Reliable and updated statistics are an important element in the process of identifying new IT-political focus areas in Denmark.

Consequently, the Danish government and Statistics Denmark have entered into a close co-operation to develop a series of statistical indicators needed for mapping the network-society and the knowledge-based economy.

Statistics Denmark, with help from various trade associations, scientists and ministries, has already developed a strategy for the construction of a statistical base. In addition to this, the government and Statistics Denmark are working together on identifying an entirely new series of indicators to be used in connection with the e-Europe 2005 initiative.

A current study of the IT labour market serves as an example of how statistics are used in a Danish IT-political context. Among other things, the study shows that the Danish IT labour market is extremely flexible and that only about 25 per cent of those holding an IT occupation are formally IT-educated. Furthermore, the findings indicate that there is a demand for approximately 5,500 more people with an IT education. Overall, the study has contributed significantly to the continued debate on the lack of IT skills in the Danish labour market.