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.
economic activity of entities (at section level) in accordance with NACE Rev. 2 - Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community.
size of entities: the whole population of enterprises and the population of establishments with 1 or more employees.
2.3. Coverage - sector
The data concern all the economic activities defined by NACE Rev. 2, except for the activities of households as employers and the activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies.
2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
A 'job vacancy' is defined as a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied, or about to become vacant:
for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside of the enterprise concerned; and
which the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
‘Active steps to find a suitable candidate’ include:
notifying the public employment services about the job vacancy,
contacting a private employment agency/head hunters,
advertising the vacancy in the media (for example internet, newspapers, magazines),
advertising the vacancy on a public notice board,
approaching, interviewing or selecting possible candidates/potential recruits directly,
approaching employees and/or personal contacts,
using internships.
'Specific period of time’ refers to the maximum time the vacancy is open and intended to be filled. That period shall be unlimited; all vacancies for which active steps are being continued on the reference date shall be reported.
An 'occupied post’ means a paid post within the organisation to which an employee has been assigned.
2.5. Statistical unit
The basic statistical unit for the data collection is the local unit.
2.6. Statistical population
Entities with one and more employees (details are listed in the annexes).
2.7. Reference area
The whole territory of the country.
2.8. Coverage - Time
Time series classified according to NACE Rev. 2 are available from the first quarter 2009.
2.9. Base period
Not applicable.
3.1. Source data
Questionnaire Z-05 'Labour Demand Survey'.
3.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly (4 times a year).
3.3. Data collection
Data are collected by the Statistical Office in Bydgoszcz in an electronic form, mainly via our website. For small entities a paper form is allowed. Link to the questionnaire: Z-05.
3.4. Data validation
Checking and validating the source data are carried out at following stages of the surveys: data collecting, processing, and compilation (final preparation) of the results. Validating and checking procedures contain among others algorithms for data corectness (arithmetic and logical control), analysis of coverage and response rates and comparing with data for previous cycles.
3.5. Data compilation
The initial design weights were equal to the reciprocals of the sampling fractions. Because of non-response these weights were corrected in reference to size classes, NACE sections, and NUTS 2 levels. Moreover, the numbers of the employees from the sampling frame were used. The correction took into account different reasons of unit non-response i.e. refusal, out-of-scope units (for example liquidation units), and lack of contact with selected units.
3.6. Adjustment
Seasonal adjustments procedures were conducted according to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1062/2008 of 28 October 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) No 453/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies, as regards seasonal adjustment procedures and quality reports (OJ L 285/3). Procedures were carried out in compliance with the Guidance note on Documenting Seasonal Adjustment practices delivered by Eurostat Directorate F Unit F-3 (Labour market statistics and lifelong learning). The seasonal adjustments for variables job vacancies and occupied posts were calculated with a breakdown by NACE section and allow to improve data conformance with standards and meet quality requirements.
4.1. Quality assurance
Quality assurance is based among others on the implementation of principles and standards described in following documents: The European Statistics Code of Practice, ESS Handbook for Quality and Metadata Reports, results of the Peer Reviews, national quality reviews of statistical surveys.
4.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of the JVS data is reported in detail for individual quality criteria listed below.
5.1. Relevance - User Needs
Generally, main users are ministries and other government institutions. The information collected in the survey is also used by national private users, i.e. researchers, students, journalists or entrepreneurs. Their main needs are always analysed and mostly implemented into the survey (having regard to the possibilities of the sample survey).
5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
When handling orders for statistical data submitted by users, Statistics Poland collects information both on clients' needs and satisfaction concerning data. The views and opinions are considered and - if possible - they are taken into account and used.
5.3. Completeness
There are no missing variables or breakdowns in JVS data collected by Statistics Poland according to the EC Regulations.
5.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Data completeness = 1 (100% of the required data cells are available).
Note: unit response rate = 61.3% (end of quarter 4, 2024).
6.1. Accuracy - overall
Assessment of accuracy for 2024 data set:
CV for the number of job vacancies = 3.51%;
See more detailed information an annex.
6.2. Sampling error
Sampling frame contains 681439 units. The 75 thousand sample accounts for 11% of the frame. Details are available in the annex.
6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
In the calculation of the CV the balanced half-sample replication method was used for the 10+ employees size class, and classical textbook formulas applicable for stratified random sampling for the 1-9 employees size class. See attachment CV for the number of job vacancies (cv2024.xls).
6.3. Non-sampling error
Respondents may report erroneous data, despite that the explanations on how to fill the questionnaire are contained in the questionnaire. While filling the questionnaire, the wrong values are indicated. In case of doubtful answers, specialists of the Statistical Office in Bydgoszcz contact the respondents. However, in order to avoid possible measurement and processing of errors some enhancing actions are taken, i.e. further questionnaire testing, employee training sessions etc.
6.3.1. Coverage error
See attachment Coverage errors.xls.
6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Over-coverage error doesn't occur.
6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable. Data are collected only from the survey.
6.3.2. Measurement error
See note for point 6.3 - non-sampling error.
6.3.3. Non response error
See below.
6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
See attachment Unit response rate.xls.
6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not available.
6.3.4. Processing error
See note for point 6.3 - non-sampling error.
6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate
Imputation data methods were not used.
6.3.5. Model assumption error
See the item 3.5 Data compilation (weighting).
6.4. Seasonal adjustment
Seasonal adjustment procedures were applied with regard to the European Statistical System guidelines on seasonal adjustment. They have been used starting from the data for the third quarter of 2014.
6.5. Data revision - policy
Not relevant.
6.6. Data revision - practice
Not relevant.
6.6.1. Data revision - average size
Not relevant.
7.1. Timeliness
See below.
7.1.1. Time lag - first result
About 70 days after the reference period in Poland (for national users), 45 days after the reference period (data available only for EUROSTAT).
7.1.2. Time lag - final result
First result is the final one.
7.2. Punctuality
See below.
7.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Deadlines for the respondents to reply, also covering recalls and follow-ups: about 23rd day of the month after the reference period. Period of the fieldwork lasts until the 23rd day after the reference period. Period of data processing is about 45 days after the reference period (quarters). Dates of publication of the first results fall about 70 days after the reference period (quarters).
8.1. Comparability - geographical
Concepts used in the survey are coherent with the European ones.
8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not available.
8.2. Comparability - over time
Definitions and coverage have not been changed since 2009.
8.2.1. Length of comparable time series
68 time series.
8.3. Coherence - cross domain
See annexes:
PL Beveridge curve 2024;
PL Comparison of JVS with LFS data 2024.
8.4. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Lack of possibility to compare between JVS quarterly data and annual / sub annual statistics on job vacancies. Statistics Poland prepares only quarterly JVS data.
8.5. Coherence - National Accounts
Lack of information.
8.6. Coherence - internal
Each set of outputs is internally consistent.
9.1. Dissemination format - News release
Quarterly News Release (Informacja sygnalna) - 4 times a year.
The results are published in news releases and in an annual publication. These issues include also methodological notes, graphs and maps. The description of methodology is included in the publication „The demand for labour” and also in the methodological rules for labour market and earnings statistics. Presentation of the results in the quarterly news releases on Statistics Poland's website and also in printed publications and electronic publications available on the website. Moreover, the Education and Communication Department of Statistics Poland provides basic information on the survey and makes data available for users.
9.7.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Most metadata are made available in publications and on the Statistics Poland website.
9.7.2. Metadata - consultations
Data are not available.
Restricted from publication
11.1. Confidentiality - policy
Existing legislation providing confidentiality to the statistical data:
the Act of 29 June 1995 on Official Statistics;
the General Data Protection Regulation;
the Act of 10 May 2018 on the Protection of Personal Data;
internal regulations of Statistics Poland.
11.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
If data contain small values or data collection consists of only one unit then aggregation of several units is applied in order to make the identification of individual units impossible.
A 'job vacancy' is defined as a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied, or about to become vacant:
for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside of the enterprise concerned; and
which the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
‘Active steps to find a suitable candidate’ include:
notifying the public employment services about the job vacancy,
contacting a private employment agency/head hunters,
advertising the vacancy in the media (for example internet, newspapers, magazines),
advertising the vacancy on a public notice board,
approaching, interviewing or selecting possible candidates/potential recruits directly,
approaching employees and/or personal contacts,
using internships.
'Specific period of time’ refers to the maximum time the vacancy is open and intended to be filled. That period shall be unlimited; all vacancies for which active steps are being continued on the reference date shall be reported.
An 'occupied post’ means a paid post within the organisation to which an employee has been assigned.
The basic statistical unit for the data collection is the local unit.
Entities with one and more employees (details are listed in the annexes).
The whole territory of the country.
Not Applicable
Assessment of accuracy for 2024 data set:
CV for the number of job vacancies = 3.51%;
See more detailed information an annex.
Not Applicable
The initial design weights were equal to the reciprocals of the sampling fractions. Because of non-response these weights were corrected in reference to size classes, NACE sections, and NUTS 2 levels. Moreover, the numbers of the employees from the sampling frame were used. The correction took into account different reasons of unit non-response i.e. refusal, out-of-scope units (for example liquidation units), and lack of contact with selected units.
Questionnaire Z-05 'Labour Demand Survey'.
Not Applicable
See below.
Concepts used in the survey are coherent with the European ones.
Definitions and coverage have not been changed since 2009.
