Instituto Nacional de Estatística / Statistics Portugal

Business Statistics Unit, Department of Economic Statistics

Av. António José de Almeida

1000-043 Lisboa

Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors). SBS covers all activities of the business economy with the exception of agricultural activities, public administration and (largely) non-market services such as education and health. Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:

• Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of active enterprises)

• "Output related" variables (e.g. Net turnover, Value added)

• "Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Number of employees and self-employed persons, Hours worked by employees); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments)

Business services statistics (BS) collection contains harmonised statistics on business services. From 2008 onwards BS become part of the regular mandatory annual data collection of SBS. The BS’s data requirement includes variable “Turnover” broken down by products and by type of residence of client.

The annual regional statistics collection includes three characteristics due by NUTS-2 country region and detailed on NACE Rev 2division level (2-digits).

Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE):  NACE Rev.2 is used from 2008 onwards. Key data were double reported in NACE Rev.1.1 and NACE Rev.2 only for 2008. From 2002 to 2007 NACE Rev. 1.1 was used and until 2001 NACE Rev.1

The regional breakdown of the EU Member States is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS). 

The product breakdown is based on the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) as stated in the Regulation establishing CPA 2008 and its amending  Commission Regulation (EU) No 1209/2014  (from reference year 2015 onwards).

Starting reference year 2021 onwards SBS cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96.
Until 2007 the SBS coverage was limited to Sections C to K of NACE Rev.1.1 and from the reference year 2008 to 2020 data was available for Sections B to N and Division S95 of NACE Rev.2.
From 2013, as the first reference year, to 2020 information is published on NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown.

From 2008 reference year data collection BS covers NACE Rev 2 codes: J62, N78, J582, J631, M731, M691, M692, M702, M712, M732, M7111, and M7112.

SBS constitutes an important and integrated part of the new European Business Statistics Regulation N° 2152/2019

Data requirements, simplifications and technical definitions are definied in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197

The SBS regulation covers the economic activities of market producers within the business economy NACE Rev.2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96, and all size classes are covered.

The SBS comprise all territories of Portugal.

The temporal span of the time series extends from 1996 to 2020. However, the duration of comparable temporal segments is as follows: (1) 2004-2007; (2) 2008-2021.

A discontinuity in the data series is evident between 2007 and 2008:

Within the Portuguese statistical system, data from the Statistical Business Register (SBR) constitutes a primary input for the compilation of annual national accounts. The introduction of the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010) in the National Accounts resulted in several modifications that concurrently impacted business statistics. These alterations primarily pertained to the reclassification of institutional sectors of entities, consequently influencing the delineation of the business sector. An essential modification involved the reclassification of certain public institutional units, previously categorized within the non-financial companies sector, into the sector of Public Administrations. This included instances such as enterprise-hospitals.

Another notable change was the reclassification of the institutional sector of specific entities, which necessitaed a distinction between holding companies and head offices. In National Accounts, the former is excluded from the institutional sector of non-financial companies, while the latter is encompassed within that sector. These changes prompted an immediate impact on the Integrated Business Accounts System (IBAS), leading to a revision of the data series for business statistics.

This revision encompassed, among other adjustments, the reclassification of business units between section K of the NACE Rev. 2.1 - Financial and insurance activities and section M - Professional, scientific and technical activities. Concurrently, enhancements were introduced in the computation of key economic indicators for section K. Seizing the opportunity to review the statistical data series, refinements were implemented in the treatment of information, particularly concerning certain taxes on products and the conceptualization of enterprises. This resulted in the inclusion of companies previously excluded and the reassessment of economic data for others.

In cases where the value of taxes on products was previously included into sales figures, it has been reclassified as other gains, thereby affecting final turnover and Gross Value Added (GVA). This adjustment is in line with European regulations and is consistent with the data treatment methodologies applied in the context of National Accounts.

Considering these factors, Statistics Portugal undertook a comprehensive revision of data for the years 2008 to 2014. These revised datasets were submitted to Eurostat between March and April 2017.

Data for the year 2021 was subsequently transmitted in June 2023.

Not applicable.

• Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units.

• Monetary data are expressed in millions of €.

• Employment variables are expressed in units.

• Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.

• Ratios are expressed in percentages.

The data from SBS pertains to the calendar year and, in the majority of instances, aligns with the fiscal year. This report is based on the reference year 2021.

Starting with reference year 2021 two new regulations currently form the legal basis of SBS:

• Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS Regulation), and

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements (general implementing act) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152

Year 1995 was the first year for the implementation of the Council Regulation No 58/97 (SBS Regulation).

The Council Regulation No 58/97 has been amended three times: by Council Regulation No 410/98, Commission Regulation No 1614/2002 and European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2056/2002. As a new amendment of the basic Regulation it was decided to recast the Regulation No 58/97 in order to obtain a new "clean" legal text. In 2008 the European Parliament and Council adopted Regulation No 295/2008 and the provisions of this Regulation were applicable from the reference year 2008 to reference year 2020. Regulation No 295/2008 was amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 446/2014.

Not applicable.

The Statistical Confidentiality Policy of Statistics Portugal is supported by the constitutional framework of the Portuguese Republic, specifically enshrined in Law 22/2008 of 13 May. This legislation establishes the fundamental principles, rules, and organizational structure of the National Statistical System, with a specific emphasis on the Principle of Statistical Confidentiality (Article 6). Additionally, it incorporates the provisions outlined in Regulation 223/2009 of 11 March (Article 20 et seq.), as amended by Regulation 2015/759 of 29 April. This regulation provides the legal framework governing the development, production, and dissemination of European statistics, alongside Regulation (EU) 557/2013 of 17 June, which addresses access to confidential data for scientific purposes.

The policy is also guided by principles collectively agreed upon by European Union Member States, as articulated in the European Statistics Code of Practice (2nd revision/2017). Notably, Principle 5 within this code specifically addresses Statistical Confidentiality. The broader context of this policy is informed by the Fundamental Principles of Statistics Officials, originally established by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1994 and subsequently approved by the United Nations General Assembly in January 2014 (Principle 6).

Concerning the processing of personal data, the execution of statistical activity is in line with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April, laying down rules for the protection of individuals regarding the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data. This adherence is complemented by other applicable legislation in this domain.

For further and comprehensive information on the Statistical Confidentiality Policy, please refer to the following URL: https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_inst_confestatistica&xlang=en

Confidentiality is rigorously maintained in accordance with the aforementioned regulations. Data of a genuinely confidential nature, as defined by the specified regulation, are appropriately flagged as such, and Eurostat refrains from their publication. Eurostat ensures the availability of all non-confidential data through its dissemination website.

Statistics Portugal (SP) employs Tau-Argus for confidentiality treatment. In the context of primary confidentiality, the established rule dictates that any cell containing 1 or 2 enterprises is confidential. Regarding secondary confidentiality, Tau-Argus provides guidance to prioritize cells with lower turnover. The dominance rule is not employed in this process.

SP undertakes proactive measures to minimize the number of confidential cells. Various tests of different nature have been conducted to identify the optimal combination that guarantees the lowest incidence of confidential cells. The implemented measures to reduce the number of confidential cells have produced very positive results.

Preliminary data were disseminated ten months subsequent to the conclusion of the reference year (T+10), while the final data were made publicly available twelve months after the reference year (T+12).

Access to the release calendar is provided via the following hyperlink.

In accordance with the legal framework of the community and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Statistics Portugal (SP) disseminates Structural Business Statistics (SBS) data on SP's website while upholding professional independence. This dissemination is conducted in an objective, professional, and transparent manner, ensuring equitable treatment of all users.

The dissemination policy of Statistics Portugal establishes the fundamental principles that govern the release of official statistics, whether produced directly or indirectly under its responsabilities. These principles are in line with the basic principles of the National Statistical System, emphasising technical independence, statistical confidentiality, quality, and accessibility.

Annual.

The SBS results are published in the form of regular press releases (online), one with the preliminary data and the other with the final data. To check the dates on which the data was released at national level, please refer to sub-concept 8.1.

For the reference year 2021, both preliminary and final results of the SBS were made public through dedicated press releases:

• Enterprises in Portugal - Provisional data published on 26 October 2022

• Enterprises in Portugal - Final data published on 27 February 2023

These pubblications serve as a comprehensive medium for presenting the main statistical insights on the structure and development of the Portuguese non-financial business sector. The findings, illustrated through graphs and tables, offer a detailed and accessible overview of key aspects. It is should be noted that, although the press releases are accessible in English, only a part of them is presented in English.

A wide range of online databases are available to users on the Statistics Portugal website, which can be accessed through the link provided. To supplement the  information available, users can request additional data by filling in an online form, which can be conveniently accessed here. The general practice is to synchronise the update of the online databases with the press releases. For the 2021 dataset, preliminary data were published ten months following the conclusion of the reference year (T+10), while the final data were released twelve months after the conclusion of the reference year (T+12). A detailed account of user engagement, as reflected in the number of accesses, can be found in sub-concept 12.2 providing valuable insights into the importance and reception of the information disseminated.

Within the domain of the SBS, researchers are afforded the opportunity to access anonymised microdata in a way that ensures the non-identification of individual companies. Recognising the unique statistical needs of the academic community, particularly in the context of research projects, master's, and doctoral theses, Statistics Portugal has signed a Protocol with the Ministry of Education and Science. This joint initiative aims to facilitate researchers' access to the statistics they need for their scientific work.

To streamline this process, the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC), formerly known as the Office for Planning, Strategy, Assessment, and International Relations, provides prospective researchers with prior accreditation and comprehensive information. Each research project requires the submission of an application for accreditation to the DGEEC including the required documents such as:

• Accreditation and Statistical Data Transfer Request Form

• Statement of Agreement

• Privacy Notice and Consent

Before applying for accreditation, researchers are advised to consult the databases accessible under this protocol. Accreditation is granted only for access to databases within this project, and only accredited researchers are entitled to free access to statistical micro-databases for research purposes, in accordance with the established Protocol with Statistics Portugal.

To enhance user understanding, concise explanations of the definitions of key concepts and methodological details are included at the end of press releases. These explanatory notes aim to provide users with a contextual understanding of the main concepts presented in the information disseminated. In cases where further clarification or detailed explanation is warranted, additional supporting information is made available to users upon request. In addition, comprehensive methodological notes are systematically published in the Metadata System(in Portuguese and English), ensuring transparency and accessibility.

The Business Statistics Unit meticulously documents all its workflow and procedures for internal reference and purposes. This documentation (in Portuguese and English) serves as a comprehensive resource detailing the intricacies of the processes carried out within the unit. For further insight or information, please visit the following URL: https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_qualidade.

A rigorous validation process is integral to the production of SBS, involving a thorough comparison of the current data with the previous year's figures. Special attention is given to identifying substantial changes in the data, particularly in relation to key variables. Additionally, cross-referencing with other reliable information sources is taken into account whenever possible to ensure data accuracy and reliability.

Statistics Portugal applies the recommendations set out in EU Regulations, thus mantaining high standards in statistical practice.

The most recent comparable data covers the period 2008-2021.

The use of administrative sources for almost all data, combined with a very low non-response rate, gives  confidence in the limited presence of biases and underlines the commitment to data quality and integrity in the production of the SBS.

Users of Structural Business Statistics (SBS) data are categorized as either internal or external stakeholders.

Main internal users include:

• Department of Economic Statistics;

• Department of National Accounts;

• Coordination of Territorial Statistics;

• Department of Methodology and Information Systems.

Main external users are:

• Ministries and public administrations that use these data for economic and social policy planning purposes;

• Universities and research organizations;

• General public which gets the information via mass media through publications made by Statistics Portugal;

• Eurostat.

The national-level data published differs from the information transmitted to Eurostat, as Statistics Portugal furnishes more detailed insights at geographic and economic activity code levels. Nonetheless, the data for the same variables remain consistent. In addition, Statistics Portugal releases supplementary financial indicators derived from balance sheets and profit and loss accounts at the national level.

A user satisfaction survey has not been conducted, and the volume of feedback received is limited. Some users have expressed the need for data to be presented at a more granular geographic level.

The effectiveness of SBS can be measured by the number of downloads of press releases and tables from the Statistics Portugal website. In the first semester of 2022 and 2023, Statistics Portugal SBS 2021 press releases were downloaded almost 2,700 times, while the tables from online databases were downloaded 134,000 times. These statistics underline the significant online interaction with SBS materials and provide clear evidence of evolving trends in access to statistical information.

Overall 100% of the data required by the EBS Regulation was provided. All non-confidential data has been published.

The methodology employed for generating both preliminary and final data is consistent, primarily relying on administrative data, resulting in a small bias (only a small number of enterprises are estimated). From reference year 2021 Statistics Portugal has had access to administrative data for individual enterprises, thus reducing differences between preliminary and final data.

The typical duration between the initial release of preliminary data and the release of final data is approximately 4 to 5 months.

Not applicable, as Statistics Portugal exclusively relies on administrative information.

The methods used to deal with unit non-response involve comparing information gathered from administrative data with that from the Business Register. As the provision of information is mandatory, measures for minimizing unit non-response do not apply. Statistics Portugal retains the authority to impose fines on units that do not submit their Simplified Business Information declaration (IES).

In 2021 the comparison between the Business Register and administrative data identified about 19,500 non-respondent units in the administrative source. This represents about 1.5% of the total number of enterprises, 2.5% of persons employed, and 1.6% of turnover. However, information from the Business Register is available for these variables. As these variables are derived directly from the reference frame drawn from the Business Register, our non-response rate for these variables is zero. For other variables, estimates are made, taking into account turnover.

Given that administrative sources are used for nearly all information and the non-response rate is minimal, Statistics Portugal confirm that the bias is very low. This implies that the bias has limited impact on the overall accuracy of the estimate.

To identify out-of-scope units, Statistics Portugal uses activity codes and information about the institutional sector. The estimated number of deleted entities that fall out of scope is around 17,800 units in 2021.

Usually, the preliminary data is shared nationally about 10 months after the reference year ends (T+10), and the final data is released around 12 months after (T+12).

In terms of collecting data, the administrative information from enterprises is available around mid-July (T+7). However, data for individual businesses is not available until September (T+9). The detailed data obtained from specific questionaires becomes available in December (T+12).

The final data should be submitted to Eurostat 18 months following the conclusion of the reference period (T+18). Preliminary data is expected to be submitted to Eurostat within 10 months after the conclusion of the reference period (T+10). There has been a noticeable improvement in punctuality over time.

Statistics Portugal applys methodological principles based on the concepts, definitions, and guidelines set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS Regulation), and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements (General Implementing Act) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152. This ensures that Portuguese national SBS statistics are comparable with those of other European Union (EU) countries. These statistical concepts are applied consistently throughout the entire national territory.

The length of comparable time series: 2004-2007 (NACE Rev. 2) and 2008-2020 (NACE Rev. 2).

Major revision of the methodology for the data starting from reference year 2005.

Break in data series between 2007 and 2008. For more information see above subb-concept 3.8.

In SBS, Statistics Portugal exclusively includes enterprise units engaged in economic activities. The SBS undergoes comparisons with other projects, such as:

• micro-level comparisons are conducted between SBS and PRODCOM, revealing generally coherent data despite methodological differences.

• concerning the Value Added in National Accounts, activities conducted abroad (particularly significant in construction) are excluded.

• no exhaustive comparisons have yet been made regarding the evolution of turnover and the number of persons employed from Short-Term Statistics (STS).

Before finalisation, the internal consistency of the data, including the links between variables and the coherence between data series, is thoroughly checked. This process ensures that aggregates are consistent with their primary sub-aggregates and that a high level of coherence is mantained throughout the dataset.

Statistics Portugal gives priority to minimising the statistical burden on respondents. In the context of SBS, the main focus is  on the use administrative data, in particular the Simplified Business Information (IES). This approach significantly reduces the reporting burden on enterprises. However, it's important to note that specific information on the actual costs associated with this statistical burden is not available.

The revision policy for Structural Business Statistics (SBS) data is in line with the general revision policy, which emphasises transparency in the production and dissemination of official statistics. More details on this policy can be found in the revisions policy publication available on the Statistics Portugal website.

The provided document on the revisions policy aims to clarify essential aspects, including main factors influencing a revision, the types of revisions that may occur, and the dimensions that guide the analysis of a revision. It also outlines the general and operational principles of the revisions policy that Statistics Portugal plans to consolidate in the future.

Final data promptly replace preliminary data once they become available. To compile preliminary data, Statistics Portugal employ the same methodology used for final data.

Final data, although considered final, may be revised. This is often necessary due to methodological improvements or updates in statistical standards, which are frequently determined at the international level.

It is important to note that for the year 2021, no revised data were submitted. Further details on data comparability and revision explanations can be found in sub-concepts 3.8 and 15.2.

Statistics Portugal extensively uses administrative data for compiling SBS, with over 95% of SBS data relying on this information. This encompasses approximately 500 variables at the national level. Specific surveys for Manufacturing, Construction, and the Environment are conducted to collect information for specific variables such as "Purchases of energy products", "Payments to subcontractor" and "Net turnover from subcontracting".

The foundation of SBS is the Simplified Business Information (IES) system. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Statistics Portugal, and the Bank of Portugal, IES enables enterprises to consolidate various legal obligations, including statistical reporting, into a single submission. This replaces the previous practice of several reportings to different entities within the Public Administration through various channels. Statistical reporting is one of the legal obligations fulfilled through this system.

Administrative data, subject to frequent revision due to daily updates, is the basis of SBS data. In particulat,  an image is extracted from the Business Register to produce SBS statistics, ensuring that the main activity of the unit is updated on the basis of stability rules. The Business Register itself is subject to updates at any time.

Annual data collection.

Statistics Portugal extensively uses administrative data for compiling SBS (see sub-concepts 18.1 for more details). Specific surveys for Manufacturing, Construction, and the Environment are conducted to collect information, including variables "Purchases of energy products", "Payments to subcontractor" and "Net turnover from subcontracting". For these specific surveys, data are acquired by interviewing the sampled enterprises directly, normally using self-administered questionnaires.

Statistics Portugal has the capability to communicate with enterprises, and when necessary, data from statistical units can be revised.

To compile Structural Business Statistics (SBS) data, Statistics Portugal has implemented several checks:

1. Completeness Checks (Data Integrity Rules): these checks ensure that the data is complete and meets established integrity rules.

2. Validity Checks (Internal Consistency): internal consistency checks verify the validity of the data by examining its coherence within the dataset.

3. Plausibility Checks: more than 60 plausibility checks are incorporated into the production process of business statistics. These checks include comparisons over time (e.g., with the previous year), values per capita, and other relevant parameters.

The software used for collecting administrative information has approximately 2,000 completeness and validity checks in place for the 500 variables collected.

Before submitting information to Eurostat, thorough logical checks are conducted between different variables. Data consistency over time is also verified to  ensure the reliability and accuracy of the data transmitted to Eurostat.

Statistics Portugal uses mainly administrative data as the primary source of information, given that over 95% of the data produced under SBS is derived from administrative sources. Specific surveys for Manufacturing, Construction, and the Environment are conducted to generate data for some variables (as detailed in sub-concept 18.1).

To enhance the quality of administrative data, an imputation procedure is applied. This procedure involves rectifying raw data flaws and filling in missing records. In most cases, turnover, which is consistently observed, is used to impute missing information. The imputation process is carried out by strata, allowing for a systematic and structured approach to address data gaps.

Monetary variables in Statistics Portugal are converted and/or rounded to millions of euros.

It is important to note that Statistics Portugal does not apply adjustments such as seasonal adjustment methods, time series decomposition, or similar techniques.

If the reference period differs from the calendar year, there is no correction procedure. Although some enterprises may have a tax year that differs from  the calendar year, on average such differences are usually balanced out.

No further comments.