evidence-based decision-making. It also underscored the role of secure research environments in enabling innovative analysis while maintaining high standards of data security and trust.
The wider event featured a keynote from Alan Smith OBE, Head of Visual and Data Journalism at the Financial Times, who explored how data visualisation evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges of communicating complex evidence clearly while maintaining public trust.
You can find Damian’s slides from the presentation below.
The ONS Research Capability 2025 event provided an excellent opportunity to reflect on the progress of the UK’s research data ecosystem and the growing potential for WED’s secure, linked data to support impactful research on employment and the economy.