Feasibility research on the potential use of Migrant Workers Scan data to improve migration and population statistics

The ONS Centre for Demography is currently researching the use of a number of administrative data sources to improve population and migration statistics as part of the Inter-departmental Migration Statistics Improvement Programme. This article reports early findings from the initial research into one of the sources, the Migrant Workers Scan (MWS). The MWS contains information on all adult overseas nationals who have registered for, and been allocated, a National Insurance Number (NINo). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) supplied anonymised data to ONS on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to further these investigations.