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 annual Business demography data collection covers variables which explain the characteristics and demography of the business population. The methodology allows for the production of data on enterprise births (and deaths), that is, enterprise creations (cessations) that amount to the creation (dissolution) of a combination of production factors and where no other enterprises are involved (enterprises created or closed solely as a result of e.g. restructuring, merger or break-up are not considered).
A summary of the available indicators is listed below. The data is available at EU, country and regional level, with breakdowns for type of activity, legal form and size class.
For the population of active enterprises:
Number of active enterprises;
Number of enterprise births;
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years;
Number of enterprise deaths;
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons).
For the population of active employer enterprises:
Number of enterprises having at least one employee;
Number of enterprises having the first employee;
Number of enterprises having no employees anymore;
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years;
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons).
For high-growth enterprises, the following indicators are available at EU and country level:
Number of high-growth enterprises (growth by 10% or more);
Number of employees of high-growth enterprises;
Number of young high-growth enterprises (up to five years old high-growth enterprises);
Number of employees of young high-growth enterprise.
3.2. Classification system
From 2008 onwards NACE Rev.2 classification (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) is used for all indicators.
Starting with reference year 2021, BD data cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96. The total economy is presented as Industry, construction and services (code BTSXO_S94).
For the reference years 2008-2020, data for the Sections P, Q, R and S were provided on a voluntary basis and K64.2 was not covered.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
3.5. Statistical unit
Enterprise.
3.6. Statistical population
The target population is all active enterprises covered by Structural Business Statistics at Sections B to N, P to R and division S95 and S96 of NACE Rev.2 that have a turnover or employment, make investments or hold assets/liabilities during the reference year. The following thresholds are used:
> 0 employee - population of employer enterprises,
> 9.5 employees in the beginning of the growth - population of high-growth enterprises (10%),
> 9.5 employees in the beginning of the growth - population of 'gazelles' (10%).
3.7. Reference area
The Czech Republic
3.8. Coverage - Time
2000-2022.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The number of active, birth, death and survival enterprises, as well as high-growth enterprises is expressed in units.
The number of employees is expressed in units.
The number of persons employed is the sum of number of employees and self-employed persons.
The number of self-employed persons is expressed in units.
2022.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Before reference year 2021, EU Regulation 2008/295 on structural business statistics, Annex IX, was providing a legal basis for the BD data collection. The Commission implementing EU Regulation 2014/439 ensured data collection on employer enterprises (with at least one employee), high-growth enterprises (more than 10% annual growth over three years) and their employment.
Up to reference year 2006 data have been collected under gentlemen's agreement within the context of the development of Structural Business Statistics.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Act No. 89/1995 Coll., on the State Statistical Service specifies provisions of protection and using confidential data. The statistical confidentiality issues are further elaborated in the internal CZSO Regulation no. 3/2015.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
See below.
7.2.1. Confidentiality rules (primary and secondary)
Data treatment
Remarks
Confidentiality rules applied
yes
-
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
fewer than 3
-
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
yes
-
Dominance criteria applied
yes
-
If dominance criteria is applied, specify the threshold (in %) and the method of applying the dominance rules
One more or equal to 85% (1>=85%)
-
Secondary confidentiality applied
yes
-
If secondary confidentiality is applied, explain the rules and the methods used
Own application based on hypercube method
-
7.2.2. Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
Remarks
Measures taken to reduce the number of confidential cells
no
If measures have been taken, describe them briefly
Methodological standards and guidelines assuring the quality of the production process and output.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
See chapters 12, 13, 14, 17 and 18.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data are collected according to the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The views, feedback and opinions of main users are collected via the meetings of the Working Group on SBS and Business demography.
12.3. Completeness
All data requested by the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics were sent to Eurostat. No CETO flags were applied.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
100%
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not requested.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The estimated proportion of enterprises wrongly designated active and non-active is 0,01%.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
No processing errors ocured in the final data collection process.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested.
14.1. Timeliness
BD data are transmitted to Eurostat within required deadlines:
Preliminary high-growth enteprises T+12 month,
BD for total populaiton and high-growth at aproximately T+18 month,
Employer BD at T+20 month,
Regional data at T+22 month.
Regarding one specific indicator - enterprise death, at that time only preliminary enteprise data are available, for final data need one more year, what is also stipulated in the Regulation.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not requested.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not requested.
14.2. Punctuality
Data were delivered on time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not requested.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
First reference year available (calendar year): 2000-2022.
Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks:
2012: The years 2000 - 2012 are not comparable with the next years because there was change administrative sources used by Business register, which is main source for business demography.
2021: In addition non-profit institutions and housing cooperatives (associations) classified in the institutional sector of non-financial enterprises were not part of the SBS population until the reference year 2020.From the reference year 2021, in accordance with EBS requirements, they were included in the population.
Outliers in time series.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
2013-2022.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Consistency with BR - Differences between number of enterprises can be explained by different methodology of determination active enterprise in BD and BR. BR characteristics include units from the central and local government sectors and non-profit institutions serving households, which are excluded in BD characteristics. It is not comparable.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
The main source for updating the Statistical Business Register is the Basic Register of Legal Units that provides the main identification and demographic characteristics on legal units (name, address, date of birth or death etc.) on daily basis. The information on activities of enterprise is collected from several administrative sources (Trade licencing register, Commercial register etc.), special SBR survey and other statistical surveys. The information on number of employees is obtained from the Czech Social Security Administration. The turnover variable is obtained from Ministry of Finance (accounting reports). The data on employed persons are provided by SBS.
b) Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
SBR covers all activities according to NACE rev.2 and all legal forms, there are no exclusions.
c) Matching, profiling or imputation:
During the matching process between SBR and income tax payers, social security payers or self-employed persons, some inconsistencies appeared in identification of legal units (0,01%).
18.1.1. Concepts and sources
The following tresholds are applied in SBR
Employment - no thresholds
Turnover
for legal persons – no threshold
for natural persons – very low threshold – EUR 500
VAT threshold: turnover - more than EUR 40,000 per 1 year
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Business demography statistics are updated annualy. The number of persons and employees is updated from annual SBS survey.
18.3. Data collection
Business demography variables are compiled from the national statistical business register.
18.3.1. Data matching
a) Data matching process and tools:
The maching process consists of the following steps:
Match 6 – exclusion of new enterprises or death enterprises, which are out of BD scope (change of main activity or institutional sector)
Match 7 – exclusion of new enterprises, which are in liquidation process
Match 4 – for legal persons – existence of predecessors – if at least one predecessor is found according to the RES, the legal person cannot be considered as birth or death
Match 1 – comparison of economic activity (4 digit NACE) and location (part of town or village, street and number) – according to manual
Match 2 – comparison of name (first 13 letters) and location – according to manual
Match 3 – comparison of economic activity and name – according to manual
Match Z – manual control of large units (more than 20 employees or more than 2 million EUR.)
As a matching tool we use special software developed for this purpose. The specially developed software supports the whole BD. Data matching tools are working according project demands in three steps: during the first step are designated units for verifying, during the second step are verified units and for this purpose is used special software for identification this units and for the recording of the results, and during the third steps the BD database is updated by these results.
b) Matching:
As regards units moving in or out of scope (e.g. to or from NACE Rev. 2 sections A, O) the solution is based on matching process (match 6), when we are finding new and death units, because of their existence or no-existence in other population of active enterprises, which were or are out of BD scope. When some unit is found, it is not considered as real birth or death. Last year the number of such cases was:11346 (1317 in + 10029 out)
.
When matching the different birth and death populations, 19436 (matching birth 2022); 18259 (matching death 2020) reactivations were discovered last year.
18.3.2. Manual checks
The results of matches 1, 2, 3 and Z are checked manually – they are verified by using administrative sources – commerce register, annual statistical survey or web searching – direct communication with very large enterprises. For matching on location we use only the latest administrative address of headquarters.
The number of enterprises for manual checking is increasing each year. In the future it will not be possible to carry out manual checking exhaustively. Last year we manually investigated 431 large births and deaths. This approach covered all the births and deaths with 20 or more employees or enterprises with turnover more than 2 mil. EUR, but no employees. Last year 64,5% proportion of manually checked units was confirmed as real births and deaths. 73,0% of limited liability companies and 16,9% of joint stock companies were found to be real large births and deaths. No method was used to verify the results for surviving enterprises.
18.4. Data validation
Before sending to Eurostat, the following checks are performed: hierarchical, inter-variable plausibility, interflow, confidential and completeness.
18.5. Data compilation
1. Estimation of missing number of self-employed persons
The data on self-employed persons are taken from statistical business register which updates them regularly from the data on the Czech Social Security Administration.
2. Estimation of preliminary deaths
For estimation of preliminary deaths we use the average from the portions of deaths on active enterprises for the last 4 reference years. It is calculated from the revised data for each stratum and separately for enterprises, persons employed and employees. Only the years with different value than zero for active enterprises are used for the calculation of the average.
3. Calculation of annual average
The annual average of employees and self-employed persons is calculated by using Social Security Administration data in combination with survey data. The annual average of enterprises with no any employees and self-employed is estimated as an average of the respective imputation stratum. The denominator for calculation of annual average is 12 in this case (number of months).The number of employees or self-employed persons is calculated as an annual average. However, it may happen that a respondent unit states the number at the end of the reference year instead of the annual average in the questionnaire. If we do not reveal this methodological imperfection, e.g. by confronting an administrative source, then the number of employees or self-employed persons at the end of the year enters the resulting data.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No further comments.
The annual Business demography data collection covers variables which explain the characteristics and demography of the business population. The methodology allows for the production of data on enterprise births (and deaths), that is, enterprise creations (cessations) that amount to the creation (dissolution) of a combination of production factors and where no other enterprises are involved (enterprises created or closed solely as a result of e.g. restructuring, merger or break-up are not considered).
A summary of the available indicators is listed below. The data is available at EU, country and regional level, with breakdowns for type of activity, legal form and size class.
For the population of active enterprises:
Number of active enterprises;
Number of enterprise births;
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years;
Number of enterprise deaths;
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons).
For the population of active employer enterprises:
Number of enterprises having at least one employee;
Number of enterprises having the first employee;
Number of enterprises having no employees anymore;
Number of enterprise survivals up to five years;
Related variables on employment: 'employees' and 'persons employed' (employees and self-employed persons).
For high-growth enterprises, the following indicators are available at EU and country level:
Number of high-growth enterprises (growth by 10% or more);
Number of employees of high-growth enterprises;
Number of young high-growth enterprises (up to five years old high-growth enterprises);
Number of employees of young high-growth enterprise.
8 January 2025
BD constitutes an important and integrated part of the EU Regulation 2019/2152 on European Business Statistics (EBS Regulation).
Enterprise.
The target population is all active enterprises covered by Structural Business Statistics at Sections B to N, P to R and division S95 and S96 of NACE Rev.2 that have a turnover or employment, make investments or hold assets/liabilities during the reference year. The following thresholds are used:
> 0 employee - population of employer enterprises,
> 9.5 employees in the beginning of the growth - population of high-growth enterprises (10%),
> 9.5 employees in the beginning of the growth - population of 'gazelles' (10%).
The Czech Republic
2022.
Not requested.
The number of active, birth, death and survival enterprises, as well as high-growth enterprises is expressed in units.
The number of employees is expressed in units.
The number of persons employed is the sum of number of employees and self-employed persons.
The number of self-employed persons is expressed in units.
1. Estimation of missing number of self-employed persons
The data on self-employed persons are taken from statistical business register which updates them regularly from the data on the Czech Social Security Administration.
2. Estimation of preliminary deaths
For estimation of preliminary deaths we use the average from the portions of deaths on active enterprises for the last 4 reference years. It is calculated from the revised data for each stratum and separately for enterprises, persons employed and employees. Only the years with different value than zero for active enterprises are used for the calculation of the average.
3. Calculation of annual average
The annual average of employees and self-employed persons is calculated by using Social Security Administration data in combination with survey data. The annual average of enterprises with no any employees and self-employed is estimated as an average of the respective imputation stratum. The denominator for calculation of annual average is 12 in this case (number of months).The number of employees or self-employed persons is calculated as an annual average. However, it may happen that a respondent unit states the number at the end of the reference year instead of the annual average in the questionnaire. If we do not reveal this methodological imperfection, e.g. by confronting an administrative source, then the number of employees or self-employed persons at the end of the year enters the resulting data.
a) Type of data source:
The main source for updating the Statistical Business Register is the Basic Register of Legal Units that provides the main identification and demographic characteristics on legal units (name, address, date of birth or death etc.) on daily basis. The information on activities of enterprise is collected from several administrative sources (Trade licencing register, Commercial register etc.), special SBR survey and other statistical surveys. The information on number of employees is obtained from the Czech Social Security Administration. The turnover variable is obtained from Ministry of Finance (accounting reports). The data on employed persons are provided by SBS.
b) Coverage of SBR (Statistical Business Register):
SBR covers all activities according to NACE rev.2 and all legal forms, there are no exclusions.
c) Matching, profiling or imputation:
During the matching process between SBR and income tax payers, social security payers or self-employed persons, some inconsistencies appeared in identification of legal units (0,01%).
Annual
BD data are transmitted to Eurostat within required deadlines:
Preliminary high-growth enteprises T+12 month,
BD for total populaiton and high-growth at aproximately T+18 month,
Employer BD at T+20 month,
Regional data at T+22 month.
Regarding one specific indicator - enterprise death, at that time only preliminary enteprise data are available, for final data need one more year, what is also stipulated in the Regulation.
Not requested.
First reference year available (calendar year): 2000-2022.
Breaks in time series and reasons for the breaks:
2012: The years 2000 - 2012 are not comparable with the next years because there was change administrative sources used by Business register, which is main source for business demography.
2021: In addition non-profit institutions and housing cooperatives (associations) classified in the institutional sector of non-financial enterprises were not part of the SBS population until the reference year 2020.From the reference year 2021, in accordance with EBS requirements, they were included in the population.
