Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The aim of this project was to create a synthetic dataset without using the original (secure, controlled) dataset to do so, and instead using only publicly available analytical output (i.e. output that was cleared for publication) to create the synthetic data. Such synthetic data may allow users to gain familiarity with and practise on data that is like the original before they gain access to the original data (where time in a secure setting may be limited).

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2011 and Census 2011: Synthetic Data was created without access to the original ASHE-2011 Census dataset (which is only available in a secure setting via the ONS Secure Research Service: "Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to 2011 Census - England and Wales"). It was created as a teaching aid to support a training course "An Introduction to the linked ASHE-2011 Census dataset" organised by Administrative Data Research UK and the National Centre for Research Methods. The synthetic dataset contains a subset of the variables in the original dataset and was designed to reproduce the analytical output contained in the ASHE-Census 2011 Data Linkage User Guide.

Variables available in this study relate to synthetic employment, earnings and demographic information for adults employed in England and Wales in 2011.