Data extracted in September 2025.
Background photo AdobeStock 391076890 RV.jpg
Planned article update: September 2026
Highlights
The information and communication services sector numbered around 1.4 million enterprises and employed almost 7.2 million people in the EU in 2022.
The information and communication services sector accounted for 6.6% of the value added in the EU's business economy in the EU in 2022.
This article presents an overview of statistics for the European Union's (EU) information and communication services sector, as covered by NACE Rev. 2 Section J. It belongs to a set of statistical articles on 'Business economy by sector'
Structural profile
The EU's information and communication services sector (Section J) numbered around 1.4 million enterprises in 2022, an increase of 8.7% compared with 2021. It employed almost 7.2 million persons and generated €667 billion of value added, an increase of 5.9% compared with the previous year. This sector's contribution to the business economy (Sections B to N and P to R, as well as Divisions S95 and S96) was 6.6% of value added, 4.5% of persons employed and 4.3% of the enterprise population.
,_EU,_2022_v_2.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)
The apparent labour productivity of the EU's information and communication services sector in 2022 was €92 800 per person employed, which was almost 55.0% higher than the business economy average of €59 900 per person employed. Alongside this relatively high apparent labour productivity — fifth highest among the NACE sections that form the business economy — average employee benefits expense within the information and communication services sector were €62 500 per employee (average personnel costs), which was also well above the average for the business economy (€38 900 per employee) and the third highest among the NACE sections.
The wage-adjusted labour productivity ratio shows that value added per person employed was equivalent to 148.5% of average employee benefits expense per employee across the EU in 2022. This ratio was very close to the business economy average (152.6%). The EU's information and communication services sector recorded a gross operating rate of 16.6% in 2022, higher than the 11.8% average for the whole of the business economy
Sectoral analysis
One of the 6 subsectors (at the division level) dominated the information and communication services sector in the EU, namely computer programming, consultancy and related activities (Division 62). This subsector generated more than half (59.8%) of the employment in 2022, and 51.1% of the sectorial value added.
,_EU,_2022.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)
Other subsectors within the information and communication services sector are: - publishing activities (Division 58), - motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities (Division 59), - programming and broadcasting activities (Division 60), - information service activities (Division 63).
,_EU,_2022.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)
,_EU,_2022.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)
Country overview
In the information and communication services sector, the highest shares of business economy value added were recorded in Ireland (19.3%) and Cyprus (15.5%), while the lowest was recorded in Austria (4.7%) and Italy (5.0%) - see Figure 2.
Source: Eurostat (sbs_na_sca_r2)
Germany made the largest contribution among the EU countries to sectoral value added and employment within the information and communication services sector in 2022, accounting for a 22.8% share of EU value added and a 22.6% share of the information and communication services employment. Over 1.6 million persons were employed within the information and communication services sector in Germany in 2022. The highest recorded levels of value added within the information and communication services sector in 2022 were Germany and France (€151.9 billion and €106.3 billion respectively). Collectively, the 5 largest EU countries accounted for 65.9% of the value added in the EU's business economy in the information and communication services sector.
,_EU,_2022.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_na_sca_r2)
Eight countries (Ireland, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Belgium, Malta, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France) stood out as having an apparent labour productivity higher than €100 000 per person employed for the information and communication services sector in 2022. Ireland reported the highest wage-adjusted labour productivity ratio, at 443.8%, followed by Malta at 308.5% and Cyprus at 301.3%. None of the EU countries recorded a wage-adjusted labour productivity ratio that was below parity (100%).
The highest gross operating rate for the information and communication services sector in 2022 was recorded for Malta (30.7%); while rates above 20.0% were recorded in total in seven EU Member States.
,_EU,_2022.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)
,_EU,_2022_v2.png)
Source: Eurostat (sbs_ovw_act)
Data sources
Coverage
Information and communication services concern the production and distribution of information and cultural products, the provision of the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications, information technology activities, and the processing of data and other information service activities.
The sector is composed of 6 separate NACE divisions and includes
- publishing activities (Division 58)
- motion picture and sound recording activities (Division 59)
- programming and broadcasting activities (Division 60)
- wired, wireless and satellite telecommunications activities (Division 61)
- computer programming and consultancy activities (Division 62)
- information service activities such as data processing, hosting, web portals, news agencies, information search (Division 63)
Note that this article does not cover printing or the mass reproduction of recorded media, both of which are considered as part of the manufacturing sector (Section C). The activities of call centres are included within the administrative and support services sector (Section M).
Publishing includes the acquisition of copyrights to content (information products) and making this content available to the general public by engaging in or arranging for the reproduction and distribution of this content in various forms; all types of media are included. Different types of content are considered, with the publishing activity as presented in this article including content such as books, newspapers, magazines and software, while the production of audio and visual content is included within motion picture and sound recording activities.
Programming and broadcasting activities cover the production and distribution of TV programming and involves different stages: production of individual items (such as films or television series); the creation of a complete television channel programme (including live news programming) and broadcasting; distribution of complete television programmes by third parties without any alteration of the content, for example through broadcasting, satellite or cable systems.
Data sources
The analysis presented in this article is based on the main dataset for structural business statistics (SBS), size class data and regional data, all of which are published annually.
The main series provides information for each EU country as well as a number of non-member countries at a detailed level according to the activity classification NACE. Data are available for a wide range of variables.
In structural business statistics, size classes are generally defined by the number of persons employed. A limited set of the standard structural business statistics variables (for example, the number of enterprises, turnover, persons employed and value added) are analysed by size class, mostly down to the three-digit (group) level of NACE. The main size classes used are
- small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): with 1 to 249 persons employed, further divided into
- micro enterprises: with less than 10 persons employed
- small enterprises: with 10 to 49 persons employed
- medium-sized enterprises: with 50 to 249 persons employed
- large enterprises: with 250 or more persons employed
Structural business statistics also include regional data. Regional SBS data are available at NUTS levels 1 and 2 for the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway, mostly down to the two-digit (division) level of NACE. The main variable analyzed in this article is the number of persons employed. The type of statistical unit used for regional SBS data is normally the local unit, which is an enterprise or part of an enterprise situated in a geographically identified place. Local units are classified into sectors (by NACE) normally according to their own main activity, but in some EU Member States the activity code is assigned on the basis of the principal activity of the enterprise to which the local unit belongs. The main SBS data series are presented at national level only, and for this national data the statistical unit is the enterprise. It is possible for the principal activity of a local unit to differ from that of the enterprise to which it belongs. Hence, national SBS data from the main series are not necessarily directly comparable with national aggregates compiled from regional SBS.
Context
Technological and regulatory advancements have made it possible for broadcasting to be opened up to a wider range of content and services to users than those traditionally distributed by government-licensed organisations that used to be solely responsible for the broadcasting of a small number of radio and television channels according to a fixed schedule. Using a range of modern technologies, broadcasting can nowadays be undertaken with far lower entry barriers, providing a wider range of distribution media, content and services to users.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) affect people's everyday lives in many ways and EU policies in this area range from regulating entire sectors to trying to protect an individual's privacy. The increased availability of broadband services and of wireless devices is transforming economic and societal behaviour. Widespread access to the internet via rapid broadband connections is seen as essential for the development of advanced services on the internet.
The European Commission's State of the Digital Decade 2025 report assessed the EU's progress along the four target areas for the EU's digital transformation by 2030, highlighting achievements and gaps in the areas of digital infrastructure, digitalisation of businesses, digital skills, and digitalisation of public service.
Explore further
Other articles
Thematic section
Publications
- Structural business statistics – SBS metadata file
Selected datasets
External links
- [http://ec.europa.eu/competition/index_en.html European Commission – Competition Policy
, see: