Federal Statistical Office of Germany (DESTATIS)

E 21 "Business indices, seasonal adjustment"

Statistisches Bundesamt
Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 11
D-65180 Wiesbaden

This indicator is part of the overall STS indicator system which supports business cycle observation. The results for persons employed show the evolution of employment in industrial activities, construction activities and the enterprises active in “other services“ (according to annex D of the EBS regulation).

Labour input data are compiled at the 4-digit level of NACE Rev. 2 and for the NACE Rev. 2 Sections.

For industry, labour input data are also calculated for MIGS (Main Industrial Groupings) as well as 2- and 3-digit levels.

For construction, employment data are broken down according to the manual/non-manual breakdown

Regional figures are published by the regional Statistical Offices (Statistical Offices of the German States (Länder)) at a more aggregated level.

NACE Rev. 2 (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community).

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F

NACE Rev. 2 Divisions G45 and G46, Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3)

NACE Rev. 2 Division G47

Employment data correspond to the total number of persons employed. They include owners working in the unit, persons on leave for illness, holiday or on strike, persons working part-time or short-time.They exclude family members working less than 1/3 of the average working time (in other words less than 55 hours a month), agency workers (for construction, agency workers are included), persons employed by other units to assemble or repair capital assets as well as persons on early retirement. In Section F, home workers are excluded. In addition to the total of persons employed, the questionnaire asks for the number of manual workers (inclusive of apprentices).

In Sections B and C local units with 50 or more persons employed are surveyed. In Sections D to E36 local units with less than 20 persons employed are only surveyed if they belong to an enterprise employing 20 persons or more.

In Section F the basic information collected are nominal figures. Active enterprises of all size classes are covered.

For retail trade and service, the number of persons employed is defined as the total number of persons who work in the observation unit (inclusive of working proprietors, partners working regularly in the unit and unpaid family workers), as well as persons who work outside the unit who belong to it and are paid by it (e.g. sales representatives, delivery personnel, repair and maintenance teams).

The survey on retail trade covers enterprises with an annual turnover in excess of EUR 250,000 and as such approximately 6% of turnover is not covered.

In the respective NACE codes for "other services" mix-models are applied, where different thresholds (depending on NACE code) define whether a unit is covered by primary survey or by administrative data. If  the unit is covered by administrative data, the only information available is employees viable for social security (no self-employed, no minor employment). In accordance with the requirements for Business Demography self-employed persons are imputed to complement the administrative data. The thresholds below which administrative date is used are in NACE-division 45: 10 million Euro annual turnover or 100 employees; in NACE division 46: 20 million Euro annual turnover or 100 employees; in NACE section I: 150,000 Euro annual turnover; in all other NACE codes: 15 million Euro annual turnover or 250 employees.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36:

Reporting unit: Local unit.

Observation unit:  Local kind-of-activity-unit.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: Local unit

NACE Rev. 2 Divisions G45, G46 and G47 Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3): Legal unit

All relevant statistical units in NACE Sections B to C according to the Business Register: ~24,000 legal units (2023).

All relevant statistical units in NACE Section F "construction" according to the Business Register: ~390,000 legal units (2023)

All relevant statistical units in NACE division 47 "Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles" according to the Business Register: ~364,000 units (2014)

All relevant statistical units in NACE Divisions G45 and G46 Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3) according to the Business Register: ~1.8 million units (2014)

Country as a whole.

Labour input outside the geographical territory of Germany is not included in the data.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: Since 1962.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: Since 1995.

Since 1980 for Divisions 45 and 46 as well as Section I; since 2003 for the remaining NACE codes of "other services"

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: Since 1980

2021 = 100

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: Index based on the evolution of employment in industrial activities

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: Index based on the evolution of employment in construction activities

NACE Rev. 2 Divisions G45 and G46, Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3): Index based on the evolution of employment in "other services"

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: Index based on the evolution of employment in trade

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36, Divisions 45, 46 and 47 as well as Section I: Month.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F, remaining NACE codes of "other services": Calendar quarter

Till 2022: The laws regulating the collection, treatment and dissemination of statistical data are the Council Regulation (EC) No 1165/98 of 19 May 1998 concerning short-term statistics with implementing acts (e.g. Commission Regulation No 1503/2006 of 28 September 2006 concerning the definitions). 

From 2022 and onwards: Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS-Regulation).

Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistic (General Implementing Act) as well as the Federal Statistics Act (1987), the national Manufacturing Industry Statistics Act (ProdGewStatG of 2002) with several amendments, the national Trade Statistics Act (HdlStatG of 2001), the national Services Statistics Act (DlKonjStatG of 2013) and the national Law governing the use of administrative sources for Statistics (VwVDG).

The results are compiled in close cooperation with the Statistical Offices of the German States (Bundesländer).

Data sent to Eurostat may contain confidential data to compile the European aggregate.

Confidentiality is guaranteed by section 16 of the Federal Statistics Act. It requires that respondents must be informed about their rights and obligations in providing statistical information. This rule is strictly followed. It also applies to the notification that individual data are only used for statistical purposes and - subject to protection procedures - for scientific purposes.

Furthermore, Chapter V “Statistical Confidentiality” of the REGULATION (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council applies.

As regards the confidentiality of data, methods of primary and secondary confidentiality checking have been developed and are being used. For business and agriculture surveys, disclosure risk assessment is based on concentration-rules. Cell suppression is used to prevent residual disclosure in tables for dissemination.

A continuously updated release calendar containing the precise release dates for the reference periods of the following year is published on the website of destatis always in October.

https://www.destatis.de/SiteGlobals/Forms/Suche/Termine/EN/Terminsuche_Formular.html?nn=43216

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: There is a press release for the number of persons employed. The press release is published around 45 days after the end of the reporting month. The German Central Bank has prior access to the data. Data are transmitted monthly to Eurostat the same day as national publication.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: The national publication is split in different aggregates that are published at different dates by press release. Data are transmitted quarterly to Eurostat approximately 2 months after the end of the reference quarter.

Divisions G45, G46 and G47, Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3): Data are available to the public through Eurostat’s Data-Explorer and the national online-database GENESIS. The public is informed by a press release that is published on the homepage of DESTATIS. Additionally, some main users are informed via email at the same point of time (publication date) and there is a possibility to use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) for information about new data.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36, Divisions 45, 46 and 47 as well as Section I: Monthly.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F, remaining NACE codes of "other services": Quarterly.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: The regular press release is published around 45 days after the end of the reporting month.

NACE division 45 and 46 as well as NACE section I: Normally 14 days after the latest transmission date to Eurostat (t+60) a press release is published online.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F, Division 47: No news release.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: results of the survey are available on destatis.de or GENESIS-Online Data base (https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online?operation=statistic&levelindex=0&levelid=1712236537798&code=42111#abreadcrumb)

NACE Rev. 2 Section F:  results of the survey are available on destatis.de or GENESIS-Online Data base (https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online?operation=themes&code=4#abreadcrumb)

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: Not available

https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online/data?operation=sprachwechsel&language=en

Scientists have the possibility to get regulated access to official statistical micro data via Research Data Centres (FDZ).

The data are sent to Eurostat be released also as national data.

Important methodological papers are published in “Wirtschaft und Statistik” (Economics and Statistics), a monthly publication of DESTATIS, that is published through the homepage of DESTATIS.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Economic-Sectors-Enterprises/Industry-Manufacturing/_node.html

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Economic-Sectors-Enterprises/Construction/_node.html

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: Important methodological papers are published in “Wirtschaft und Statistik” (Economics and Statistics), a bimonthly publication of DESTATIS, that is published through the homepage of DESTATIS.

In the following articles the method is described. These are only available in German.

Wirtschaft und Statistik, Heft 11/2010: Informationen zur Stichprobenrotation by Wein/Dr. Lorentz: Die neue automatisierte Stichprobenrotation bei den Handels- und Gastgewerbestatistiken.

The national quality reports for the underlying statistics are published in German language under the following

URL:https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/_node.html

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Methoden/Qualitaet/Qualitaetsberichte/Bauen/einfuehrung.html

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/QualityReports/Wholesale-Trade-Retail-Trade/einfuehrung.html

The data of German official statistics enjoy a reputation of high reliability in Germany and abroad. Destatis has committed itself to assure and further enhance the level of quality already attained. In order to achieve this task – also in the ESS – the activities of destatis are based on quality guidelines. To assure quality in the long term, dstatis applies a variety of systematic quality assurance measures, among others the European Statistics Code of Practice.

Detailed descriptions can be found here: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/_node.html

The monthly survey is conducted in a decentralized manner. The Statistical Offices of the German States (Länder) are responsible for collecting, checking and processing their respective data. The Federal Statistical Office is entrusted with methodological preparations and the development of the statistics, and it collects the regional results (Länder) in order to produce and publish federal results as well as to calculate indices.

The data of employment is an important early indicator for monitoring and analysing the short-term economic development in Germany for government departments, ECB, national central bank, international organisations, Social actors: employers' organisations, trade unions, lobby groups, etc., Media, Researchers & students, Enterprises/businesses, Internal users (national accounts), Eurostat.

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: The monthly surveys in trade are part of the economic statistical system of the European Union for the purpose of monetary and economic policy. They also provide information on the use of parts of the private consumption. The monthly surveys in the trade are an important addition to the results of the annual trade statistics that provide information about the structure, profitability and productivity in the trade. The main users of trade statistics include the Federal ministries, in particular the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the respective countries ministries and the German Bundesbank and the European Commission and the European Central Bank. In addition, also include trade associations and interest groups of retail trade und wholesalers to users of trade statistics. The results are also considered in the calculation of national accounts of the Federation and the Länder.

Destatis conducts user satisfaction surveys in various sectors of statistics. The Statistical Advisory Committee (Statistischer Beirat) represents the interests of the users of federal statistics and regularly consults with destatis.

Additionally, user satisfaction is measured by the number of monthly visits on specialized publications on the website of destatis and the respective number of printed products sold or downloads, quarterly downloads from the on-line database “GENESIS”, downloads of the Statistical Yearbook sorted by chapters and the number of external queries via the costumer management system.

STS requirements according to EU regulations and national laws are fulfilled.

Sections B to E36, F: Deviations between the preliminary and the final results are marginal.

Divisions G45, G46 and G47, Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3):

Main sources for errors/potential for bias: Survey data:

-         Unit- and item-non-response

-         Over- and under-coverage, incorrect classified units in the sample frame

-         Implausible data

-         Incorrect signing of the non-response-case

-         Inappropriate estimation of missing values

Administrative data:

-         Different observation units (e. g. local units)

-         Incorrect classification

-         Implausible data

-         Deviations in the definitions

-         Modifications of the legal basis of the administrative data or in the delivery-format

-         Lack of timeliness and completeness (dependence)

-         No unique identifier (statistical identity number differs from the identity number of the administrative data source)

-         Metadata not up-to-date for linking with the Business Register

Divisions 45/46: With the switch from a stratified random sample a mix-model (combination of survey and administrative data) in 2012 the burden, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, was reduced completely.

Division 47: The sampling design is selected according to recognized scientific random sample theory methods so that the statistical results can be provided, given the sample size with the best possible precision. 45 days after the end of the month, the so-called measurement report number in the database Genesis-Online is available that still affect around 14% estimation accuracy Shares reducing. An improved estimation program is to increase the precision of the estimate. The monthly surveys commercially ready always to 24 months, that is, the companies have 24 months the opportunity to correct their information. Non-response can therefore affect the 25 months treatment. The reasons for revisions in the previous month results have been researched and documented. The sampling errors are relevant for the policy on aggregate level (WZ-2- and 3-digits) low.

Section I: The cut-off limit of 50,000 euros annual turnover was increased to 150,000 euros. About 2,700 companies were relieved from October 2011 of monthly reporting requirements.

Remaining NACE codes of "other services": With the switch from a stratified random sample to a mix-model (combination of survey and administrative data) in 2007 the burden, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, was reduced completely. Since then, the number of the units in the survey decreased to one-tenth. The quality of the results did not suffer from that. Other positive effects are timelier responses and a better response rate.

Sections B to E36, F: Not relevant since surveys are conducted with a census above a cut-off threshold.

Division 47: The sampling design for the monthly statistics in retail is selected according to recognized scientific random sample theory methods so that the statistical results can be provided, given the sample size of best precision. Since the report of 2009, the selection plan is based on NACE rev.2, whereby an improvement in accuracy has been achieved. The relative standard error for the reporting period September 2009 - September 2011.

Section I: The relative standard error for the reporting period September 2009 - September 2011 for the characteristic fulltime-employees was:

A bias could occur because only local units with 50 or more persons employed (in Sections B to C) respectively enterprises with 20 or more persons employed (in Sections D to E36, F) are surveyed. However, this is not relevant at the level of Germany.

The response rate is close to 100%.

Trade and services: Typical non-sampling errors occur, like unit- and item-non-response, wrong classified units, missing units or inactive units in the sample frame (Business Register) and so on. Cases of non-unit and non-item response are not of such importance than in other statistics, because missing values have to be estimated. In the monthly wholesale trade statistics, the proportion of estimates in the primary data collected is decreased by switching to the Mixmodell from 12% to 1%.

Replacement of non-response with estimates. In the middle were 27.4% of the results of the press release retail estimated.

Additionally, actions to increase the rate of response are used. Those are: written reminders and telephone queries for instance. Besides, there exists a legal obligation for the observation units to respond. Fines can be imposed, if they do not respond.

The survey on retail trade covers enterprises with an annual turnover in excess of EUR 250,000 and as such approximately 6% of turnover is not covered.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: The first preliminary results for hours worked are published approximately 45 days after the end of the reference month. Data are to be delivered by the reporting units up to the 12th day after the end of the reference month.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: The first preliminary results for hours worked are published approximately 60 days after the end of the reference period. Data are to be delivered by the reporting units up to the 10th day after the end of the reference period.

NACE Rev. 2 Divisions G45 and G46: Results are transmitted to Eurostat 60 days after the end of the reference-quarter.

The monthly publication for Section I is available 45 days after the end of the reference period. The national publication for Section H, J, M and N is approximately 14 days after transmission to Eurostat.

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: First results are released 30 days after the end of the reference month; Additional economic breakdowns are published around 45 days after the end of the reference month.

All publication deadlines are met.

Results for federated states (Bundesländer = NUTS 1) are directly comparable to each other.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36, F: Consistent time series are available since 2005.

Since 1994 for Divisions 45 and 46 as well as Section I; Since 2009 for the remaining NACE codes of "other services"

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47: Since 2003.

Coherence with National Accounts is only partly given (because of different data collection and estimation methods).

Internal coherence is given (sub-aggregates add up to the main aggregate).

NACE Rev. 2 Divisions G45 and G46, Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3): All data are checked for internal consistency. The administrative data alone would not meet the European requirements completely. This is the reason for combining administrative data with survey data of the “big enterprises”. It can also be stated that the completeness of data as well as the quality increases the later the data are obtained.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36: Not available.

NACE Rev. 2 Section F: DESTATIS estimates the hours used by DESTATIS for this indicator as 30 person hours per month.

Wholesale trade (G46):

• Costs per year in 1,000 EUR        643
• Number of cases per year           72,000
• Total time per case in min.          not available
• Number of variables per case      3 (turnover, fulltime-employee, parttime-employee)

Source: Standard Cost Model (effective 01/01/2012)

Accomodation and food service activities (Section I)

• Costs per year in 1,000 EUR        1393
• Number of cases per year            91,200
• Total time per case in min.           not available
• Number of variables per case       3 (turnover, fulltime-employee, parttime-employee)

Source: Standard Cost Model (effective 01/01/2012)

remaining NACE codes of "other services"

• Costs per year in 1,000 EUR        643
• Number of cases per year           20,000
• Total time per case in min.          46
• Number of variables per case      2 (turnover and persons employed)

Source: Standard Cost Model (effective 01/01/2012)

NACE Rev. 2 Division 47:

• Costs per year in 1,000 EUR      1,394
• Number of cases per year         396,000
• Total time per case in min.       not available
• Number of variables per case    3 (turnover and persons employed)

Source: Standard Cost Model (effective 01/01/2012)

The general revision policy of the Federal Statistical Office is published under the following URL: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Methods/Quality/GeneralRevisionsPolicy.html

This policy applies to national publications and data sent to Eurostat.

Sections B to E36: The first publication is flagged as provisional results. These results are revised in March of the following year (final Data). The differences between the first and the final data are   small.

Section F: At the first publication all results are considered provisional. With every publication two former results are revised, but still considered provisional. Results are considered final with the third revision 11 months after the reference period.

The national publication is split in different aggregates that are published at different dates. The national results are considered final after the second revision.

Data revisions are necessary due to new information, methodological changes or if errors are detected. Detected errors are corrected immediately, while new information is included through regular revisions.

In NACE Divisions 45 and 46 as well as Section I data is corrected every month. Corrections are possible up to 24 months from the reference period. In all other NACE codes the regular revisions affect the two quarters before the current quarter. The impact of these regular revisions is in general relatively low.

Division 47: Data is corrected every month. Corrections are possible up to 24 months from the reference period. There is no data about the revision range between the first and the final data.

Sections B to E36: The persons employed in industrial activities are obtained for local-kind-of-activity units based on a primary survey of all local units in NACE Sections B to C with 50 or more persons employed and local units in Sections D to E36 of enterprises with 20 or more persons employed.

Section F: The persons employed in construction activities are obtained for local-kind-of-activity units based on a primary survey of all enterprises in NACE Section F with 20 or more persons employed, which is complemented by administrative data (business register) for small units.

Division 47: Statistical survey with 23 500 enterprises.

From 2010 on annual updating of a part of the sample (sample rotation).

Section I: sample survey.

Sections G, H, J, M and N:

The data set is based on a mix-model, that is a combination of a statistical survey and administrative data. Legal units with:

-         division 45: at least 100 persons employed and/or at least 10 million annual turnover (in the business register)

-         division 46:at least 100 persons employed and/or at least 20 million annual turnover (in the business register)

-         sections H, J, M and N: at least 250 persons employed and/or at least 15 million annual turnover (in the business register)

are surveyed primary. For all the other units administrative data are used. Therefore, it is a full coverage. The units that are primary surveyed are selected once a year.

The administrative data source for persons employed is the number of employees obliged to pay social insurance in the register of the Federal Employment Agency. There are some differences in the definition (e.g. working proprietors, unpaid family workers and civil servants are missing) and in the observation unit, because of the different purposes. The unit is not the enterprise/legal unit but the local unit. Therefore, the number of employees has to be aggregated to the relevant statistical units.

Sections B to E36, Division 45, 46 and 47 as well as Section I: Monthly.

Section F: Monthly in the main construction activity and quarterly in the building completion and installation activity.

remaining NACE codes of "other services": quarterly

The data collection is done by Internet questionnaires (IDEV), which are sent and collected by the Statistical Offices of the German States (Statistische Ämter der  Länder).

Trade and services: Since August 2013 the chosen units have to respond on-line. Two methods to report on-line are provided: IDEV and eSTATISTIK.core. IDEV is an internet questionnaire, while eSTATISTIK.core is an application that is based on a special statistical software component. With eSTATISTIK.core enterprises are able to extract statistical raw data automatically from their corporate accounting systems and transfer the compiled data via the Internet to the responsible Statistical Office.

The obligation to provide information is on the owners or directors of the legal unit. Fines can be imposed if they do not response within the period fixed or with the provided reporting systems.

The validation (plausibility checks) is done by the Statistical Offices of the German States (Länder) with a standardized IT-Program (StatVG).

Divisions G45 and G46, Sections H, I, J, M_STS (M without 70.1, 72 and 75) and N_STS (N without 77, 81.1 and 81.3): Plausibility checks on micro data level are implemented. There are different checks for survey data and administrative data. For survey data the plausibility checks can be divided in “can-be-errors” (could be an error) and “must-be-errors” (is definitely an error). The “must-be-errors” have to be cleared before the compilation of the indices starts, otherwise the process stops.

Additionally, the results are checked on the macro data level by comparing change rates of unadjusted as well as adjusted indices.

Division 47: Checking the revisions of results for previous months (NACE-level: 2- and 3-digit).

Estimates for non-response are based on reported values of the preceding month.

Division 47: Non-response or missing values due to late response are estimated if reported data of the 3 previous months is available.

For Division 45 and 46 as well as Section I: Non-response or missing values due to late response are estimated as part of the monthly collection round. The values of enterprises that provide late declarations are estimated as part of the automatic plausibility checks using the relation between the declarations of the preceding three months and the same month one year earlier. These estimates are then replaced by the correct values when the late declaration is received.

For the remaining NACE codes of "other services": Indices are compiled by the change rate to the quarter before on the 4-digit-level of the NACE Rev. 2. The aggregation to higher levels takes place by using SBS-weights.

To calculate the change rate it is important to include only units with data in both quarters (the current and the previous quarter). Therefore, missing values are estimated. If a unit may respond later the estimated value is replaced by the real value within the regular revisions.

NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to E36, F: No adjustment

Trade and services: Calendar and seasonal adjustment based on X12-ARIMA for Divisions 45 and 46 as well as Section I; Calendar and seasonal adjustment based on X13 in JDemetra+ 2.2 for all other NACE codes

None.