Statistical Office of Montenegro - MONSTAT

Department for Short-term indicators

IV Proleterske No. 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro 

INDUSTRY: The survey of Industrial production and turnover in industry collected the data of hours worked. The collected data enable a monitoring and engaged of the labour force in the industrial sectors.

CONSTRUCTION: The survey of construction activity collected the data of hours worked. The collected data enable a monitoring and engaged of the labour force in the construction sector.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Surveys of retail trade and other services used data of hours worked from Labour Force Survey. 

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the most comprehensive survey on labour market characteristics conducted on a sample of households in Montenegro. The Survey is conducted once a year, and the period of record was in October. The Labour Force Survey 2007 was conducted on the basis of questionnaires which were prepared and harmonized with EUROSTAT’s requirements through the assistance provided by CARDS project “Labour Market Reform and Workforce Development”. In defining the primary contingents, international recommendations and definitions were used (the published guidelines and definitions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the requirements of EUROSTAT), so that information received through this survey present the most important source of data in labour statistics which are by its contents and methodology comparable with the similar data of other countries.

Survey is carried out continuously with quarterly data processing from 2008. 

Total number of households in the sample is 10 920 annually and the overall sample size per quarter is approximately 2 730 households.

The definitions used in the EU-LFS follow the Resolution of the 13th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, convened in 1982 by the International Labour Organisation. To further improve comparability within the EU, while remaining fully compatible with the ILO guidelines, Regulation 1897/2000, gives a more precise definition of unemployment.

The LFS covers persons in private households. While demographic data are gathered for all age groups, questions relating to labour market status are restricted to persons in the age group of 15 years or older. 

Data can be provide respectively for those aged 15-74, 15-64, 15-24,15 and more etc.

Legal basis: Legal basis for implementation of the LFS is the Law on statistics and statistical system of Montenegro (”MNE Official gazette”, No. 18/12 and 47/1): Law on Official Statistics and Official Statistical System (Official Gazette of Montenegro 18/12, 30 March 2012)

Implementation of the LFS in Montenegro also relies on the following EU regulations: The principal legal act is the Regulation (EU) 2019/1700. The regulations are an important element assuring the quality of the EU-LFS. They stipulate the rules and guidelines to assure the comparability of the results by regulating the survey designs, the survey characteristics, methods and the decision making processes of the EU-LFS. 

Reference week: The EU-LFS is designed as a continuous quarterly survey with interviews spread uniformly over all weeks of a quarter. Each reference week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday. The first week of a year or quarter is defined as the week that includes the first Thursday of the year or the quarter.

Periodicity of the results: We produce a quarterly and annually estimates.

This data covers area of retail trade and other services.

INDUSTRY: NACE Rev.2

CONSTRUCTION: NACE Rev.2 and Classification of Types of Construction - CC.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The LFS results are produced in accordance with the relevant international classification systems. The main classifications used are NACE Rev.1 (NACE Rev.1.1 from 2008) and NACE Rev. 2 (from 2011) for economic activity, ISCO 88 (COM) and ISCO 08 (from 2011) for occupation and ISCED 1997 and ISCED 2011 (from 2014) for the level and field of education.

INDUSTRY: Reporting units are enterprises (companies) and KAU whose main activity is industry and who are in the Central Register of the Commercial Court to the classification of economic activities registered in the section B (Mining and quarrying), C (Manufacturing) and D (Electricity, gas, steam and air condition supply).

CONSTRUCTION: Reporting units of survey on construction activities are:

- enterprises with 5 and more employees which are registered in sector F – construction (area 41, 42, 43) according to the classification NACE Rev.2 and

- enterprises (KAU) which are not registered in sector F, but whose local units perform the construction works.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: 

G45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

G47 Retail trade

G46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

H49 Land transport and transport via pipelines

H50 Water transport

H51 Air transport

H52 Warehousing and support activities for transportation

H53 Postal and courier activities

I55+I56  Accommodation and food service activities

J58 Publishing activities

J59 Motion picture, video and television program production, sound recording and music publishing activities

J60 Programming and broadcasting activities

J61 Telecommunications

J62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities

J63 Information service activities

M69 Legal and accounting services + M702 Management consulting services

M71 Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis

M73 Advertising and market research

M74 Other professional, scientific and technical activities

N78 Employment activities

N79 Travel agency, tour operator reservation services and related activities

N80 Security and investigation activities

N812 Cleaning activities

N82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities.

INDUSTRY: Hours worked present the total number of hours worked in the production of reporting units during the reference period. There are covered the total number of employees which are works in reporting unit (including the owner work, regular partners in the unit and unpaid family workers). Hours worked including working hours which employees are held in operating activities during the reporting month.

CONSTRUCTION: Hours worked present the total number of hours worked in the production of reporting units during the reference period. There are covered the total number of employees which are works in reporting unit (including the owner work, regular partners in the unit and unpaid family workers), as well as the employees that are work outside of their unit and who are paid by reporting units. Shall include employees who are absent for a short period (sick leave, paid leave or special leave), as well as employees in the strike and who are absent for an indefinite period. It is also including the employees with part-time work, seasonal workers, trainees and family workers who are on the payroll. 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: 

The definitions of the presented indicators can be summarised as follows:

Number of hours actually/usually worked in the main /second job during the reference week

The number of hours actually/usually worked during the reference week includes all hours including extra hours, either paid or unpaid, but excludes the travel time between home and the place of work as well as the main meal breaks (normally taken at midday). Persons who have also worked at home during the reference period are asked to include the number of hours they have worked at home. Apprentices, trainees and other persons in vocational training are asked to exclude the time spent in school or other special training centres.

INDUSTRY: The survey of Industrial production and turnover in industry includes KAU with main activity in sections B, C and D Nace Rev2.

CONSTRUCTION: Quarterly survey of construction activities includes all reporting units that are in the Register of Business Entities registered in construction sector as well as KAU. 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Persons and households.

INDUSTRY: The list of reporting units for 2023 reference year includes all enterprises with  5 and more employees and added condition is to produce quantity of product higher than measurement units proposal in PRODCOM list. There is around the 200 reporting units.

CONSTRUCTION: In a sample of 2023, of 465 enterprises from the field of construction is included 131 enterprises, of which 127 enterprises with primary activity in the construction field and 4 enterprises with a secondary activity in the construction.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The LFS results cover the total population usually residing in Montenegro, except for persons living in collective or institutional households. While demographic data are gathered for all age groups, questions relating to labour market status are restricted to persons in the age group of 15 years or older. The LFS covers all industries and occupations.

INDUSTRY: The whole territory of Montenegro. The activities outside the geographical coverage are not included.

CONSTRUCTION: The whole territory of Montenegro. The activities outside the geographical coverage are not included.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The whole teritory of Montenegro. The activities outside the geographical coverage are not included. 

INDUSTRY: Data are available from 2010.

CONSTRUCTION: Data on hours worked are available since 2000. During the last years there have been changes and amendments but the variable hours worked were constantly provided. In 2011 is introduced the question for the hours worked on the construction site divided on building and civil engineering's.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Data are available from 2007 onwards for the the annual series. From 2008 quarterly and annual. 

The base year is 2021.

Data of hours worked are transmitted to Eurostat as indices.

On national level, this data are published as indices.

Quarter.

INDUSTRY:The legal basis for the implementation of this survey is the Law on Official Statistics and Official Statistical System of Montenegro ("Official Gazette of Montenegro “, No. 18/12 and 47/19) and Annual plan of statistical surveys. Implementation of the industrial activity survey in Montenegro also relies on the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152.

CONSTRUCTION: The legal basis for the implementation of this survey is the Law on Official Statistics and Official Statistical System of Montenegro ("Official Gazette of Montenegro “, No. 18/12 and 47/19) and Annual plan of statistical surveys. Implementation of the construction activity survey in Montenegro also relies on the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Legal basis: Legal basis for implementation of the LFS is the Law on statistics and statistical system of Montenegro (”MNE Official gazette”, No. 18/12 and 47/19): Law on Official Statistics and Official Statistical System (Official Gazette of Montenegro 18/12, 30 March 2012)

Implementation of the LFS in Montenegro also relies on the following EU regulations: The principal legal act is the Regulation (EU) 2019/1700. This is the main regulation with provisions on design, survey characteristics and decision making processes.  

Data are regularly transmitted to Eurostat via eDAMIS.

National legislation:                                           

According to the Law on Statistics and Statistical System of Montenegro, Article 54 the data collected, processed and stored for the purpose of official statistics shall be confidential, if it is on the basis of these data, either directly or indirectly identify reporting units which disclosing individual information.    

European legislation:

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 March 2009, on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Government of Montenegro, on the 64th session, held on February 22, 2018, adopted  Commitment on Confidence in Official Statistics which is available on web site http://monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=1461&pageid=1461

Confidential data are treated according to policy rules (see point 7.1). 
Data are nationally published only on the level at which they are not confidential.
Individual data represent an official secret.

INDUSTRY: The data are not published on the national level.

CONSTRUCTION: Data are published 45 days after the reference period. Date of publication statements is defined in the Calendar of statistics of MONSTAT.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The release calendar is publicly available and published at the end of the year for the following year. The LFS main indicators data are released according to a quarterly release calendar. Annual results are released two weeks after the fourth quarter.

A statistical calendar is published on the website. A link to the MONSTAT website: https://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=1179&pageid=1179

User access is achieved for construction statistics via the MONSTAT website. The data are available for all users at the same time. The data are published in a press release (Excel and Word), in the monthly statistical bulletin (Excel and Word) and as dynamic data (Excel).

Quarterly 

INDUSTRY: The data are not published on the national level.

CONSTRUCTION: Data on hours work on construction site are available on the website: http://monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=476&pageid=35

Variable total hours worked are transmitted to Eurostat via EDAMIS but it is not published. 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Yearly and quarterly press releases. Data are available on the MONSTAT website and in an Annual press release:http://monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=527&pageid=22

INDUSTRY: The data are not published on the national level.

CONSTRUCTION: Data are published in the quarterly release "Construction activity" and in Monthly Statistical Bulletin.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Data are published in the Statistical Yearbook of Montenegro, Montenegro in numbers and Women and men in Montenegro.

INDUSTRY: The data are not published on the national level.

CONSTRUCTION: Data are available on-line at http://monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=319&pageid=319

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: 

Data are available on-line at :http://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=22&pageid=22

Micro-data are not accessible.

Total hours worked data are transmitted to Eurostat via EDAMIS.

INDUSTRY:A statement of methodology is avaiable on website: https://www.monstat.org/uploads/files/Methodology_%20Indices%20of%20industrial%20production%20and%20turnover_2020.pdf

CONSTRUCTION: A statement of methodology is available on website: http://monstat.org/uploads/files/gradjevinarstvo/Gra%C4%91evinska%20aktivnost/Methodology_Construction%20activity_2021.pdf 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: http://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=305&pageid=22

Document is available in Montenegrin.

INDUSTRY: Quality report for this survey is available on web site: http://www.monstat.org/uploads/files/kvalitet/industrija/2022./Quality%20report_Index%20of%20production%20and%20turnover%20in%20industry_2022.pdf 

CONSTRUCTION: Quality report for this survey is available on web site:http://monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=1640&pageid=319 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Quality report of LFS survey is available on the web site: http://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=1425&pageid=1425

The quality reports are not available for 2023.

MONSTAT has officially accepted the European Statistics Code of Practice. European Statistics Code of Practice in Montenegro is available on the website: http://www.monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=5&pageid=5.

For the systematic and standardized approach to quality, the Quality Management Framework was adopted by MONSTAT. Clear intention is expressed to take further steps towards full compliance with the European Statistics Code of Practice.

Quality is monitored throughout all stages of data production, by the responsible statisticians, according to specifications for concrete surveys. Data collection, data capture and processing are usually subject to this monitoring (similarly as timeliness and punctuality).

In the framework of the organization of statistical surveys, selected quality aspects are part of preparing staff involved in statistical production.

The Quality Management Strategy is available on web site http://monstat.org/eng/page.php?id=1422&pageid=1422 

Users of data are: Eurostat, Ministry of Finance and other Ministry, sectors inside MONSTAT, the companies engaged in construction, another general public.

Customer satisfaction survey is not yet available at the level of research. All users request was fulfilled and based on that, we have concluded that users are satisfied with our survey. At the level of institutions is available online survey: https://www.monstat.org/uploads/files/kvalitet/2.%20Izvjestaj%20o%20zadovoljstvu%20korisnika%20-%202022_FINAL%20engleska.pdf

The satisfaction survey is not available for 2023.

INDUSTRY: The survey is done on the basis of a cut-off includes companies that are registered in section B, C and D  (by NACE Rev. 2 classification of economic activities) and the data obtained in this survey are partially compliant with the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152.

CONSTRUCTION: The survey is done on the sample and includes the enterprises that are registered in sector F (according to the Classification NACE Rev.2) and the data from this survey are harmonized with the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The data obtained in this survey are compliant with the  Regulation for the REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152.

INDUSTRY: The  industrial survey is done on the basis of cut-off. Data is obtained by reporting method and are subject to the usual types of errors associated with survey techniques, as well as  measurement errors, processing errors and non-response.

CONSTRUCTION: The results of quarterly survey of construction activity are based on a sample of reporting units and are subject to the usual types of errors associated with sampling techniques, as well as non-sampling errors, measurement errors, processing errors and non-response. Sampling error for value of construction works was calculated using SAS procedure Proc survey mean for part which was sample based.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES:  

The overall accuracy is considered as high. The LFS covers persons living in private households to ensure a comparable coverage for all countries. The Labour Force Survey is based on a two-stage stratified sample design. Sample frame until 2012 was Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2003, and from 2012 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings from 2011. Rotation model 2-(2)-1 is applied in the sample of LFS and households are interviewed four times. They are interviewed in two consecutive quarters, left out in the following two quarters and interviewed again in one quarter. Regardless of the sampling method or which age groups are interviewed, the data are representative for the population aged 15-74. As the results are based on a sample of population they are subject to the usual types of errors associated with sampling techniques and interviews.

Subject to Eurostat's quality screening, figures on employment fulfill the Eurostat requirements concerning reliability.

Estimated size of population group below which figures must be                                           

                                                           CV (%)     Size - quarterly    annually

- suppressed                                        30.00             1,500            1,200

- published with a warning                 10.00             2,500            1,900     

INDUSTRY: Not applicable

CONSTRUCTION: Quarterly survey of construction activity is done on a sample basis. Included are all enterprises and KAU with 5 and more employees who are registered in sector F according to the classification NACE Rev.2. The reporting units from class 1 (5-49 employees) are selected through stratified random sampling method. Reporting units from the class 2 and 3: >50 employees is full coverage. In the class 1 are 96 reporting units, in the class 2 are 33 and in the class 3 are 2 reporting unit. Sampling error of estimated value of hours worked calculated as CV is below 10% by quarter and it is precise enough to be published.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Not available.

INDUSTRY: Not applicable

CONSTRUCTION: 

a) Coverage error is the divergence between the frame population and the target population. We didn't make the estimation of the impact of entrepreneurs.                                          

b) Measurement errors are errors that are occurring during the data collection and caused that the recorded values of variables be different from the true ones.                                        

c) Processing errors. When the data have been collected, they pass through a range of processes before the final compilation (estimates, etc.) are produced: coding, keying, editing, imputing, weighting, tabulating, etc. Errors introduced at these stages are called processing errors.

d) Non-response errors occur when the survey fails to get response to one, or possibly to all questions of the survey. Typical response rate is around 75%.

The unit non-response rate is calculated as the ratio of the number of units which did not responded to the total number of eligible units (unweighted rate). The item non-response rate is calculated as the ratio of the eligible units which have not responded to a particular item and the in-scope units that are required to respond to that particular item.

We perform the imputation on the level of field and on the level of questionnaire. Imputation on the level of field is conducted by the missing variable we take an average of that variable from previous quarter. The non-response on the level of questionnaire solved by imputing the data based on the previous quarter (the average value).

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Not available.

INDUSTRY: The data are not published on the national level.

CONSTRUCTION: The data are published 45 days after the end of the reference period.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The data are published 75 days after the end of the referent quarter.

Deadlines for publishing have been complied in accordance with the calendar of release.

INDUSTRY: Not applicable. 

CONSTRUCTION: Not applicable. 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: 

Comparability across countries is achieved in the LFS through various regulations ensuring harmonisation of concepts, definitions and methodologies. However, perfect comparability among countries is difficult to achieve, even were it to be by means of a single direct survey, i.e. a survey carried out at the same time, using the same questionnaire and a single method of recording.

Comparability of the statistics is ensured for the main characteristics, employment and unemployment where particular definitions and sequence of questions are part of the EU legislation. The degree of comparability of the EU Labour Force Survey results is ensured by: the recording of the same set of characteristics in each country, a close correspondence between the EU list of questions and the national questionnaires, the use of the same definitions for all countries, the use of common classifications (e.g. NACE for economic activity), the data being centrally processed by Eurostat.

INDUSTRY: The data are not published on the national level.

CONSTRUCTION: During the last years the amendments have been done, but the main indicators such as the value of construction works, effective hours worked and numbers of employees were constantly collected. The data are comparable since 2010.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: The data are not published on the national level.

INDUSTRY: Not applicable.

CONSTRUCTION: In some cases, data from other areas of economic statistics can be used for cross-checking of data. If the differences between results from survey and other sources are significant, we made double checking of data.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Not applicable.

INDUSTRY: Not applicable.

CONSTRUCTION: The data are internal coherent. Higher level of aggregations is derived from the detailed indices according to well-defined procedures.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Not applicable.

Financial resources required for the implementation of this survey are defined by the budget of Statistical Office of Montenegro. 

The Revision Policy is prepared by Statistical Office of Montenegro and it is available on web site http://monstat.org/userfiles/file/o%20nama/2017/Revision%20policy.pdf

Significant revisions have only been made to reflect changes in methodology. We update figures all the time in the new press release with the remarks. The biggest revision is happened when we change base year.

INDUSTRY:Data are collected on a basis of all KAU with 5 and more employees of reporting units including Statistical Business Register (SBR) in MONSTAT which are registered in the section B-Mining and quarrying, C-Manufacturing and D-Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply. Nace Rev. 2 classification.

The industrial production index measures the changes of the volume of production for industry excluding construction activity, quantity and value of stocks of finished production.

CONSTRUCTION: Data are collected on a sample of reporting units including Statistical Business Register (SBR) in MONSTAT which are registered according to sector F by Nace Rev. 2 classification. In the class 1 (5-49 employees) is 96 reporting units, in the class 2 (50-249 employees) is 33 and in the class 3 (>250 employees) is 2 reporting units.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: 

The EU-LFS is a rotating random sample survey of persons in private households. Survey is carried out continuously with quarterly data processing from 2008.

Total number of households in the sample is 10 920 annually and the overall sample size per quarter is approximately 2 730 households. The Labour Force Survey is based on a two-stage stratified sample design. Sample frame until 2012 was Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2003 and from 2012 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings from 2011.

Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) are enumeration areas from Census of Population, Households and Dwellings from 2011. Selection unit and observing unit in the survey is household selected by the sample, and interviewing unit are the members of households. Only private households are included, while collective households are not.

Rotation model 2-(2)-1 is applied in the sample of LFS and households are interviewed four times. They are interviewed in two consecutive quarters, left out in the following two quarters and interviewed again in one quarter.

Quarterly.

INDUSTRY:Data are collected through questionnaires (by post, email).

CONSTRUCTION: Data are collected through questionnaires (by post, email).

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Data are collected by face-to-face interviews, using paper questionnaires. Interviews are done during the week immediately following the reference week. Data are collected with identical questionnaires through the whole year.

INDUSTRY:At national level, editing involves studying data from respondents with the aim of identifying (and eventually correcting) errors. Not all errors can be identified and the aim is to detect the errors that have a significant influence on the results. Rules to assist in identifying errors may flag possible errors that require further investigation to determine where there really is an error as opposed to an unusual result or they may identify definite errors. Editing involves checks for completeness, that values are within given ranges and that values for related variables are coherent. Data editing may take place during or after data entry. In order to improve the quality of data we check that the coverage and response are as required; checking the illogicalities (large increase or decrease in value of construction works, a large change in the new contracts compared to the previous quarter) and ect. We contact the reporting units if it’s necessary.

CONSTRUCTION: In order to improve the quality of data we check that the coverage and response are as required; checking the illogicality’s (large increase or decrease in value of construction works, a large change in the new contracts compared to the previous quarter) and etc. We contact the reporting units if it’s necessary.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: In order to improve the quality of data we check that the population coverage and response rates are as required; investigate inconsistencies in the statistics.

Main methods of reducing errors: sending an an advance letter to the household, check-phone call on interviewed households, contact staff working on the field. Validation activities include comparing the statistics with previous cycles, for example comparing the main LFS indicators in current and previous quarter.

INDUSTRY: Data are collected from reporting units which represent the movement of the physical volume of industrial production, and therefore the results of research are the monthly assessment of realized production. In the some special case, we do imputation on the field level and at the level of the questionnaire. Imputation on the field:  missing variable imputed take average production from previous period. Imputation on at the level of questionnaire: imputed data based on previous period (average value of each variables). 

CONSTRUCTION: The data are collected on a sample of reporting units which results represent a quarterly estimation of construction activities in Montenegro. Horvitz-Thompson estimation of totals is calculated according to the standard procedure for stratified sample with random selection of units within a stratum. The estimation of totals is calculated by summing the weighted values from the sample, where the weight for units from the same stratum is equal to the quotient of the number of units in the stratum and of the number of units in the sample. The original weights are adjusted for non-response. Allocation is done with Neyman algorithm. 

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Since 2013 the way of calculating LFS annual data: Variables collected every quarter lead to quarterly results which can be averaged through the year, hence producing so-called 'annual average results'.

INDUSTRY: The data are seasonally adjusted.

CONSTRUCTION: The data is working day and seasonally adjusted.

RETAIL TRADE AND SERVICES: Currently results are available form Q1/2010 to onward - it is assumed that due to the relatively short time series no significant working day effects were recognised with X-13-ARIMA. Therefore due to the recommendation of Eurostat the working-day adjusted time series are the same as the unadjusted time series.

No comment.