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.
Lamacska cesta 3/C, 840 05, Bratislava 45, Slovak Republic
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
17 March 2023
2.2. Metadata last posted
17 March 2023
2.3. Metadata last update
17 March 2023
3.1. Data description
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 non-financial business economy with the exception of agricultural activities and personal services. Limited information is available on banking, insurance and pension funds.
Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of enterprises)
"Output related" variables (e.g. Turnover, Value added)
"Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Employment, Hours worked); goods and services input (e.g. Total of purchases); capital input (e.g. Material investments)
3.2. Classification system
Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE): NACE Rev.1 was used until 2001, NACE Rev. 1.1 since 2002, and NACE Rev 2 is used from 2008 onwards. Key data were double reported in NACE Rev.1.1 and NACE Rev.2 for 2008. From 2009 onwards, only NACE Rev.2 data are available.
The regional breakdown of the EU Member States is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS). Detailed information about the consecutive NUTS Regulations can be found at Eurostat's website
The SBS coverage was limited to Sections C to K of NACE Rev.1.1 until 2007. Starting from the reference year 2008 data is available for Sections B to N and Division S95 of NACE Rev.2. With 2013 as the first reference year information is published on NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown.
The statistical information system of the SOSR is based on three basic types of statistical units - enterprise, establishment; in our conditions it is a unit very similar to local kind-of-activity unit (defined in the file of large enterprises with 20 and more employees) and local unit; the definition is fully compatible with the definition in CR (EEC) No 696/93.
3.6. Statistical population
The SBS presents data on activities of NACE Rev.2 Sections B to N and Group S95. The SBS characteristics compiled by SOSR are published on Eurostat’s website as Annual enterprise statistics, Annual enterprise statistics broken down by size classes and Annual regional statistics.
Structural business statistics are compiled from annual statistical surveys data and from administrative data sources. The reporting units addressed in the statistical surveys are residents at the territory of the Slovak Republic and provide data on their domestic activities and activities abroad, if the activities carried out are of a subject of the tax and other duties in relation to Slovak legislation. SOSR carries out exhaustive survey of all units with 20 or more employees or with 0-19 employees and a turnover more than 5 mil. €. Sample survey is organised for reporting units with less than 20 employees and a turnover up to 5 mil. €. Data for self-employed persons are compiled on the basis of data from an administrative source. Data for self-employed persons are included in the SBS starting with the reference year 2010.
3.7. Reference area
All regions of the Slovak Republic are covered by the survey.
3.8. Coverage - Time
1995-2020
For further details on length of comparable time series please refer to 15.2
3.9. Base period
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.
2020
Data refers to the calendar year, which mostly corresponds to the fiscal year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. In accordance with the Act on State Statistics No. 540/2001 Coll. §2g and §30, the SOSR may not publish confidential statistical data, but only information resulting from the aggregation of confidential statistical data, which does not allow direct or indirect identification of the reporting unit. The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic has introduced principles and procedures for the protection of confidential data in internal directives and instructions. The directive on the protection of confidential statistical data regulates the method of management and implementation of activities related to ensuring the protection of confidential statistical data in the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The internal methodological instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic regulates specific methods and parameter values used in the protection of confidential statistical data of individual statistical surveys and data sets.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The primary and secondary confidentiality data treatment is applied. Confidential data are defined as follows:
- there are less than 3 enterprises in the aggregate
- dominance of one enterprise in the aggregate is more than 90%
8.1. Release calendar
The Catalogue of Publications contains basic information about published publications, publication dates and language versions. All publications are available on the Internet portal of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The edition program is available on the website of the SOSR.
8.2. Release calendar access
The SOSR's web portal and the online database Datacube of the SOSR are updated in accordance with the Principles of the policy of publication and provision of statistical information.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Internet portal and online database of the SOSR are updated in accordance with Principles of Release Policy and Provision of Statistical Information.
Annual
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The specific data on particular branch statistics coming out from annual structural surveys are disseminated in line with the Marketing plan and Catalogue of publications issued by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
No Regular SBS specific publication is available for public.
The data are sent to Eurostat, either to be used in European aggregates or to be released also as national data.
National Bank of Slovakia and other significant users define their specific requests.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Statistical questionnaires including methodological guidelines and explanations of variables and methodological explanations within the Glossary of the statistical terms are published on the web portal of the SOSR. Each publication contains methodical explanations and a contact for the information service of the SOSR.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Following internal project documentation exists for the compilation of statistical outputs in Slovak language: • technical projects within the Integrated Statistical Information System called ISIS • methodological guidelines for applying mathematical-statistical methods for statistical surveys • methodological guidelines for quality indicators of statistical outputs and statistical processes.
11.1. Quality assurance
The Quality policy is defined and publicly accessible in the Quality Declaration and Quality Policy documents. The Quality Declaration expresses the basic ideas and commitments of the President and top management of the SOSR for the Quality Policy as well as increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the integrated management system of the SOSR.
Quality policy is based on the mission of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic: to provide high quality and objective statistical products and services by keeping confidentiality of statistical data and by minimising burden on interested parties using effectively existing resources with the aim to support improvement of the information and intellectual capital of our customers. In this way we want to contribute to reduce risks and improve effectiveness in their decision making processes and so to support the sustainable development of the Slovak Republic as the part of EU.
The Quality manual describes the documented procedures of the quality system that are used for implementation and continuous improvement of the quality management system in SOSR. It contains a description of the quality management system and the fulfilment of requirements ISO 9001 standards. Application of the manual in practice ensures that all activities that have an impact on the quality of the products created are planned, managed, reviewed, evaluated and meet requirements.
The European Statistics Code of Practice is the basis of the common quality framework of the European Statistical System. It is a self-regulatory tool and it is based on 16 Principles covering the institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical outputs. A set of indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles provides guidelines and benchmarks for reviewing the implementation of the Code of Practice, thus increasing transparency within the European Statistical System.
Coverage, reference period, data collection, control and data processing are in line with the Eurostat methodological guidelines. The data collection process is conducted in the Integrated statistical information system called ISIS. SOSR creates technical projects of the statistical surveys describing data collection and its evaluation, including a description of statistical controls and algorithms within the integrated ISIS. The data collection process is ensured by the regional offices of the SOSR during the phase of electronic data collection, ensure using statistical controls and algorithms the data collection process itself. Data validation is done during the data collection, processing and validation of relevant data by the SOSR experts. A data comparison is done with previous periods. Statistics are available in the system to evaluate the quality of the completed questionnaires, the number of questionnaires with errors or outliers, the number of reminders etc. SOSR also performs internal methodical audits. Evaluation of statistical surveys and methodical audits including the analysis of the results are integrated into the existing quality management system.
Regarding the results of particular data production processes the overall quality of the SBS indicators is considered to be very good.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The requirement to conduct consultations with users of statistical information is stipulated in the Act on State Statistics itself. Consultations during the preparation of state statistical surveys take place within the framework of the preparation of the Program of State Statistical Surveys (PSSZ). PSSZ is a generally binding legal regulation compiled by the SOSR in collaboration with ministries, other central authorities and state organizations and contains statistical surveys organized and carried out by the SOSR, ministries, other central authorities and state organizations. SOSR publishes the Program of state statistical surveys by decree in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic. The Coordinating Council for State Statistics ensures the fulfilment of the tasks of the SOSR. Key users of specific statistical products are listed in the Marketing Plan, e.g. international organizations - Eurostat, OECD, UN and national institutions, e.g. National Bank of Slovakia, etc.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Since the 2009, SOSR carries out satisfaction surveys of customers with their products and services at two-year intervals. The goal of surveys is to determine customer satisfaction with the products and services of the SOSR, to obtain information about users, their interest and opinion on provision and quality of statistical products and services. The facts obtained are a valuable resource for the direction of other activities of the SOSR. One of the main goals defined in the Development Strategy. The goal of the SOSR until 2022 is to systematically increase the value of the institution and its recognition at the national and international level. The office also monitors the fulfilment of the stated goal with the help of indicators of the credibility of the SOSR and the rate of use of the information provided by the public. SOSR conducts credibility surveys through an external independent organization once every 2 years, with the intention of ensuring the objectivity and indisputability of the results from public view. Credibility survey Satisfaction survey
12.3. Completeness
All required SBS data are provided.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy is considered very good. SOSR makes great efforts to prevent the occurrence of errors in the data and performs data verification to detect the errors. Most errors are directly consulted at regional offices with the reporting units.
13.2. Sampling error
All required standard quality indicator are calculated and provided to Eurostat. Sampling errors are monitored during data processing.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The technical project of data processing is part of ISIS. This project includes a description of all logical data controls at the microdata level performed during electronic data collection. The electronic questionnaire and information system ISIS itself provides many arithmetic and logical checks between variables, which we distinguish between serious and informative. Data collection is provided by the office of the SOSR in regions. After the deadline for submission of the statistical questionnaire, the reporting units that did not respond are contacted again to fulfil their legal obligation. In case of serious errors in the form, this form is not accepted and with the help of experts from the regional office its correctness is ensured so that it can enter into the data processing. Automatic validation checks during data collection and informative checks are incorporated with the aim to follow logical checks, reducing the rate of partial non-responses, anomalies and outliers. The purpose of this process is to minimize errors already in the data collection itself and subsequently during data processing. The basic step in the process of calculating unit non-response is the analysis of the population with regard to the state of activity of the reporting units. For this purpose, we use a specific classification of responses and non-responses codes. Individual codes describe active and inactive units and are assigned to each reporting unit. Subsequently, we determine the population of active units entering the data processing.
14.1. Timeliness
Data collection is organized by specialised regional offices of the SOSR. After the deadline the non-responding units are contacted about their reporting duty again. There are no problems with reporting discipline in the case of big enterprises, nevertheless the situation in the area of small enterprises shows the decreased tendency in the last years.
14.2. Punctuality
All deadlines have been respected
15.1. Comparability - geographical
All regions of the Slovak Republic are covered by the survey. The reporting units are residents at the territory of the Slovak Republic and provide data on their domestic activities and activities outside, if the activities carried out are of a subject of the tax and other duties in relation to Slovak legislation.
In the frame of SBS 2009 data treatment we changed the compilation of data series in breakdown by size classes. Employment size classes are since 2009 defined in terms of the number of persons employed filled in the survey (in previous years we used the information from register).
15.2. Comparability - over time
From reference year 1995 to 1999, the population covered is enterprises with 20 or more persons employed and enterprises with less than 20 persons employed which are considered statistically important, based on expert judgement (1995 and 1996) or with a turnover larger than 3,5 million €.
Starting from reference year 2000, the population covered is all enterprises without any size class threshold.
Since 2010 the population of small entrepreneurs (physical persons) is included in the SBS data. The impact of this population is considerable in terms of number of enterprises and employment data. However, the share of this population in economic variables is not significant.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The coherence of SBS data with the BD data is gradually successfully implemented in close cooperation of SBS and BD experts. Comparison of survey results with short-term statistics and quarterly data surveyed for the purposes of national accounts. The analysis shows very good compliance level in case of parts of population surveyed exhaustively. Some differences appear when comparing data from monthly, quarterly and yearly sample surveys, which are the subject of further detailed data analysis
15.4. Coherence - internal
There are no problems with internal consistency
SOSR regularly monitors the cost and burden of reporting units. As part of the optimization of statistical surveys, it takes measures aimed at reducing their burden e.g. by personalised pre-filling of selected variables in statistical questionnaires, reducing the frequency of selected surveyed variables and using administrative data resources if they are available in the required quality and at the specified time. The cost and burden measurement at the level of European Statistical Products is in competence of the Resources Directors Group within Eurostat.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Revision policy regulates the general rules and procedures applied in revisions at the SOSR. The same revision policy applies to national and international users. In accordance with the Revision policy, the reason of the revision is always indicated. The Revisions policy as well as the Revisions calendar is available to users on the web portal of the ŠÚ SR.
SOSR distinguishes the following revisions: from the content point of view -incorporation of better quality data based on a more complete source, including replacing imputations with collected data, -correction of data as a result of updating seasonal factors and changing the base period, - data modification based on more accurate methodology (in concepts, definitions and classifications) and changes in statistical methods, - performing corrections in source data and calculations. In terms of time, SOSR divides the revisions into - ordinary revisions are revisions without significant modifications of the methodologies. These are usually more significant data corrections, including large values obtained from new sources. They are carried out periodically on precisely set up dates, to update monthly and quarterly data, until the next publication of the data. -annual revisions are revisions that are made when all monthly and quarterly data are available and more detailed results from annual surveys are already available. - extraordinary and major revisions are revisions of definitive data due to significant methodological changes resulting from revision of methodologies, changes in procedures and statistical-mathematical calculation methods or data corrections. An extraordinary revision may result (e.g. by changing the definition) in break in time series data comparability.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The main source of information for routine revisions are new or revised data from reporting units. The publication of the revised data is done periodically in line with Calendar of revisions.
18.1. Source data
Combination of exhaustive survey and sample survey combined with administrative information
Exhaustive survey of large enterprises - Questionnaire Roc 1-01
1/ the legal units with 20 and more employees registered in the Business register;
2/ the legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Business register:
a) which were statistically important (the decision about including them into survey of big enterprises was done by expert of particular branch statistics, e.g. responsible for branch statistics etc.);
b) or of which turnover exceeds 5 million €
Survey of small enterprises (sample) - Questionnaire Roc 2-01
1/ the legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Business register the turnover of which does not exceed 5 million €
In case of small enterprises the process of grossing up is based on the administrative sources used - tax forms: profit loss account, balance sheet
Data on small entrepreneurs (physical persons) are included in SBS data files starting with the data transmission of preliminary 2010 SBS data files. We use the basic information on structures and relations of particular variables from small sample survey for small entrepreneurs to make estimations of missing data in administrative source for this population.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual data collection
18.3. Data collection
From January 1, 2016, reporting units (legal entities, natural persons - entrepreneurs) are required to electronically submit statistical reports in accordance with the amendment to Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics as amended by Act no. 326/2014 Coll. (hereinafter referred to as the law), which contains new rules for submitting statistical questionnaires.
18.4. Data validation
The data entry, data completeness and statistical control are organised by specialised regional offices of the SOSR. SOSR distinguishes between two levels of data checks: 1/ Formal checks, which are realised in the process of data entry automatically; (compatible with Validation level 0 and 1) 2/ Informal checks aim of which is to control the complexity and relations among the variables ((compatible with Validation level from 2 to 5).
According to the importance there are classified 2 basic types of checks: I – Informative checks- this check gives the additional information, which is important for the following process of corrections. It informs also about some inconsistencies in the state of fulfilment of the questionnaire, about item non-response, exceeding stated limits etc. Z – Check of great importance - it is mostly check indicating the exact error and it must be always corrected or explained. Most of the errors are directly consulted with the reporting units by our regional offices.
18.5. Data compilation
Non-response for active reporting units is corrected by data imputation. The results for the population of active enterprises are grossed up using the Horwitz-Thomson estimator in accordance with survey stratification. Initial weights are modified due to non-response rates and unit inactivity. Administrative data and a model approach are used for estimates for self-employed persons.
18.6. Adjustment
not available
No further comments
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 non-financial business economy with the exception of agricultural activities and personal services. Limited information is available on banking, insurance and pension funds.
Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
Business demographic variables (e.g. Number of enterprises)
"Output related" variables (e.g. Turnover, Value added)
"Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Employment, Hours worked); goods and services input (e.g. Total of purchases); capital input (e.g. Material investments)
The statistical information system of the SOSR is based on three basic types of statistical units - enterprise, establishment; in our conditions it is a unit very similar to local kind-of-activity unit (defined in the file of large enterprises with 20 and more employees) and local unit; the definition is fully compatible with the definition in CR (EEC) No 696/93.
The SBS presents data on activities of NACE Rev.2 Sections B to N and Group S95. The SBS characteristics compiled by SOSR are published on Eurostat’s website as Annual enterprise statistics, Annual enterprise statistics broken down by size classes and Annual regional statistics.
Structural business statistics are compiled from annual statistical surveys data and from administrative data sources. The reporting units addressed in the statistical surveys are residents at the territory of the Slovak Republic and provide data on their domestic activities and activities abroad, if the activities carried out are of a subject of the tax and other duties in relation to Slovak legislation. SOSR carries out exhaustive survey of all units with 20 or more employees or with 0-19 employees and a turnover more than 5 mil. €. Sample survey is organised for reporting units with less than 20 employees and a turnover up to 5 mil. €. Data for self-employed persons are compiled on the basis of data from an administrative source. Data for self-employed persons are included in the SBS starting with the reference year 2010.
All regions of the Slovak Republic are covered by the survey.
2020
Data refers to the calendar year, which mostly corresponds to the fiscal year.
Overall accuracy is considered very good. SOSR makes great efforts to prevent the occurrence of errors in the data and performs data verification to detect the errors. Most errors are directly consulted at regional offices with the reporting units.
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.
Non-response for active reporting units is corrected by data imputation. The results for the population of active enterprises are grossed up using the Horwitz-Thomson estimator in accordance with survey stratification. Initial weights are modified due to non-response rates and unit inactivity. Administrative data and a model approach are used for estimates for self-employed persons.
Combination of exhaustive survey and sample survey combined with administrative information
Exhaustive survey of large enterprises - Questionnaire Roc 1-01
1/ the legal units with 20 and more employees registered in the Business register;
2/ the legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Business register:
a) which were statistically important (the decision about including them into survey of big enterprises was done by expert of particular branch statistics, e.g. responsible for branch statistics etc.);
b) or of which turnover exceeds 5 million €
Survey of small enterprises (sample) - Questionnaire Roc 2-01
1/ the legal units with less than 20 employees registered in the Business register the turnover of which does not exceed 5 million €
In case of small enterprises the process of grossing up is based on the administrative sources used - tax forms: profit loss account, balance sheet
Data on small entrepreneurs (physical persons) are included in SBS data files starting with the data transmission of preliminary 2010 SBS data files. We use the basic information on structures and relations of particular variables from small sample survey for small entrepreneurs to make estimations of missing data in administrative source for this population.
Annual
Data collection is organized by specialised regional offices of the SOSR. After the deadline the non-responding units are contacted about their reporting duty again. There are no problems with reporting discipline in the case of big enterprises, nevertheless the situation in the area of small enterprises shows the decreased tendency in the last years.
All regions of the Slovak Republic are covered by the survey. The reporting units are residents at the territory of the Slovak Republic and provide data on their domestic activities and activities outside, if the activities carried out are of a subject of the tax and other duties in relation to Slovak legislation.
In the frame of SBS 2009 data treatment we changed the compilation of data series in breakdown by size classes. Employment size classes are since 2009 defined in terms of the number of persons employed filled in the survey (in previous years we used the information from register).
From reference year 1995 to 1999, the population covered is enterprises with 20 or more persons employed and enterprises with less than 20 persons employed which are considered statistically important, based on expert judgement (1995 and 1996) or with a turnover larger than 3,5 million €.
Starting from reference year 2000, the population covered is all enterprises without any size class threshold.
Since 2010 the population of small entrepreneurs (physical persons) is included in the SBS data. The impact of this population is considerable in terms of number of enterprises and employment data. However, the share of this population in economic variables is not significant.
