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 data is collected through an online questionnaire sent to all enterprises in the Irish business economy with 50 or more persons engaged. The survey has questions on business functions distribution in the enterprise, global value chain activities, international sourcing of business functions as well as motivations for and barriers against international sourcing. The survey also has questions on the impact of external factors global value chains.
The data is used to disseminate statistics on the persons engaged in each business function, the number of enterprises participating in global value chain activities, the number of firms that have moved a business function abroad, what business functions they have moved and the destination. The disseminated data also includes the motivation for and barriers to international sourcing as well as effects of external constraints on global value chains. The data also give information on the characteristic of the enterprises such as the sector.
3.2. Classification system
Geographical areas
The following geographical breakdown will be used in the survey:
EU-27 (not including Ireland),
European Countries outside the EU,
Non-European Countries,
Non-EU countries,
Sector.
The NACE Rev 2 sections (NACE is the EU classification of Economic Activity):
Section B: Mining and quarrying,
Section C: Manufacturing,
Section D: Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply,
Section E: Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities,
Section F: Construction,
Section G: Wholesale and retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles,
Section H: Transportation and storage,
Section I: Accommodation and food service activities,
Section J: Information and communication,
Section K: Financial and insurance activities,
Section L: Real estate activities,
Section M: Professional, scientific and technical activities,
Section N: Administrative and support service activities.
NACE sections O (Public administration and Defence), P (Education), Q (Human Health and social work activities), R (Arts, entertainment and recreation), S (Other service activities) were not included in the survey.
The results in the publication are grouped as follows:
NACE Rev. 2 groupings NACE Rev. 2 Codes,
Industry and Construction B - F,
Business Services G - N.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The IA covers the follwoing sectors/sector inclusions:
(a) engages 50 or more persons, and
(b) is classified for statistical purposes under section B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, or N of NACE Rev. 2 set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No. 1893/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 20063 , as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 295/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 20084 , Regulation (EU) No. 70/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 20125 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1243 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 20196 ."
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
All concepts and definitions follow Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and the GVC Compilers’ Manual. International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023. Variables (2)-(5) apply only to enterprises exceeding the EUR 100 000 threshold for goods/services purchased or supplied abroad. Business functions are divided into core and support categories and specific functional areas (e.g. ICT, management and administration). Motivations and barriers follow the fixed lists provided in the regulation, and importance factors use the standard four-level scale (very important, moderately important, not important, not applicable/do not know).
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit used for the GVC statistics is the enterprise, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics and the Business Register Regulation.
3.6. Statistical population
The target population consists of all market-producing enterprises in NACE Sections B-N with at least 50 employees and self-employed persons in the final year of the reference period. For variables (2)-(5), only enterprises reporting at least EUR 100 000 of goods or services purchased from or supplied abroad are included, in line with the Annex of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area is the national economic territory of Ireland, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 for European business statistics. Units located within the national territory and covered by national statistical legislation are included.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The GVC statistics refer to the triennial reference period 2021–2023, as defined in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. All data transmitted relate exclusively to this three-year reference period.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable. No base year or index is used, as the data are compiled as absolute values within the triennial reference period defined by Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
All variables in the GVC dataset are compiled and transmitted in absolute values, in accordance with the measurement unit specified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. No percentages, indexes, ratios or other derived units are transmitted to Eurostat. This unit applies uniformly to all variables and all breakdowns required by the regulation.
A requirement on undertakings to which this Order applies to provide, once only and for the purposes of the survey, information the general nature of which is specified –
in subparagraphs (b) to (h) of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of the Schedule, in relation to each year in the period from 2021 to 2023, and
in paragraph 1(a) of the Schedule, in relation to 2023, is hereby prescribed.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
GVC statistics are produced under the legal framework of European business statistics. The main legal bases are Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918, which defines the variables, population, breakdowns and transmission deadlines for the 2021-2023 reference period. The topic Global Value Chains is listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
The national statistical authority collects and compiles these data under the national statistical law, which provides the legal mandate for data collection, access to administrative sources and the obligation of enterprises to respond. Regulation (EC) 223/2009 on European statistics provides the general legal framework for professional independence, data quality and statistical confidentiality.
The national implenebting act for the collection of this survey is S.I. No. 394/2024 - Statistics (Global Value Chains) Order 2024
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are transmitted to Eurostat in accordance with Regulation (EC) 223/2009 and Articles 17 and 18 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152, which govern data and metadata transmission. Only authorised staff have access to identifiable information at the national level, and no microdata are shared outside the national statistical authority. Data transmitted to Eurostat are handled under strict confidentiality rules and disseminated only in aggregated form. Secure transmission channels are used for all data transfers.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
All information supplied to the CSO is treated as strictly confidential. The Statistics Act, 1993 sets stringent confidentiality standards: Information collected may be used only for statistical purposes, and no details that might be related to an identifiable person or business undertaking may be divulged to any other government department or body. These national statistical confidentiality provisions are reinforced by the following EU legislation: Council Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics for data collected for EU statistical purposes. Further details are outlined in the CSO's Code of Practice on Statistical Confidentiality.
All data are treated as strictly confidential in accordance with Part V of the Statistics Act, 1993. In order to ensure confidentiality, NACE Groups are amalgamated where individuals and/or companies are identifiable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidential enterprise data are processed under strict disclosure control procedures. Primary and secondary suppression are applied in accordance with national confidentiality rules and ESS guidelines to prevent any direct or indirect identification of individual enterprises. Only aggregated data are transmitted to Eurostat, and microdata are not disseminated. Eurostat applies its own confidentiality rules to the aggregated data received, ensuring secure handling and safe dissemination.
8.1. Release calendar
The date of dissemination of all statistics released by CSO can be found in the Release Calendar published in CSO.ie. This calendar is regularly updated.
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calendar can be accessed via the CSO website, www.cso.ie, or directly from this Release calendar.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In accordance with Principle 6 of the European Statistics Code of Practice all users of CSO statistics have equal access via the CSO website at the same time of 11 am. Any privileged pre-release access to any outside user is limited, controlled and publicised. In the event that leaks occur, pre-release arrangements are revised so as to ensure impartiality.
The CSO recognises that in very limited circumstances a business need for pre-release access may be substantiated. Any form of pre-release access is a privilege and a strict CSO pre-release access policy is adhered to for these special requests. The full pre-release access policy can be accessed at Release access policy.
The various results are published nationally in statistical release format as well as on the CSO website (www.cso.ie) Selected extracts from the results are posted on the CSO’s data dissemination database, PxStat.
GVC statistics are collected, compiled and transmitted every three years in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. National dissemination, where applicable, follows the same triennial cycle and usually takes place after the transmission of data and metadata to Eurostat.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No news release accompanied the dissemination of the GVC.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
GVC results are included in national analytical publications on business globalisation or enterprise internationalisation. These publications provide context, commentary and links to related statistical domains.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
A selection of aggregated GVC indicators, such as the number of enterprises sourcing abroad, purchasing or supplying goods and services abroad, motivations and barriers to international sourcing, as well as GVC effects published.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Anonymised survey information may be provided to other government departments, approved organisations and approved researchers for statistical purposes only subject to confidentiality requirements.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
No special analyses.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Documentation on methodology can be found on the methods page of the latest Global Value Chains Global value chains.
Eurostat has published guidelines (GVC Compilers' Manual) to assist countries and to ensure that there is a consistent methodology followed in all member states.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Further information on the documentation associated with this output can be found in the Methods page in Global value chains.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality Management Framework The CSO avails of an office wide Quality Management Framework (QMF). This framework allows all CSO processes and outputs to meet the required standard as set out in the European Statistics Code of Practice (ESCOP). The QMF foundations are based on establishing the UNECE’s Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) as the operating statistical production model to achieve a standardised approach to Quality Management. All and any changes implemented to CSO processes and outputs require adherence to the QMF
11.2. Quality management - assessment
As this is a new release quality has not been assessed.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Measuring global value chains (GVC) and international sourcing as an element of these chains has been a longstanding priority for policymakers, international organisations and researchers. Consequently, the European Business Statistics (EBS) regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2152) now includes GVCs as dynamic statistics.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not measured.
12.3. Completeness
Not measured.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
When a survey e-questionnaire is returned to the CSO, the e-questionnaire is scrutinised to catch any errors. If there are errors, the enterprise is contacted to confirm and/or correct the data.
There may be some multiple listings (duplicates) when the census is first taken. These are removed from the census when discovered.
13.2. Sampling error
A census of enterprises with 50 or more employees was taken therefore there are no specific sampling errors in the survey.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Coverage error
The survey was a census of all enterprises in Ireland with 50 or more employees in the Irish business economy (NACE Rev. 2 sectors B to N). there may be some multiple listings (duplicates) when the census is first taken.
These are removed from the census when discovered.
Measurement error
Measurement Error is not formally calculated for the survey. The following should be noted:
Questionnaire – the questionnaire is clear with definitions provided where necessary. The design of the questionnaire is monitored, and changes made if necessary.
Data collection method – the collection method is by eQuestionnaire. This method is unlikely of itself to be a source of measurement error.
Respondent - survey data can contain sensitive and confidential information. The survey publishes aggregated results at NACE sector level; no information on individual people or companies is disclosed in the results.
Non-Response Error
All enterprises with 50 or more persons engaged operating in NACE Rev. 2 sectors B-N were included in the survey. More than 4,000 enterprises were surveyed and the response rate to the survey was 40.9%.
Returned survey forms were verified and edited before the data was weighted up to the frame population.
To counteract potential bias and make the final distribution representative of the population the following process was developed. First, logistic regression was conducted to generate a response propensity score.
This was based on the following characteristics:
NACE sector,
Persons engaged,
Turnover,
Foreign ownership,
Exports,
Import.
From this, non-response adjustments were calculated and applied to each respondent. These non response adjustments where then calibrated to ensure the totals matched to the key characteristics of NACE and size class of the survey population on the Business Register.
Item non-response rate
Item non-response is treated by contacting the respondent and trying to obtain the missing data. In the few cases where the data was not obtained, hot-deck donor imputation was used to address item non response.
Processing error
All possible measures are taken to avoid processing errors. The use of the CSO eForm reduces processing errors as the data is transferred electronically and there is no scanning of postal forms etc.
Where mistakes relating to programming or publishing have occurred, corrective measures taken as well as actions for avoiding them in the future should be reported.
Model assumption error
Stepwise logistic regression was conducted to generate a response propensity score. This was based on the following characteristics:
NACE sector,
Persons engaged,
Turnover,
Foreign ownership,
Foreign affiliates,
Exports,
Imports
From this, non-response adjustments were calculated and applied to each respondent. These non response adjustments where then calibrated using CALMAR to ensure the totals matched to the key characteristics of NACE and size class of the survey population on the Business Register.
14.1. Timeliness
Final results were produced 15 months from the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
The statistics were released in accordance with the dates set out on the CSO Release Calendar. The national release was published on 11 April 2022 – about four months after the conclusion of the survey.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The GVC survey is conducted by Eurostat members.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The International Sourcing Survey that was carried out in 2011 covered 2009-2011 while 2007 covered the reference period 2001 to 2006. These surveys are not directly comparable with the 2020 survey as: - Shorter reference period: 2011 and 2020 both covered 3 years compared to a 6 year period for the 2007 survey it covered a shorter reference period i.e. 6 years versus 3 years. As international sourcing is an activity or flow variable (rather than a stock variable), one might expect a shorter period to produce a lower international sourcing rate. - - The 2020 survey includes enterprises with 50 employees compared to previous surveys which included enterprises with 100 employees 2020 survey includes NACE K The Global Value Chains Survey carried out in 2021 which covers 2018 – 2021 is comparable to this iteration of the Global Value Chains Survey.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The International Sourcing component of the survey was compared with previous iterations within similar parameters (NACE sectors and size class) and the results were sufficiently comparable.
Revisions refer to changes made to published statistical data when the information used in its production has been updated or corrected. This information includes all data used in compiling the statistic e.g. respondent data, administrative data, weights and factors, methodology, classifications, definitions, modifications to survey questionnaires, survey scope and data collection methods.
The data revision policy that CSO statistics adheres to can be found via the following website: Treatment of revisions.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No revisions to the data are carried out.
18.1. Source data
Population and sampling frame.
Population is all enterprises with 50 or more employees in NACE Rev. 2 sectors B-N active on the business register in 2023.
The census of large and medium sized enterprises is taken from the central Business Register in the CSO. It includes all enterprises with 50 or more persons employed and active in the Republic of Ireland engaged in NACE sectors B-N. The business activity classifications are based on the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev 2.1).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Triennial.
18.3. Data collection
The collection method is by eQuestionnaire.
18.4. Data validation
Returned forms are scrutinised to catch any errors and/or missing data. If there are errors and/or missing data, the enterprise is contacted to confirm and/or correct the data. The business register data on persons engaged is used to validate the data on business functions.
18.5. Data compilation
Data on persons engaged in business functions was used to derive variables on core and support functions. The core business function represents the revenue-producing activity of the enterprise. In most cases, it will be consistent with the enterprise’s main activity as classified by the main activity code entered in the business register. A core business function denotes a set of tasks that produce goods or services intended for the market. A core function may span several activities and include related vertical activities (e.g. production of inputs). While enterprises incur costs from carrying out core business functions, these functions’ outputs can also be directly associated with turnover. An enterprise may have one or more core functions. Typically, the core business function relates to the main and the enterprise’s secondary activity.
Support business functions are carried out to permit or facilitate the production of goods or services. They do not directly generate turnover, only costs. However, the cost, efficiency, and quality of support functions, especially management, marketing, logistics, R&D and other innovation-related activities, can make essential contributions to enterprises’ competitiveness. Support business functions do not correspond to the main or secondary activities of an enterprise (secondary activities correspond to core business functions) but generally, they correspond to ancillary activities.
The following approach was used to identify the core function of the enterprise:
The production of goods and materials is considered a core function
If the business function with the highest share of persons engaged corresponds to the main (principal) NACE code of the enterprise, that is the core function.
If the business function with the highest share of persons engaged does correspond to the NACE code, then the enterprises should be contacted or will be manually corrected based on knowledge of the enterprises or previous survey experience.Data collected on destinations of global purchasing/supplying and sourcing are used to derive new variables on other destinations. For example, if the respondent indicated that they purchased from Northern Ireland or Great Britain then they would have also purchased from the UK.
18.6. Adjustment
All enterprises with 50 or more persons engaged operating in NACE Rev. 2 sectors B-N were included in the survey. More than 4,000 enterprises were surveyed and the response rate to the survey was 40.9%.
Returned survey forms were verified and edited before the data was weighted up to the frame population.
To counteract potential bias and make the final distribution representative of the population the following process was developed. First, stepwise logistic regression was conducted to generate a response propensity score.
This was based on the following characteristics:
NACE sector,
Persons engaged,
Turnover,
Foreign ownership,
Foreign affiliates,
Exports,
Imports
From this, non-response adjustments were calculated and applied to each respondent. These non response adjustments where then calibrated using CALMAR to ensure the totals matched to the key characteristics of NACE and size class of the survey population on the Business Register.
This chapter will be published in January 2026.
The data is collected through an online questionnaire sent to all enterprises in the Irish business economy with 50 or more persons engaged. The survey has questions on business functions distribution in the enterprise, global value chain activities, international sourcing of business functions as well as motivations for and barriers against international sourcing. The survey also has questions on the impact of external factors global value chains.
The data is used to disseminate statistics on the persons engaged in each business function, the number of enterprises participating in global value chain activities, the number of firms that have moved a business function abroad, what business functions they have moved and the destination. The disseminated data also includes the motivation for and barriers to international sourcing as well as effects of external constraints on global value chains. The data also give information on the characteristic of the enterprises such as the sector.
11 November 2025
All concepts and definitions follow Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918 and the GVC Compilers’ Manual. International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023. Variables (2)-(5) apply only to enterprises exceeding the EUR 100 000 threshold for goods/services purchased or supplied abroad. Business functions are divided into core and support categories and specific functional areas (e.g. ICT, management and administration). Motivations and barriers follow the fixed lists provided in the regulation, and importance factors use the standard four-level scale (very important, moderately important, not important, not applicable/do not know).
The statistical unit used for the GVC statistics is the enterprise, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics and the Business Register Regulation.
The target population consists of all market-producing enterprises in NACE Sections B-N with at least 50 employees and self-employed persons in the final year of the reference period. For variables (2)-(5), only enterprises reporting at least EUR 100 000 of goods or services purchased from or supplied abroad are included, in line with the Annex of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918.
The reference area is the national economic territory of Ireland, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 for European business statistics. Units located within the national territory and covered by national statistical legislation are included.
A requirement on undertakings to which this Order applies to provide, once only and for the purposes of the survey, information the general nature of which is specified –
in subparagraphs (b) to (h) of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of the Schedule, in relation to each year in the period from 2021 to 2023, and
in paragraph 1(a) of the Schedule, in relation to 2023, is hereby prescribed.
When a survey e-questionnaire is returned to the CSO, the e-questionnaire is scrutinised to catch any errors. If there are errors, the enterprise is contacted to confirm and/or correct the data.
There may be some multiple listings (duplicates) when the census is first taken. These are removed from the census when discovered.
All variables in the GVC dataset are compiled and transmitted in absolute values, in accordance with the measurement unit specified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. No percentages, indexes, ratios or other derived units are transmitted to Eurostat. This unit applies uniformly to all variables and all breakdowns required by the regulation.
Data on persons engaged in business functions was used to derive variables on core and support functions. The core business function represents the revenue-producing activity of the enterprise. In most cases, it will be consistent with the enterprise’s main activity as classified by the main activity code entered in the business register. A core business function denotes a set of tasks that produce goods or services intended for the market. A core function may span several activities and include related vertical activities (e.g. production of inputs). While enterprises incur costs from carrying out core business functions, these functions’ outputs can also be directly associated with turnover. An enterprise may have one or more core functions. Typically, the core business function relates to the main and the enterprise’s secondary activity.
Support business functions are carried out to permit or facilitate the production of goods or services. They do not directly generate turnover, only costs. However, the cost, efficiency, and quality of support functions, especially management, marketing, logistics, R&D and other innovation-related activities, can make essential contributions to enterprises’ competitiveness. Support business functions do not correspond to the main or secondary activities of an enterprise (secondary activities correspond to core business functions) but generally, they correspond to ancillary activities.
The following approach was used to identify the core function of the enterprise:
The production of goods and materials is considered a core function
If the business function with the highest share of persons engaged corresponds to the main (principal) NACE code of the enterprise, that is the core function.
If the business function with the highest share of persons engaged does correspond to the NACE code, then the enterprises should be contacted or will be manually corrected based on knowledge of the enterprises or previous survey experience.Data collected on destinations of global purchasing/supplying and sourcing are used to derive new variables on other destinations. For example, if the respondent indicated that they purchased from Northern Ireland or Great Britain then they would have also purchased from the UK.
Population and sampling frame.
Population is all enterprises with 50 or more employees in NACE Rev. 2 sectors B-N active on the business register in 2023.
The census of large and medium sized enterprises is taken from the central Business Register in the CSO. It includes all enterprises with 50 or more persons employed and active in the Republic of Ireland engaged in NACE sectors B-N. The business activity classifications are based on the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev 2.1).
GVC statistics are collected, compiled and transmitted every three years in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/918. National dissemination, where applicable, follows the same triennial cycle and usually takes place after the transmission of data and metadata to Eurostat.
Final results were produced 15 months from the end of the reference period.
The GVC survey is conducted by Eurostat members.
The International Sourcing Survey that was carried out in 2011 covered 2009-2011 while 2007 covered the reference period 2001 to 2006. These surveys are not directly comparable with the 2020 survey as: - Shorter reference period: 2011 and 2020 both covered 3 years compared to a 6 year period for the 2007 survey it covered a shorter reference period i.e. 6 years versus 3 years. As international sourcing is an activity or flow variable (rather than a stock variable), one might expect a shorter period to produce a lower international sourcing rate. - - The 2020 survey includes enterprises with 50 employees compared to previous surveys which included enterprises with 100 employees 2020 survey includes NACE K The Global Value Chains Survey carried out in 2021 which covers 2018 – 2021 is comparable to this iteration of the Global Value Chains Survey.
