Statin Launches Revised Jamaica Industrial Classification

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has launched the 2016 Jamaica Industrial Classification (JIC), which is a categorisation of economic activities associated with the production of goods and services in the country.

The 2016 JIC is a revision of the 2005 publication.

Its main purpose is the provision of a comprehensive framework for the collection and reporting of statistical data for economic analysis and policy creation.

JIC is useful for compiling and reporting of national income and product accounts, i.e. gross domestic product (GDP); classifying the labour force and employment by industry; census reporting on employment, earnings and economic activity; compilation of production and price statistics; the classification of establishments in the national business register; and the types of business activity households engage in (as required for informal sector studies).

STATIN’s Director General, Carol Coy, said the publication, which took more than two years to compile, can be used by persons in the production and analysis of data on the economy.

She was speaking at the launch held on December 8 at Hotel Four Seasons in St. Andrew.

Ms. Coy noted that the publication is also useful to entities such as the Companies Office of Jamaica, which codes companies based on their functions.

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, said the publication was timely, partly due to the increased global push towards evidence-based decision-making in the development thrust.

“This increased focus on data and statistics has occurred as part of the evolving nature of development and the methods and tools utilised in achieving both global and country-specific development goals and targets,” he said.

“Evidence-based decision-making, supported by quality data and statistics, has been recognised as a necessity to formulate policies that are technically sound, politically relevant and resource-based oriented,” he noted further.

Dr. Henry said JIC is a critical tool used by the PIOJ in the assessment of industry performance and trends, and lauded STATIN for the revision.

The JIC 2016 is based on the fourth revision of the United Nations International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC).

It comprises 21 new categories from the previous 17 published in 2005.

These are Education; Real Estate; Construction; Water Supply; Electricity; Mining and Quarrying; Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Manufacturing; Wholesale and Retail Trade; Transportation and Storage; Accommodation and Food Service; Information and Communication; Financial and Insurance Activities; Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities; Administrative and Support Service Activities; Public Administration and Defence; Human Health and Social Work; Arts, Entertainment and Recreation; Other Service Activities; Activities of Households as Employers; Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies.