CROATIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS  

Labour Market Statistics Unit

Branimirova 19, 10000 Zagreb

Quarterly indices of gross wages of persons employed in legal entities. Indicator is beeing derived from the Regular monthly survey on persons in paid employment and gross and net earnings (RAD-1). 

NACE Rev. 2.

Until 2015 all enterprises selected in purposive sample regardless of size and registered in all A-S of NACE Rev. 2.  activity sections (A-S).

Since 2016 full coverage of enterprises in all A-S of NACE Rev. 2.  activity sections (A-S).

Gross earnings comprise all kinds of net pays on the basis of permanent employment plus participations, contributions, taxes and surtaxes as prescribed by the law. Gross wages/earnings includes income of a person in paid employment in legal entities earned for work done during regular working hours and some other payments: for annual leave, paid leave, public holidays and day-offs as prescribed by law, sickness leave up to 42 days, absence for continuing professional education, during lay-off and job stop caused against person’s will and of no fault of his/her own, military duty, worker’s meal and receipts on the basis of reimbursements, supports and rewards, premiums and bonuses after periodic and final accounts. Earnings in kind are not included.

The data are collected at the end of the reference month and cover all wages/salaries paid for the reference month. The data on wages/salaries are available 7 weeks after the reference period.

Data is quarterly provided to Eurostat in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 (Annex IV).

Reporting units are legal entities of all types of ownership, government bodies, and bodies of local and regional self-government units on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Until 2015 data are collected through the report filled in by legal entities on the basis of the records of persons in employment.

Since 2016 data are results of regular monthly survey on persons employed and wages based on administrative data sources. 

Observation units are kind-of-activity units (KAU).

Statistical population represent all active legal entities registired in Statistical Business Register. This refers to trade companies, enterprises, institutions, co-operatives, associations, political parties and state government bodies, as well as bodies of local and regional self-government units.

Geographicaly, entire theritory of the Republic of Croatia is covered. Activities outside the geographical coverage are not included in the data.

Time series are available since 1963. During this time some methodological changes, change in currency (Dinar; Kuna), change in classification and change in data source occurred.

The base year is 2021. The same base year is applied to the data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat. Publication date of the index for period  Q1/2024 is chosen for changing the reference year.

Data are transmitted to Eurostat as indices (%). At national level, the data are published as absolute values (national currency- Kuna), until 2022.

Republic of Croatia joined the euro area on 1 January 2023, since than at national level data are published in Euro.

Data are quarterly.

Legal frame for conduction of Regular Monthly Survey on persons employed and wages is The Official Statistics Act (National Gazette, No. 25/20), The Programme of Statistical Activities of the Republic of Croatia 2021 - 2027 (the Official Gazette No. 29/22) and Annual implementation plan. Obligation on units to provide data is compulsory according to the Law on Official Statistics (National Gazette, No. 25/20).

Legal basis on the european level are the Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2019/2152 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2020/1197.

There are no agreements or procedures for data sharing and coordination between data producing agencies.

The statistical confidentiality of Croatian CBS is regulated by:

• Official Statistics Act, OG, Nos 25/20

• Ordinance on the Access to Confidential Data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics within the System of Official Statistics (defines conditions of handing over of confidential statistical data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics to other producers of official statistics in the Republic of Croatia as well as methods of applying the safekeeping measures of the confidential statistical data handed over to the Bureau by other producers of the official statistics in the Republic of Croatia)
• Instruction on the Protection Rules and Methods for the Dissemination of Official Statistics of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (regulates the rules and methods for ensuring the dissemination of official statistical data within the scope of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics in the form and manner that protect the statistical unit from direct or indirect identification)
• Ordinance on the Conditions and Terms of Access and Use of confidetial Statistical Data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics for Scientific Purposes (defines conditions and terms of permitting the access to confidential statistical data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics for scientific purposes)
• Instruction on the Method of Protection of Confidental Statistical Data in the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (regulates procedures and measures for storing and protecting statistical data by applying physical, technical and organizational measures required to ensure statistical data from unauhorised access, alteration, loss or destruction, responsibility implementing measures and protection procedures and other issues relevant to the security of statistical data).

Confidential data are treated according to The Official Statistics Act (National Gazette,National Gazette, No. 25/20). 

Statistical data which can, either directly or inderectly, get in connection with persons and legal entities are considered to be confidential. It is not possible to get confidential data in regular monthly survey on wages and persons employed.

The Calendar of Statistical Data Issues provides a precise overview of the publications due to be released by the CBS for the entire statistical year, one year in advance. According to the Official Statistics Act, the release date of the Calendar is three months prior to the release date of the first publication of the following year. The release date is usually in October. It is bilingual and available on CBS website.

The Calendar of Statistical Data Issues for 2023  is available on the website of Croatian Bureau of Statistics, free of charge.

All publication issued by the CBS are simultaneously available to all interested parties - on official website of CBS (free of charge). There are no government officials which would have access to the data before release to the public. Data are transmitted quarterly to Eurostat on the same day as the national figures are published.

The data are transmitted quarterly to Eurostat and disseminated monthly to national users.

There are no ministerial commentary attached to the release of the data. Only CBS comments published data. There is no official news release concernig those data.

Data on gross wages are published in monthly First Releases, titled as First Release No RAD-2022-1-1 Average monthly net and gross earnings (monthly release on the average monthly gross and net earnings of persons employed per employee and per paid hour and average number of paid hours in legal entities in the country as a whole).

Statistics in Line

All publications are electronically disseminated.

Indices are published online in STS Database on the CBS website.

The database is available on-line to all users. Frequency of updating the online database is quarterly on a date announced in the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues.

In accordance with confidentiality rules, no micro-data are disseminated.

Data are transmitted to Eurostat.

Methodological Guidlines No. 66 Monthly report on persons employed and wages (RAD-1) can be found on official website of CBS https://web.dzs.hr/Hrv/publication/metodologije/metod_66.pdf (so far only in Croatian). Each publication also contains Methodological explanations.

Not available.

There are no guidelines focusing on quality in general dealing with quality of statisical programmes, including measures for ensuring the efficient use of resources. Application of ESS Code of Practice is being introduced.

There is no overall assessment of data quality based on standard quality criteria.

Users of data on gross wages are: academic comunity, general public, government bodies, journalists, international organisations.

One of the key points of quality management in the CBS and within all statistical activities is user needs monitoring. CBS is developing systematic monitoring of suggestions, comments and opinions of their users, and is trying to deliver short-termed replies. Reviewing and analyzing user satisfaction is implemented into regular tasks of the CBS. For business improvement and future planning, it is crucial to accept opinions, attitudes, and users' suggestions with the utmost respect, and take feedback information seriously into consideration.

The goals of survey on user satisfaction are various:

· learning the needs and expectations of statistical data users

· examining user preferences for creation of different products and services

· acquiring feedback on products and services of the CBS in order to improve and further develop them

CBS conducted a user satisfaction survey in November 2013, April 2015 and 2022 (from November 25 to December 23).

Few user satisfaction surveys about CBS's activities on social networks were carried out in 2016 and 2017.

User consultation in CBS takes place in a variety of ways, both formal and informal. The main communication channel with users is the Statistical Council which is the advisory body for strategic issues concerning official statistics and it is established to ensure that user needs are taken into account (Official Statistics Act, Article 20).

Users and general public also have an opportunity to comment and give their opinion on CBS's draft strategies, laws, programmes and plans through application e-Consulting on the Central Government portal. Also, there are many bilateral contacts with the main users, and many informal contacts with occasional users.

CBS set up standing user groups for key statistical areas in the first half of 2017. User groups meetings are held occasionally (according to any open issue). Such groups provide an effective means for collecting feedback on statistical services and products, for informing users about quality and methodology reports and other metadata.

All breakdowns and variable forms are provided, according to the EU regulations in force.

Data are in general accurate fully. They are not biased.

Until 2015 there are no sampling errors because the sample is purposive, and all selected units MUST deliver their data.

Since 2016 there are no sampling errors because of full coverage.

Response rate is 100%; all of the enterprises (units) selected in the sample are obliged to submit reports and submit them regularly. There is no need for any action to speed up or increase response rate because it already is the highest possible. 

Until 2015 data are available within 7 weeks from from the end of the reference period. Data are collected by a postal questionnaire through regional statistical offices. At the beginning of the year 12 monthly questionnaires are sent to respondents, with one being returned to the CBS each month by the 5th of the month following the reference period. The survey is conducted on the last day of the month.

Since 2016 data are also available within 1 month from the end of the reference period when is uploaded from the administative sources.

There is no time lag between the actual delivery of the data and the target date when it should have been delivered.

Data for the republic of Croatia are fully comparable between geographical areas.

Data over time could be compared taking into account methodological changes concerning classifications used.

Since 2016 break in data series because of new data source.

Data at a lower level can be obtained from the Labour Statistics Department, taking into account the confidentiality of individual data. Data are coherent.

Data are fully consistent. Sub-aggregates are coherent with aggregates.

In order to reduce burden for reporting units starting with Q1 2016 administrative source was used to compile data on gross wages.

No documented data revision policy. It is possible to retrieve vintage database on demand.

Once published, data on gross wages are not revised.  

Type of source: Monthly statistical survey

Until 2015:

Frame on which the source is based: Address lists derived from an administrative register of business entities regularly updated from other available sources.

Sample or census: Purposive sample.

Criteria for stratification: 70% of persons in paid employment in each Division of NACE Rev. 2.

Threshold values and percentages: No threshold values.

Frequency of updating the sample: Annually

Since 2016 data on gross wages were gathered by processing data from the Report on Income, Income Tax and Surtax as well as Contributions for Mandatory Insurances (JOPPD form), in effect since 1 January 2014.

Data are collected monthly. 

Until 2015 paper questionnaires was used in the survey: Monthly report on persons in paid employment and gross and net earnings (RAD-1).

In order to reduce response burden starting with 2016 administrative source was used to compile data on gross wages.

Each month, after data are processed and before dissemination, final validation of data is made in order to ensure the quality of the statistical results.

Before transmission to Eurostat, mathematical and logical controls incorporated in calculation sheets are made.

There are no estimations for non-response because the response rate is 100%. Also, estimates for grossing-up to population levels aren't done.

Compilation method for national purposes: Average monthly gross wages per employee are calculated by dividing total amount of gross wages by total number of persons employed who have received those payments.

Compilation method for the purpose of transmission to Eurostat: Monthly total amounts of gross wages are summed for the months of each quarter of the year as are the monthly number of persons who have received those wages. Average gross wages per employee is calculated by dividing the total amount of gross wages with the total number of employees who have received those wages. From those quarterly gross wages, quarterly indices are calculated by dividing quarterly gross wages with average gross wages for the base year (2021=100) for each Section (A-S) of NACE Rev. 2.

JDEMETRA method (regression method), which is based on X-13 ARIMA models, is used for the adjustment, on a time series from January 2022. Direct method is used for the seasonal adjustment of time series. In the seasonal adjustment the impact of the number of workdays, Easter and other national holidays was taken into account in those time series for which the mentioned influences were statistically significant. These adjustments are made for the total series, MIGS and selected Divisions.

None.