Using the Omnibus Survey to test questions on emigration

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Social Statistics
• Survey Methodology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of migration is crucial for population estimates and projections.
• Current data sources present difficulties in producing robust estimates of emigration from Great Britain.
• Household surveys are utilized by countries like Ireland for migration estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of collecting emigration data from Great Britain residents via household surveys.
• To assess the utility of specific survey questions for capturing emigration intentions and recent events.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of three emigration-related questions in the Omnibus Survey over a two-month period.
• Survey items focused on respondents' personal emigration plans and family members' recent or intended emigration.
• Analysis of response levels, comparison with the International Passenger Survey, and collection of interviewer feedback.

Main Results:

• The pilot study provides initial evidence on response rates for emigration questions within a household survey.
• Comparison data with the International Passenger Survey will be presented.
• Interviewer feedback offers insights into the practical application and challenges of the survey questions.

Conclusions:

• Household surveys, such as the Omnibus Survey, show promise as a method for gathering emigration data from Great Britain.
• This pilot offers valuable data for refining future survey designs aimed at improving emigration estimation.
• Findings will inform the development of more comprehensive migration statistics.