ON THE occasion of the fourth UN World Statistics Day 2025, held every five years on 20 October, the ILO joins the global community in celebrating the critical role of high-quality, timely and inclusive statistics in driving progress towards sustainable development.
The theme of this year’s celebration, “Driving change with quality statistics and data for everyone,” recognizes the right to trustworthy and accurate data, at its core, as a human right.
Reliable and transparent data are not mere technical tools; they are the foundation of democracy and social justice. They empower societies, citizens and leaders to design and to decide on evidence-based policies required for improving conditions of life and well-being.
In the world of work, data reveal truth that words alone cannot convey: the millions in informal employment, the persistent gender gaps, the youth seeking employment, and the transitions that must be just and inclusive. Without trustworthy labour statistics, decent work risks becoming an aspiration rather than a measurable goal.
We live in an era where artificial intelligence and new data sources provide unprecedented opportunities to deepen our understanding of labour markets, drawing insights from changes in occupations, digital platform activities, satellite imagery and administrative sources.
Yet, as statistical systems face increasing resource constraints, these innovations must complement, not replace, official statistics. We must use technology ethically and transparently, ensuring respect to privacy and that that these new forms of data strengthen rather than distort the picture of reality.
At the same time, the independence and impartiality of statistical systems and standards must be safeguarded. Data that are influenced by political or commercial interests risk losing public trust. Statistics must remain objective, free from bias, and guided by scientific integrity so that they continue to be a trusted public good for all.
The International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), a tripartite body hosted by the ILO, has, for more than a century, set global standards that define and measure every concept in labour statistics with accuracy and consistency. Through this enduring work, the ICLS helps uphold the impartiality, quality and credibility that the world depends on when discussing the realities of work.
The ILO stands firmly committed to supporting countries in strengthening their statistical systems and ensuring that labour statistics reflect the realities of all: workers, enterprises and labour administrations.
Through its global statistical database, ILOSTAT, the ILO continues to make reliable and harmonized labour market data openly available to all, helping governments, workers, and employers design informed, fair and forward-looking policies.
On this World Statistics Day, let us reaffirm that accurate, independent and inclusive statistics are not only a technical necessity, but a moral imperative, essential for social justice and decent work for all.
