Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The quarterly data are broken down by economic activity (at section level) in accordance with NACE Rev. 2 - Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community.
2.3. Coverage - sector
The survey covers enterprises with one and more employees classified in all sectors of economic activities defined by NACE Rev., except Sectors A (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing), T (Activities of Households as Employers; Undifferentiated Goods- and Services-Producing Activities of Households for own use) and U (Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies).
2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
A 'job vacancy' is defined as a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied, or about to become vacant:
for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise concerned; and
which the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
‘Active steps to find a suitable candidate’ include:
notifying the job vacancy to the public employment services,
contacting a private employment agency/head hunters,
advertising the vacancy in the media (for example internet, newspapers, magazines),
advertising the vacancy on a public notice board,
approaching, interviewing or selecting possible candidates/potential recruits directly,
approaching employees and/or personal contacts,
using internships.
'Specific period of time’ refers to the maximum time the vacancy is open and intended to be filled. That period shall be unlimited; all vacancies for which active steps are continuing on the reference date shall be reported
An 'occupied post’ means a paid post within the organisation to which an employee has been assigned.
2.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit for the data collection is the enterprise.
2.6. Statistical population
Enterprises with one and more employees.
2.7. Reference area
Government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
2.8. Coverage - Time
Time series classified by NACE Rev. 2 are available from the first quarter 2009 onwards.
2.9. Base period
Not applicable
3.1. Source data
Identification of the source of the data
The data source for job vacancies statistics is the Employment and Job Vacancies Survey, a survey carried out in enterprises by the Statistical Service of Cyprus since 2005 on a quarterly basis.
Coverage
- Geographical
Government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus were covered and were considered one region.
- NACE
All NACE sections were covered (except sections A - Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, T - Activities of Households as Employers and U - Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies). Data was collected at division level and disseminated at section level (B to S including O, excluding armed forces).
- Enterprise size
Enterprises with one and more employees are covered in the survey.
Definition of the statistical unit
The statistical unit was the enterprise. According to the communitarian rules was defined as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations. An enterprise may be a sole legal unit.
Remarks
None
Sampling design
Base used for the sample
The sampling frame used for the sample selection was drawn from the Business Register of CYSTAT which is updated on an annual basis using administrative sources and contains the latest information on each enterprise in the statistical population such as the identification items (unique identification number, address etc.), economic activity codes (NACE Rev.2) and number of employees (giving the enterprise size class).
Sampling design
A stratified sampling was used for the sample selection. The sample covered the entire country (government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus). The public units from the public administration (O), education (P), human health and social work activities (Q) were exhaustively included in the survey, except local public authorities units, for which data was collected based on a representative sample. The private units from the education (P), human health and social work (Q) activities were sampled.
Retention/renewal of sampling units
The same sample was used every quarter for year 2023.
Sample size
The sample size of each quarter was 3303 enterprises.
Stratification
The stratification variables were given by the economic activity (2 digit - division level) and the size classes of the enterprise (1 employee, 1.5-5 employees, 5.5-10 employees, 10.5-15 employees, 15.5-19.5 employees, 20-49.5 employees and 50 and more employees (full coverage)).
Other sources
Maintenance agency
Not applicable
Updating frequency
Not applicable
Rules for clearance (of outdated information)
Not applicable
Voluntary/compulsory reporting and sanctions
Not applicable
Remarks
None
3.2. Frequency of data collection
Reference dates
Quarterly - The reference period was the whole quarter.
3.3. Data collection
Brief description of the data collection method(s)
Remarks
An electronic questionnaire developed in Blaise was completed using telephone interview for private sector, semigovernment sector, municipalities and local authorities. There is also a web-form questionnaire (CAWI) also developed in Blaise that can be filled in electronically by the enterprises and submitted to the Statistical Service.
Data concerning Job Vacancies for the government sector was collected from administrative sources. For the case of permanent employees the number of job vacancies, the occupation and the economic activity of the Department/Ministry is derived from the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus.
3.4. Data validation
Validation and consistency checks are incorporated in Blaise program. At the end of data collection extra checks regarding the validity of the data are done using SPSS.
3.5. Data compilation
Brief description of the weighting method
Weighting dimensions
The weights for job vacancies and occupied posts are calculated for each NACE and size group.
Weights are based on the employment of each NACE and size group. For enterprises with 50+ employees, the weight is equal to 1.
3.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
4.1. Quality assurance
The quality of statistics in CYSTAT is managed in the framework of the European Statistics Code of Practice which sets the standards for developing, producing and disseminating European Statistics as well as the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). CYSTAT endorses the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System. In addition, CYSTAT is guided by the requirements provided for in Article 11 of the Official Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021 as well as Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics, which sets out the quality criteria to be applied in the development, production and dissemination of European statistics.
Additionally, CYSTAT has issued "Quality Guidelines for Statistical Processes", aiming to provide guidance on statistical production processes. The two pillars on which the guidelines are based, are the European Statistics Code of Practice which provides the basic principles for the production of high-quality European statistics and the GSBPM which defines and describes the main phases of the statistical production process. This document provides a description of CYSTAT’s Quality Policy, of the phases of statistical production and specific guidelines to be followed in every phase of statistical production. It is available internally to CYSTAT staff and ONAs.
The output quality in the ESS is assessed in terms of the following 5 quality criteria: relevance, accuracy & reliability, timeliness & punctuality, coherence & comparability and accessibility & clarity. The quality indicators are assessed taking into account EUROSTAT's defined methodology and recommendations. Taking into account the above criteria, the overall quality of the statistics produced is very high. For further details and information please refer to the relevant sections of this quality report.
5.1. Relevance - User Needs
Description of the national users and their main needs
Remarks
The main national users are grouped as following:
Governmental bodies (i.e. National Central Bank)
The Human Resource Development Authority (HRDA)
Businessmen and especially Human Resource Managers
Trade unions/ Employers Association
International Bodies
Academia
The press
The General Public
The main information that the users need is the Job Vacancies Rate and the number of job vacancies.
None
5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Extent to which the needs of national users are satisfied (voluntary)
Remarks
Since 2008 (with the exception of 2010, 2013 and 2020) CYSTAT carries out an annual online “Users Satisfaction Survey”. The results of the surveys are available on CYSTAT’s web portal at the link attached below.
Overall, there is a high level of satisfaction of the users of statistical data published by CYSTAT.
Description of missing variables and missing breakdowns of the variables
Report progress on the implementation measures regarding quarterly job vacancies statistics of Regulation (EC) No 453/2008, including :
- a detailed plan and timetable for completing implementation
- a summary of the remaining deviations from EU concepts
No variables or breakdowns were missing.
There was no deviation from EU concepts. The regulation was fully implemented into the national survey. The data are transmitted to Eurostat on quarterly basis on T+70.
5.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100%. No variables or breakdowns are missing.
6.1. Accuracy - overall
Not applicable.
6.2. Sampling error
See 6.2.1.
6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Coefficient of variation (taking into account the sampling design) or estimated sampling error for the number of job vacancies (see guidelines).
Job Vacancies Statistics are based on the Employment and Job Vacancies Survey, a survey which is carried out in enterprises on a quarterly basis. Stratified sampling design has been used for sample selection, where the strata were the main economic division in two digits coded according to NACE Rev.2 and size class given by the number of employees.
All sections were included (except sections A – Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, T - activities of households as employers and U - Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies). The strata were defined by the cross-classification of NACE divisions with size classes (enterprise with no more than 1 employee, enterprises with 1,5 - 49,5 employees and enterprises with 50+ employees).
All enterprises employing 50+ employees were selected for the Survey whereas for the other size categories, the sample within each stratum was selected using simple random sample. The sample size in categories with no more than 49,5 employees was based on the number of enterprises in each category in the population.
For the case of public sector and the publicly owned enterprises, they were fully covered.
Coefficients of variation:
The formulas used in order to compute the coefficients of variation in any stratum is:
CV=V(x)1/2/x *100
Where x is the estimate of job vacancies in a stratum.
For combination of stratum to obtain a CV for an aggregate the formula used is the following:
Information on variables with non-negligible measurement and processing errors
Information on main sources of (non-negligible) measurement and processing errors and, if available, on methods applied for correction
Estimation bias: An assessment of the non-sampling errors, in terms of the absolute number of vacant posts, for the total number of job vacancies and, where possible, for aggregation level of NACE Rev. 2 specified in Annex 1 to this Regulation and size classes (1-9, 10 + employees).
Remarks
The software for the Job Vacancy Survey was developed to find out the measurement and processing errors occurred at different stages of the survey.
The application was designed in Blaise and included the following checks after the data entry:
the logical flows among the questionnaire chapters;
the data comparability with the data of previous quarter;
the identification of the outliers or non-logical values.
No variables with non-negligible measurement or processing errors were identified through this process.
None
No model was used.
None
6.3.1. Coverage error
Description of any difference between the reference population and the study population
Description of classification errors
Description of any difference between the reference dates and the reference quarter
Any other relevant information
There is no difference between the reference population and the study population.
Classification errors regarding the economic activity were minimal and did not affect the classification at the 2-digit level of NACE Rev.2, which is the dissemination level.
The reference period is the whole quarter.
None
6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
6.3.2. Measurement error
See 6.3. non-sampling error.
6.3.3. Non response error
See 6.3.3.1.
6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Unit response rate
Q1 2023
81.38%
Q2 2023
85.32%
Q3 2023
85.68%
Q4 2023
85.35%
Please note that the following figures represent the Unit Non-Response rates:
Q1 2023
18.62%
Q2 2023
14.68%
Q3 2023
14.32%
Q4 2023
14.65%
6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
6.3.4. Processing error
See 6.3. non-sampling error.
6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate
Item imputation rate and methods and, where possible, the effect of imputation on the estimates for the variables transmitted
No imputation made for any of the variables.
6.3.5. Model assumption error
If modelling is used, include a description of the models used. Particular emphasis should be given to models for imputation or grossing-up to correct for unit non-response.
Not applicable
6.4. Seasonal adjustment
Brief description of seasonal adjustment procedures, in particular with regard to the European Statistical System guidelines on seasonal adjustment which have been endorsed and supported by the SPC.
Seasonal adjustment is performed using J Demetra+.
Timeseries data from 2009-2023 are used and the methodological information is described in the excel file provided by EUROSTAT, which is attached below.
A data revision policy is in place at CYSTAT. It is published on CYSTAT’s web portal, at the following link: CYSTAT StaticPage.
CYSTAT also publishes a list of scheduled revisions (regular or major revisions), also published on its web portal, at the following link: CYSTAT AnnouncementList.
6.6. Data revision - practice
Provide a revision history, including the revisions in the published number of job vacancies and a summary of the reasons for the revisions.
No revision has been made on the data.
6.6.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
7.1. Timeliness
See 7.1.1.
7.1.1. Time lag - first result
Information on the time span between the release of data at national level and the reference period of the data.
Data are published at national level 75 days after the end of the quarter (5 days later after transmitted to EUROSTAT).
7.1.2. Time lag - final result
JVS data are published as final data.
7.2. Punctuality
See 7.2.1.
7.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Deadlines for the respondents to reply, also covering recalls and follow-ups
Period of the fieldwork
Period of data processing
Dates of publication of first results
Remarks
The process concerning the deadlines for the respondents to reply was performed as follows: Enumerators have to collect the data within four weeks after the end of the reference quarter and during the two following weeks recalls, follow-ups, replacements and checks must be performed. Finally, data must be transmitted to Eurostat 70 days after the end of the reference quarters.
The field work was undertaken for four weeks after the end of the reference quarter.
The data are being processed after the end of the data collection period and the final checks performed for the verification of the information collected. This usually happens at the second half of the middle month of the next quarter (e.g. for Q12023 in May 2023).
The publication dates for the quarterly and annual JVS 2023 results were set in accordance with the legal requirements. The data are published on the Statistical Service of Cyprus web portal 75 days after the end of the reference quarter.
The data were delivered / released on the target date on which they were scheduled for delivery / release without any delay (for all quarters of 2023).
8.1. Comparability - geographical
Information on differences between national and European concepts, and — to the extent possible — their effects on the estimation.
Comparability between national and European concepts on:
Definition of statistical units - There is no deviation from European concepts: The unit ofselection was the enterprise defined according to the communitarian rules for enterprises statistics as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations. An enterprise may be a sole legal unit. The observation unit of the Employment and Job Vacancies Survey was the local unit. If the enterprise had local units, which were situated in other cities than the one where the headquarter is located the enterprise reported data for all local units.
Populations - There is no deviation from European concepts: The frame population is the Business Register. It is updated using information from administrative sources (V.A.T. Department, Social Insurance Department, and Department of the Registrar of Companies) so as to take into account changes in the structure of employment by industry, occupation and size of the establishment. After relevant sample surveys are completed, the updated information of sampled enterprises is provided to the Business Register. Due to the continuous updating of the Business Register, the frames used for sampling and grossing up are different.
Reference times - There is no deviation from European concepts: The statistics on job vacancies were produced, with a quarterly periodicity as requested in the European regulations.
Classifications - There is no deviation from European concepts: The national classification of economic activities is covered by NACE Rev.2. The size classes of enterprises correspond to the size classes requested.
Definitions of variables - There is no deviation from European concepts: The definitions of Employment and Job Vacancies Survey variables were developed and adopted in accordance with European standards (Commission Regulation (EC) no 19/2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies, as regards the definition of a job vacancy, the reference dates for data collection, data transmission specifications and feasibility studies).
8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
8.2. Comparability - over time
Information on changes in definitions, coverage and methods in any two consecutive quarters, and their effects on the estimation.
Remarks
None
8.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Quarterly data from 2009 to 2023.
8.3. Coherence - cross domain
Comparisons of data on the number of vacant jobs from other relevant sources when available, in total and broken down by NACE at section level when relevant, and reasons if the values differ considerably.
Comparison with LFS data is provided in Annex (Relative difference between the numbers of employees and posts and Beveridge Curve). The differences in the two datasets are due to the different methodologies used to produce the data.
Statistical micro-data from CYSTAT’s surveys are accessible for research purposes only and under strict provisions as described below:
Under the provisions of the Official Statistics Law, CYSTAT may release microdata for the sole use of scientific research. Applicants have to submit the request form "APPLICATION FOR DATA FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES" giving thorough information on the project for which micro-data are needed.
The application is evaluated by CYSTAT’s Confidentiality Committee and if the application is approved, a charge is fixed according to the volume and time consumed for preparation of the data. Micro-data may then be released after an anonymization process which ensures no direct identification of the statistical units but, at the same time, ensures usability of the data. The link for the application is attached below.
Description of and references for metadata provided
References for core methodological documents relating to the statistics provided
Description of main actions carried out by the national statistical services to inform users about the data
Remarks
Methodological information on Job Vacancies can be found at the following link: Methodological Details.
No references for core methodological documents were provided.
CYSTAT issues a quarterly press release with the results of JVS.
None
9.7.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
9.7.2. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
Cost and burden of the survey are not available.
CAWI is incorporated in order to reduce the cost and minimize respondent's burden.
11.1. Confidentiality - policy
Official statistics are released in accordance to all confidentiality provisions of the following:
National Official Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021 (especially Article 16 on statistical confidentiality).
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics and its later amendments (especially Chapter 5 on statistical confidentiality).
European Statistics Code of Practice (especially Principle 5 on statistical confidentiality).
Guidelines for the Protection of Confidential Data.
A 'job vacancy' is defined as a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied, or about to become vacant:
for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise concerned; and
which the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
‘Active steps to find a suitable candidate’ include:
notifying the job vacancy to the public employment services,
contacting a private employment agency/head hunters,
advertising the vacancy in the media (for example internet, newspapers, magazines),
advertising the vacancy on a public notice board,
approaching, interviewing or selecting possible candidates/potential recruits directly,
approaching employees and/or personal contacts,
using internships.
'Specific period of time’ refers to the maximum time the vacancy is open and intended to be filled. That period shall be unlimited; all vacancies for which active steps are continuing on the reference date shall be reported
An 'occupied post’ means a paid post within the organisation to which an employee has been assigned.
The statistical unit for the data collection is the enterprise.
Enterprises with one and more employees.
Government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
Not Applicable
Not applicable.
Not Applicable
Brief description of the weighting method
Weighting dimensions
The weights for job vacancies and occupied posts are calculated for each NACE and size group.
Weights are based on the employment of each NACE and size group. For enterprises with 50+ employees, the weight is equal to 1.
Identification of the source of the data
The data source for job vacancies statistics is the Employment and Job Vacancies Survey, a survey carried out in enterprises by the Statistical Service of Cyprus since 2005 on a quarterly basis.
Coverage
- Geographical
Government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus were covered and were considered one region.
- NACE
All NACE sections were covered (except sections A - Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, T - Activities of Households as Employers and U - Activities of Extraterritorial Organizations and Bodies). Data was collected at division level and disseminated at section level (B to S including O, excluding armed forces).
- Enterprise size
Enterprises with one and more employees are covered in the survey.
Definition of the statistical unit
The statistical unit was the enterprise. According to the communitarian rules was defined as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations. An enterprise may be a sole legal unit.
Remarks
None
Sampling design
Base used for the sample
The sampling frame used for the sample selection was drawn from the Business Register of CYSTAT which is updated on an annual basis using administrative sources and contains the latest information on each enterprise in the statistical population such as the identification items (unique identification number, address etc.), economic activity codes (NACE Rev.2) and number of employees (giving the enterprise size class).
Sampling design
A stratified sampling was used for the sample selection. The sample covered the entire country (government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus). The public units from the public administration (O), education (P), human health and social work activities (Q) were exhaustively included in the survey, except local public authorities units, for which data was collected based on a representative sample. The private units from the education (P), human health and social work (Q) activities were sampled.
Retention/renewal of sampling units
The same sample was used every quarter for year 2023.
Sample size
The sample size of each quarter was 3303 enterprises.
Stratification
The stratification variables were given by the economic activity (2 digit - division level) and the size classes of the enterprise (1 employee, 1.5-5 employees, 5.5-10 employees, 10.5-15 employees, 15.5-19.5 employees, 20-49.5 employees and 50 and more employees (full coverage)).
Other sources
Maintenance agency
Not applicable
Updating frequency
Not applicable
Rules for clearance (of outdated information)
Not applicable
Voluntary/compulsory reporting and sanctions
Not applicable
Remarks
None
Not Applicable
See 7.1.1.
Information on differences between national and European concepts, and — to the extent possible — their effects on the estimation.
Comparability between national and European concepts on:
Definition of statistical units - There is no deviation from European concepts: The unit ofselection was the enterprise defined according to the communitarian rules for enterprises statistics as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, especially for the allocation of its current resources. An enterprise carries out one or more activities at one or more locations. An enterprise may be a sole legal unit. The observation unit of the Employment and Job Vacancies Survey was the local unit. If the enterprise had local units, which were situated in other cities than the one where the headquarter is located the enterprise reported data for all local units.
Populations - There is no deviation from European concepts: The frame population is the Business Register. It is updated using information from administrative sources (V.A.T. Department, Social Insurance Department, and Department of the Registrar of Companies) so as to take into account changes in the structure of employment by industry, occupation and size of the establishment. After relevant sample surveys are completed, the updated information of sampled enterprises is provided to the Business Register. Due to the continuous updating of the Business Register, the frames used for sampling and grossing up are different.
Reference times - There is no deviation from European concepts: The statistics on job vacancies were produced, with a quarterly periodicity as requested in the European regulations.
Classifications - There is no deviation from European concepts: The national classification of economic activities is covered by NACE Rev.2. The size classes of enterprises correspond to the size classes requested.
Definitions of variables - There is no deviation from European concepts: The definitions of Employment and Job Vacancies Survey variables were developed and adopted in accordance with European standards (Commission Regulation (EC) no 19/2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies, as regards the definition of a job vacancy, the reference dates for data collection, data transmission specifications and feasibility studies).
Information on changes in definitions, coverage and methods in any two consecutive quarters, and their effects on the estimation.
