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 global value chains (GVC) statistics consists of 10 variables and are divided into 4 main areas:
Business functions
Number of employees and self-employed persons by business functions.
Global value chains arrangements
Number of enterprises purchasing goods from abroad.
Number of enterprises supplying goods abroad.
Number of enterprises purchasing services from abroad.
Number of enterprises supplying services abroad.
International sourcing
Number of enterprises carrying out international sourcing.
Number of jobs created in the enterprise as a result of international sourcing.
Number of jobs lost (or relocated abroad) as a result of international sourcing.
Number of enterprises by their assesment of barriers and motivations.
Events impacting GVC arrangements
Number of active enterprises by their assesment of the impact of issues affecting their global value chains.
3.2. Classification system
Breakdown by economic activities is based on the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev.2).
Breakdown by business function is based on the United Nations 'Manual on the Classification of Business Functions' and is defined in the Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/918. A distinction between core and support business function is made, as well as between goods and services:
production;
transport,
logistics and storage;
marketing,
sales and after-sales services;
information technology;
management and administration;
engineering and related technical services;
research and development;
other business functions.
Breakdown by geographical areas is defined in the Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/918. It covers European Union countries, other European countries incl. the United Kingdom and rest of the world for global value chains arrangement data (variables 2-5); European Union countries (excl. Poland), The United Kingdom, Other European countries, China, India, United States and Canada, Central and South American countries, Other Asian countries, Australia and Oceania and African countries for international sourcing data (variable 6).
3.3. Coverage - sector
GVC statistics cover market producers classified under NACE Rev. 2 in sections from B to N in the last year of the reference period.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Statistical concepts and definitions are described in GVC Compiler’ Manual (2023 edition). Business function is a set of tasks that an enterprise must carry out on a regular basis in order to bring goods or services to market. Global value chains (GVC) comprise the full range of cross-border activities required to bring a product or service from conception through the different phases of production and delivery to final consumers. International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is an enterprise in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152. The concept of enterprise is in line with definition contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93. An enterprise may comprise one or more legal units.
3.6. Statistical population
The population covers enterprises with 50 and more employees and self-employed persons conducting business activity according to the NACE rev.2 classification in sections B–N in the last year of the reference period. In case of purchase or sale goods or services (variables 2-5) only enterprises that exceeded the amount of EUR 100 000 are included.
3.7. Reference area
Poland
3.8. Coverage - Time
2021–2023. It is the first reference period of the GVC statistics.
3.9. Base period
Not applied.
The statistics are prepared in absolute numbers only (of enterprises, employees or jobs).
Period 2021–2023. Data on the business functions and GVC arrangements (variables 1-5) refers to the final year of the reference period (year 2023), while data on international sourcing and events impacting GVC (variables 6-10) refers to the triannial period from the beggining of 2021 to the end of 2023.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Starting from the year 2021, the GVC statistics constitutes a part of the European Business Statistics. Two legal acts form the legal basis of GVC statistics:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/918 laying down technical specifications of data requirements for the topic Global Value Chains pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
On the national level, the legal mandate for the GVC statistics is the Regulation of the Council of Ministers on the program of statistical surveys of official statistics for 2023.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data concerned are treated only by Statistics Poland and its units.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Act of 29 June 1995 on Official Statistics and Regulation (EC) 223/2009 on European statistics are main legal acts that ensure the confidentiality of statistical data. The legal obligations to protect confidential information set by these acts mean, that data shall be used exclusively for statistical calculations, compilations and analyses.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
In case of enterprises, confidentiality means, that information and statistical data characterising the economic and financial results of entities of the national economy conducting business activities, may not be published or made available if the given aggregation consists of fewer than three entities or the share of one entity in a given aggregate is greater than three-quarters of the total, may not be published or made available. Those information may be published if the person authorized to represent the entity has consented to the publication of specific data characterising the economic and financial results of that entity.
For GVC datasets, employment and jobs lost or created figures were controlled while data processing.
8.1. Release calendar
National release calendar is publicly accessible on the Statistics Poland website. Release dates are announced in advance at the beginning of a given year.
Statistics Poland ensures equality, simultaneity and equivalence of access to statistical data for all users. The scope and form of statistical information provided are determined by the program of statistical surveys of official statistics approved annually by the Council of Ministers. Methodology is also available, as separate publications or methodological chapters and notes in thematical publications or news releases.
Every three years on GVC arrangments, international sourcing and events impacting GVC arrangements; annually on employment by business function. National data on GVC are disseminated for broader population and different enterprise concept (enterprise defined as legal unit).
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
National data on GVC were published in news release on the Statistics Poland website in June 2025.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not available.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata on GVC are not available.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological notes are included in dedicated news realese of Statistcs Poland.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Quality report of the national GVC questionnaire is prepared in accordance with the national quality guidelines, including relevance, accuracy, timeliness and coherence.
11.1. Quality assurance
Validations in electronic questionnaire ensuring internal consistency of the data. Cross-checking of data with other questionnaires.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of the data is high. The use of the census survey method allowed for the collection of reliable data from enterprises involved in global value chains. High response ratio and use of structure of active enterprises from other business statistics (SBS) guarantees reliability of the data and possibility to linkage with other results.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main groups of users are: Eurostat, academic users, media and ministries. Main national uses are: conducting scientific analyses, creating policies and assessing the effects of economic policies, as well as analysis of the contribution of national companies to the creation of supply chains.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There is no formalized feedback of the GVC survey. There is an interest from academic users on the data on the sourcing of business functions.
The accuracy of data is high. The accuracy of data obtained from respondents was analysed at the data collection and processing stage, including comparison with the results of other surveys. The uncertainty lies in international trade in goods, as some concepts may be new to many respondents.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applied. The survey was a census survey.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Main non-sampling errors are: units non-response in the main national questionnaire on global value chains, which accounted for less than 15%; misinterpretation of concepts, especially in case of international trade of goods. It is difficult to estimate the scale, each reported problem was explained. There were no items non-response due to used validations.
14.1. Timeliness
Data were transmitted to Eurostat on 30th September. Transmission met the legal deadline of T+21 months.
14.2. Punctuality
There was no disruption in the process of data collection, validation and processing. Calculation of final results were made on time. National dissemination of GVC data took place in line with schedule.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data are comparable with other EU Member States. The methodology used, including harmonised concepts and classifications, was consistent with the Eurostat guidelines contained in the GVC Compilers Manual (2023 edition). There were no national deviations from the European definitions. Minor procedural differences at national level may occur but they do not affect comparability with other EU Member States.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Poland took part in two pilot surveys on GVC. The surveys for years 2018-2020, as well as the 2021-2023 survey (the first collection of GVC data under Regulation (EU) 2019/2152) relied on the same concepts for business functions, geographical breakdown and unit of statistical observation (enterprise in line with definition contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93). In case of activity coverage pilot surveys did not include section K. In addition, pilot surveys were sample surveys while mandatory data are based on census survey. This may limit full comparability with voluntary results.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data on GVC were prepared using dataset of active enterprises from SBS, therefore there is very high coherence with that statistics. However, due to different data sources and methodologies of data compilation, there are differences between GVC and SBS statistics in scope of observed population. Due to the thresholds used (EUR 100,000 criterion) and the different breakdowns, differences may occur when comparing GVC and TEC statistics. Differences do not affect interpretation of data on global value chains.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data are generally consistent. Comparisons of answers between parts of dedicated questionnaire were applied, as well as cross-checks between questionnaires. Some discrepancies were observed, especially in issues required more strategic details, where first answers could be hasty.
The average time respondents needed for data preparation amounted to 48 minutes while the time required to fill in the questionnaires amounted to 25 minutes. Selection of responding units was targeted, questionnaire was directed to units that participate in GVC or sourced functions internationally, which reduced burden on respondents. In case of employment by business function questionnaires were prefilled where it was possible (data were earlier reported on other national questionnaire).
17.1. Data revision - policy
The revision policy varies among statistics domains. Usually, data are revised frequently in order to provide most accurate data, although sometimes it is preferred to have stable series for longer time and make bigger revisions more seldom. In case of GVC, due to long data period, it is expected that revisions will be done as early as possible.
17.2. Data revision - practice
There were no revisions concerning GVC data.
18.1. Source data
The source of data are two questionnaires: SP – annual enterprise survey (of which one part is dedicated to employment by business functions and its sourcing) and SR – questionnaire on organisation of enterprise activity (which is dedicated solely to collect necessary information required by Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/918). Both surveys are census surveys under defined conditions. In addition dataset of active enterprises from SBS was used, in which information on the kind of business activity and number of employees and self-employed persons.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data on international sourcing are collected every three years for three year period. Data on persons employed by business function are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
Data from respondents are collected using online questionnaires. Typical problems are explained in FAQ, phone support by statisticians is also available. The response rate for the main questionnaire on global value chains (SR form) amounted to almost 86%. The collection period lasted around three months (March-June 2024 (SP) and September-November 2024 (SR)).
18.4. Data validation
Automated data validation covers obligatory fields and internal consistency. Control of data by statisticians concern mainly significant numbers or changes in comparison with other surveys and previous years (when available). Final results were compared to SBS statistics.
18.5. Data compilation
Data were compiled in line with methods described in the European Business Statistics compilers’ manual for global value chains. Due to method of data collection (Leu level approach), consolidation of data was done with use of different methods for quantitative and qualitative questions. The imputation of data was not used.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments are applied.
Possible improvements are microdata linking based on administrative sources and imputations of business functions based on additional sources.
The global value chains (GVC) statistics consists of 10 variables and are divided into 4 main areas:
Business functions
Number of employees and self-employed persons by business functions.
Global value chains arrangements
Number of enterprises purchasing goods from abroad.
Number of enterprises supplying goods abroad.
Number of enterprises purchasing services from abroad.
Number of enterprises supplying services abroad.
International sourcing
Number of enterprises carrying out international sourcing.
Number of jobs created in the enterprise as a result of international sourcing.
Number of jobs lost (or relocated abroad) as a result of international sourcing.
Number of enterprises by their assesment of barriers and motivations.
Events impacting GVC arrangements
Number of active enterprises by their assesment of the impact of issues affecting their global value chains.
30 November 2025
Statistical concepts and definitions are described in GVC Compiler’ Manual (2023 edition). Business function is a set of tasks that an enterprise must carry out on a regular basis in order to bring goods or services to market. Global value chains (GVC) comprise the full range of cross-border activities required to bring a product or service from conception through the different phases of production and delivery to final consumers. International sourcing refers to the partial or full movement of business functions abroad within or outside the enterprise group, during 2021-2023.
The statistical unit is an enterprise in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152. The concept of enterprise is in line with definition contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93. An enterprise may comprise one or more legal units.
The population covers enterprises with 50 and more employees and self-employed persons conducting business activity according to the NACE rev.2 classification in sections B–N in the last year of the reference period. In case of purchase or sale goods or services (variables 2-5) only enterprises that exceeded the amount of EUR 100 000 are included.
Poland
Period 2021–2023. Data on the business functions and GVC arrangements (variables 1-5) refers to the final year of the reference period (year 2023), while data on international sourcing and events impacting GVC (variables 6-10) refers to the triannial period from the beggining of 2021 to the end of 2023.
The accuracy of data is high. The accuracy of data obtained from respondents was analysed at the data collection and processing stage, including comparison with the results of other surveys. The uncertainty lies in international trade in goods, as some concepts may be new to many respondents.
The statistics are prepared in absolute numbers only (of enterprises, employees or jobs).
Data were compiled in line with methods described in the European Business Statistics compilers’ manual for global value chains. Due to method of data collection (Leu level approach), consolidation of data was done with use of different methods for quantitative and qualitative questions. The imputation of data was not used.
The source of data are two questionnaires: SP – annual enterprise survey (of which one part is dedicated to employment by business functions and its sourcing) and SR – questionnaire on organisation of enterprise activity (which is dedicated solely to collect necessary information required by Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/918). Both surveys are census surveys under defined conditions. In addition dataset of active enterprises from SBS was used, in which information on the kind of business activity and number of employees and self-employed persons.
Every three years on GVC arrangments, international sourcing and events impacting GVC arrangements; annually on employment by business function. National data on GVC are disseminated for broader population and different enterprise concept (enterprise defined as legal unit).
Data were transmitted to Eurostat on 30th September. Transmission met the legal deadline of T+21 months.
Data are comparable with other EU Member States. The methodology used, including harmonised concepts and classifications, was consistent with the Eurostat guidelines contained in the GVC Compilers Manual (2023 edition). There were no national deviations from the European definitions. Minor procedural differences at national level may occur but they do not affect comparability with other EU Member States.
Poland took part in two pilot surveys on GVC. The surveys for years 2018-2020, as well as the 2021-2023 survey (the first collection of GVC data under Regulation (EU) 2019/2152) relied on the same concepts for business functions, geographical breakdown and unit of statistical observation (enterprise in line with definition contained in Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93). In case of activity coverage pilot surveys did not include section K. In addition, pilot surveys were sample surveys while mandatory data are based on census survey. This may limit full comparability with voluntary results.
