Changes at the State Data Agency (Statistic Lithuania) – strengthening capacity to create greater value
More than four years ago, the Agency began a fundamental transformation: it expanded its activities and mandate. In addition to preparing official statistics, the institution assumed responsibility for a broader activation of public‑sector data. Last year, a change in operational processes was designed and initiated – the final stage of the transformation.
Starting from March 2026, the State Data Agency begins operating in a renewed structure: the biggest structural change is the consolidation of competencies into two large departments:
- Data engineering, technological innovation, production, and services have been consolidated in the Data Technologies, Production and Innovation Department, which brings together 110 employees, of whom around 100 are data engineers, analysts, IT and AI solution specialists, and system administrators.
- Data science, experimental development, and the production of official statistics have been consolidated in the Data Science and Analytics Department, which brings together 70 data analysts, methodologists, and researchers.
Such consolidation of competencies is necessary to centrally process data and produce data outputs, including official statistics. With the centralization of data production, the fragmentation characteristic of the previous structure – where individual units carried out statistical surveys in isolation – no longer remains.
Why was this necessary?
- It was necessary to make use of the human potential accumulated over the past four years. During the large‑scale integration of public‑sector data into the state data lake, specialists with diverse competencies were brought together – information managers, analysts, database and system administrators, data engineers – who, in turn, gained invaluable experience and knowledge, as well as a comprehensive understanding of public‑sector data. In addition, throughout the entire transformation period, targeted investment was made in employee reskilling, creating opportunities to develop analytical, programming, and operational optimization skills.
- It was necessary to take the opportunity to reorganize the preparation of official statistics by moving their production to the State Data Governance Platform. Over the past decade, official statistics have been facing major challenges — the data market is fundamentally changing: the volume of data is increasing, and with it the need to shift from traditional statistical surveys or reports to the use of big data taken directly from systems, both public and private. Receipts from retail chains and web‑scraped prices from online stores have begun to be used for price statistics and inflation indicators. This means that the need for price recorders who physically visit retail locations to register prices has significantly decreased. Demographic and social statistics have started to be produced almost exclusively from administrative sources – a successful example of this is the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
- It was necessary to make use of the technologies managed by the State Data Agency for the centralization and optimization of internal processes. The transfer of official statistics to the State Data Governance Platform (Palantir Foundry) made it possible to reduce the fragmentation of statistical surveys and the need for technical manual work in data processing. As a result, some statistical divisions were merged, a number of mid‑level managerial positions were discontinued, as well as certain technical functions that have been replaced by automated solutions.
Did we save a lot?
Reorganization was not aimed at saving money. The goal was to change – to become a center of data engineering and analytics in the public sector, capable of compensating for the shortage of these competencies in other institutions and at the same time creating conditions for them to grow on their own. Reorganization will make it possible to reallocate about 100 thousand euros per month for the salaries of data engineers, analysts, system administrators, project managers, methodologists, and other highly qualified experts.
The State Data Agency has already proven that it is capable of creating solutions for the state, and it will continue to do so.
The State Data Agency has already proven its ability to develop solutions for the state. We will continue to do so.