Economic value of the digital sector (FOI)

Request

In respect of the economic value of the digital sector in Jersey, please advise:

A

The total economic value of the digital sector in Jersey.

B

The number of jobs in the digital sector in Jersey.

C 

The average salary of digital workers in Jersey.

D

The rate of growth of the digital sector in Jersey.

E

The main challenges facing the digital sector in Jersey.

Response

The information requested is not held by the Government of Jersey. Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

However, please note the following: 

A to D

The Government of Jersey is currently developing its first digital economy strategy (DES) for publication later in 2023.  The DES will play an important role in delivering the economic growth Jersey needs and is being developed in coordination with the government’s Future Economy Programme. The strategy will aim to maximise the contributions that digital tools and services can make to increasing the productivity of Jersey businesses and the wellbeing of islanders, as well as promoting Jersey as a centre for digital business development. In order to have clear benchmarks to target interventions and measure the effectiveness of the strategy, officials are currently considering relevant definitions including those referred to in this request, namely ‘digital sector’ and ‘digital worker’.  As part of this work, officials are considering existing definitions globally, and will be consulting Jersey stakeholders on proposals as part of consultation on the DES later this year.

E

Pending the finalisation of the DES, please see the following link to Tech Nation’s 2021 report which provides a summary of the challenges the sector faces. 

Jersey’s digital tech ecosystem (technation.io)

Article applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.