Identification of the source of the data

The survey on Job Vacancies is conducted on a sample designed from the Business Register of ELSTAT. More specifically, for every 2-digit code of economic activity, a number of enterprises is selected.

Therefore, all the strata covered are those deriving from the combinations of the 2-digit code of economic activity with the class sizes.

Coverage

- Geographical

 Greece, total.

- NACE

All sections B to S of economic activities of Nace Rev.2 are covered.

Specifically:

• For the years 2005-2009 the data were compiled in accordance with Nace Rev. 1.1, covering sections C-K.
• From 2010 onwards the survey is conducted in line with Nace Rev.2

As regards occupation, all occupations are covered, excluding employees in primary sector described as   “Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers” in group 6 of ISCO 08.

Specifically:

• For the years 2005-2010 the data were compiled in accordance with ISCO 88
• From 2011 onwards the survey is conducted in line with ISCO 08.

- Enterprise size

 Enterprises with employment greater than or equal to three (3) individuals

Definition of the statistical unit

The statistical unit is the enterprise employing at least three (3) individuals and belongs to sections B to S of NACE Rev.2. It should also be noted that Job Vacancies are also recorded for the total of local units of the enterprise which are located in the same Regional Unit and have the same 2-digit code of economic activity.

Remarks

Sampling design

Base used for the sample

The base of designing the survey is the Business Register of ELSTAT.

Sampling design

The survey on Job Vacancies is conducted on a quarterly basis and records the number of Job Vacancies by section of economic activity and occupation.

All sections B-S of economic activities of Nace Rev.2 are covered.

Retention/renewal of sampling units

From 2005-when the survey was conducted for the first time-until 2008, the survey was conducted on a sample of 3,495 enterprises for the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th quarters. For the sample of the 3^rd quarter 1,422 more enterprises were added and therefore the final sample of the 3^rd quarter amounted to 4,917 enterprises. The sample was designed in line with Nace Rev. 1.1.

In 2009, the sample was redesigned in order to implement the new Nace Rev.2 and the survey was conducted on a sample of 4,440 enterprises and services for the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th quarters. For the sample of the 3^rd quarter, 978 more enterprises were added and therefore the final sample of the 3^rd quarter amounted to 5,418 enterprises. This sample was used until the 2^nd quarter of 2013. From the 3^rd quarter 2013 up to 4^th quarter 2015  was conducted on a sample of 6,774 enterprises and services, the same for all the quarters of 2015.

From the 1^st quarter  2016  the survey was conducted on a sample of 7,451 enterprises.

From 1^st quarter 2018, the sample was redesigned, the new sample amounts to 5,852 enterprises.

Sample size

5,852

Stratification

 For every 2-digit code of economic activity, a number of enterprises is selected for every one of the size classes, depicted in the table as above.

Other sources

With the exception of section O that is collected from administrative sources, there is no other source for data collection for Job Vacancies. Efforts are made to gather data from other administrative sources (Social security fund (EFKA) -programme ERGANI), aiming at reducing the administrative burden on the enterprises.

Maintenance agency

 Not available

Updating frequency

 Not available

Rules for clearance (of outdated information)

 Not available

Voluntary/compulsory reporting and sanctions

 Not available

Remarks

Reference dates

 The reference dates as follows: 2022Q1: 01/03/2022, 2022Q2:01/06/2022, 2022Q3:01/09/2022, 2022Q4: 01/12/2022.

Brief description of the data collection method(s)

Remarks

The data are collected through a specially designed questionnaire (questionnaire Form 1 and Form 2).

The questionnaire Form 1 is a joint questionnaire used for the Survey on Job Vacancies, on Labour Cost Index (LCI) and on Short Term Indices (STS). The questionnaire Form 2 is used to collect information only for the survey on Job Vacancies and does not include any economic data.

The questionnaires are delivered to external survey workers (statistical interviewers), who, once trained, visit the enterprises in order to fill in the questionnaires, with the assistance of the enterprises’ staff or they hand the questionnaire to be filled in by the accountant of the enterprise. Afterwards, they collect the filled in questionnaires and they deliver them back to ELSTAT.

In cases where the enterprise refuses to cooperate with the statistical interviewers, or to respond, delays, or in case there are peculiarities, an employee from the Wages and Salaries Section of ELSTAT visits the enterprise and collects the necessary information himself. In some cases, due to lack of time, the questionnaire may be delivered and collected by fax or by email. The same procedure is followed in the RSO (Regional Statistical Offices) of ELSTAT. The questionnaires are sent by post to the RSOs and then the completed questionnaires are sent from the RSOs back to ELSTAT by post. In some cases, due to lack of time, the questionnaire may be delivered and collected by fax or by email. Non-response is tackled by through telephone contact with the enterprise, reminders are sent by fax or email or personal visits to the enterprise.

The data for section O are parcially collected from administrative sources.

Brief description of the weighting method

Weighting dimensions

The data on Job Vacancies are produced at one digit level of sections of Economic Activities. Data are also produced in groups of aggregates of main activities of the economy. These groups are the following: B-E, B-F, B-N, B-S, G-I, G-N, M-N, O-Q, R-S.

See the first column

Description of the national users and their main needs

Remarks

The main users of the survey on Job Vacancies are international organizations (Eurostat, OECD, European Central Bank (ECB), International Monetary Fund, (IMF)), as well many national authorities, services and institutions (Government, Banks, Universities, Research Institutes, etc). Furthermore, among the users are the press, researchers and the general public. Moreover, the enterprises that have the obligation to fill in the questionnaire are at the same time users of these data. The users request relevant data for drawing policies in order to confront unemployment based on the relevance between supply and demand of labour per section of economic activity.

Extent to which the needs of national users are satisfied (voluntary)

Remarks

The results of this survey are published in the Library’s Newsletter (published in Greek and in English), which is issued by the Library and the Section of Statistical Dissemination of ELSTAT, drawing information from the user’s questionnaire. This publication presents data on the number of users in relation with other variables, such as response rate to users’ requests, the kind of requested data, as well as the dissemination mode of statistical information. These characteristics are tabulated and are presented in absolute values and percentages.

Pursuant to its annual statistical programme, ΕLSTAT has been conducting since 2010, on a yearly basis, the Users’ Conference, with the participation of representatives of the public and the private sector, academics and research institutes.

The Users’ Conferences offer ELSTAT the opportunity to gather comments and proposals made by users of statistics pertaining to the dissemination of statistical information, access to statistical data and any shortcomings in the produced statistics. 

The Users’ Conferences help ELSTAT to draw useful conclusions on the areas of statistical production that need to be improved in order to better fulfill the changing needs of users. Such conclusions are integrated in the annual and short term statistical work programmes of ELSTAT.

The announcement of the Users’ Conference is presented in the web page of ELSTAT via the link:  http://www.statistics.gr/en/user-conference

None.

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 missing variables or breakdowns of the variables

No deviation from EU concepts.

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

 Not available

 Not available

 Not available

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

It is possible that some enterprises included in the Register, although being selected in the sample  not to exist during the survey conduct (closed enterprises, enterprises out of scope, e.g., enterprises without employees).

Furthermore, some enterprises may have not been included in the sample because they started operating in a later stage. This resulted in under coverage and underestimation of the produced statistics.

It must be noted that within the period between drawing the sample and conducting the survey, some sampling units (enterprise) changed the designing of the strata after data collection. These units were allocated into new strata (employment class sizes, branch of economic activity) maintaining the initial probability of selection. This fact changed the initial variation of data, the initial allocation of the sample enterprises, thus inflating the variation of estimations. Therefore, the coefficient of variation of the produced statistics was higher than the coefficient of variation which had been calculated on the basis of the sample design.

 Not applicable

 Not applicable

Unit response rate

Non - response errors of the enterprises is addressed by sending reminder letters via fax or email, by calling the enterprises or by paying a visit to the enterprise, in order to collect the requested data.

Response rate as regards employment size classes and the total population was satisfactory. In the census strata, where all the population units had been included in the sample, unit response was sometimes quite high, but not 100% for all the combinations of sections and class sizes, on account of non-response of some enterprises. Consequently, some census strata became sampling strata, thus increasing sampling error for the survey characteristics.

 The unit non-response rate, describing the expression of ratio of the actual number of non-responding enterprises to Number of  eligible enterprises of the Job Vacancies Survey for the four quarters of the year 2022 is as follows:

* Ineligible (out-of-scope)  e.g. selected enterprise is not in the target population (without employees),

Other ineligible e.g. no enterprise exists at the selected address or selected enterprise disappeared between the reference information from the sampling frame and the moment of the interview.

Item imputation rate and methods and, where possible, the effect of imputation on the estimates for the variables transmitted

Not applicable

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.

No model is used for the compilation of the data on the Job Vacancies.

Provide a revision history, including the revisions in the published number of job vacancies and a summary of the reasons for the revisions.

 Not applicable

Information on the time span between the release of data at national level and the reference period of the data.

The data of the survey on Job Vacancies are available 70 days after the end of the reference period.

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

2022Q1: 13/5/2022

2022Q2: 19/8/2022

2022Q3: 11/11/2022

2022Q4: 17/2/2023

2022Q1: 1/4 – 13/5/2022

2022Q2: 1/7 – 19/8/2022

2022Q3: 1/10– 11/11/2022

2022Q4: 1/1 – 17/2/2023

2022Q1: 18/4 – 9/6/2022

2022Q2: 18/7 –8/9/2022

2022Q3:17/10–9/12/2022

2022Q4:23/1 –13/3/2023

2022Q1: 17/6/2022

2022Q2: 13/9/2022

2022Q3: 14/12/2022

2022Q4: 17/3/2023

Information on differences between national and European concepts, and — to the extent possible — their effects on the estimation.

The collected survey variables are fully in line with the relevant definitions laid down in –Regulation (EC) 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the European Council, thus ensuring comparability of statistics among the Member States.

Information on changes in definitions, coverage and methods in any two consecutive quarters, and their effects on the estimation.

Remarks

The data on Job Vacancies are comparable over time. The data are available from the 1^st quarter of 2005 until the 4^th quarter 2010 in accordance with Nace Rev. 1.1. and from the 1^st quarter 2009 onwards in accordance with Nace Rev.2. In addition, the data broken down by occupation are available from the 1^st quarter 2005 until the 4^th quarter 2011 in accordance with ISCO 88 and from the 1^st quarter 2012 until the 4th quarter 2019 in line with ISCO 08. The data broken down by occupation are not transmitted to Eurostat.

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.

The data of the survey are compared with the data of the Labour Force Survey in terms of employment and unemployment. There is coherence between the employment and unemployment rates of change and the number of job vacancies. It should be noted that the data on Job Vacancies are compiled on the basis of a sample of enterprises, while the Labour Force Survey data from a sample of households.

Moreover, the survey data are checked with the data on Job Vacancies deriving from administrative sources for section O.

See the Beveridge curve and the comparison between employees (LFS data) and occupied posts (JVS data)

Dissemination scheme, including to whom the results are sent

Periodicity of national publication

References for publications of core results, including those with commentary in the form of text, graphs, maps, etc.

Information on what results, if any, are sent to reporting units included in the sample

The survey results are published on a quarterly basis.

Quarterly

Not available

Not available

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

 The Metadata (SIMS) on Job Vacancies survey is available on the portal of ELSTAT at the link:

https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/SJO41/2022-Q4

 Not available

 Not available

Disclosure rules: Brief description of when data have to be deleted for reasons of confidentiality

ELSTAT protects and does not disseminate data it has obtained or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units that have provided them by the disclosure of individual information directly received for statistical purposes or indirectly supplied from administrative or other sources. ELSTAT takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means that might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseminated by ELSTAT if and only if:

a)     these data have been treated, as it is specifically set out in the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System (ELSS), in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality or

b)     the statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data.

The confidential data that are transmitted by ELSS agencies to ELSTAT are used exclusively for statistical purposes and the only persons who have the right to have access to these data are the personnel engaged in this task and appointed by an act of the President of ELSTAT.

ELSTAT may grant researchers conducting statistical analyses for scientific purposes access to data that enable the indirect identification of the statistical units concerned. The access is granted provided the following conditions are satisfied:

a)     an appropriate request together with a detailed research proposal in conformity with current scientific standards have been submitted;

b)     the research proposal indicates in sufficient detail the set of data to be accessed, the methods of analyzing them, and the time needed for the research;

c)      a contract specifying the conditions for access, the obligations of the researchers, the measures for respecting the confidentiality of statistical data and the sanctions in case of breach of these obligations has been signed by the individual researcher, by his/her institution, or by the organization commissioning the research, as the case may be, and by ELSTAT.

Issues referring to the observance of statistical confidentiality are examined by the Statistical Confidentiality Committee (SCC) operating in ELSTAT. The responsibilities of this Committee are to make recommendations to the President of ELSTAT on:

• the level of detail at which statistical data can be disseminated, so as the identification, either directly or indirectly, of the surveyed statistical unit is not possible;
• the anonymization criteria for the microdata provided to users;
• the granting to researchers access to confidential data for scientific purposes.

The staff of ELSTAT, under any employment status, as well as the temporary survey workers who are employed for the collection of statistical data in statistical surveys conducted by ELSTAT, who acquire access by any means to confidential data, are bound by the principle of confidentiality and must use these data exclusively for the statistical purposes of ELSTAT. After the termination of their term of office, they are not allowed to use these data for any purpose.