How the National Statistician’s Analysis Unit uses data for policy insight

Case study details

Meeting a growing need for insight

In recent years, policymakers across government have faced increasing pressure to understand how health affects labour market participation and economic growth. Demand for robust evidence grew sharply alongside rising health-related economic inactivity and strained public services. Existing data and analysis did not fully capture how health conditions, life events and interventions shape earnings, employment and benefit use over time. The Research Group within the Office for National Statistics (ONS) National Statistician’s Analysis Unit recognised this gap and prioritised work to provide clear, timely insight to support decision-making.

Building a stronger evidence base

The team developed longitudinal analysis using ONS’s unique, linked data assets to track outcomes over time. They focused on real-world policy questions, including the impacts of NHS talking therapies, bariatric surgery, endometriosis, major health conditions, motherhood and elective waiting times for elective care. Collaboration was central to their approach: analysts, statisticians and data scientists worked closely with colleagues across government, academia and the voluntary sector. This ensured the analysis was relevant, robust and accessible. The team are also expanding the datasets they use by incorporating new sources such as NHS Mental Health Services Data and prescriptions data, and is working to make data available through the ONS Secure Research Service to widen access for external researchers.

Influencing policy and shaping debate

This work has strengthened the evidence base on the economic effects of health and is now used across HM Treasury, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. It has informed major policy decisions, including contributions to the renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England and analysis supporting the 2025 Autumn Budget. Findings on issues such as the motherhood penalty have also influenced public debate beyond government. Looking ahead, the team are hoping to  continue to expand into areas such as education and justice data, ensuring their work remains relevant to emerging policy challenges.

About the ONS Secure Research Service

The ONS Secure Research Service is an accredited trusted research environment providing secure access to de‑identified, unpublished data following the Five Safes Framework.

If you use ONS SRS data and would like support developing a future case study, contact SRS.Impact@ons.gov.uk. Please also report outputs using the Outputs Reporting Form.

About the Analyst

Dr Emma Sharland is the Head of Research and Analysis within the National Statistician’s Analysis Unit, leading the Research Group’s work to deliver high impact evidence for government. Her team draws on large, population level administrative datasets linked to the Census for England and Wales, enabling robust analysis that directly informs policy development and major spending decisions.

The group’s work has centred on the relationship between health and the economy, examining how health conditions and interventions affect outcomes such as employment, earnings, benefit use, and wider health inequalities. Recent publications have explored the labour market impact of employment advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme and motherhood as well as geographic inequalities in premature mortality and mortality by sexual orientation.

You can read the latest ONS publication “The impact of employment advisors in NHS Talking Therapies on employee earnings and employment status, England: April 2014 to March 2025“.