Definition: Structural business statistics

Category: Structural business statistics

Structural business statistics (SBS) describe the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred sectors). SBS may be used to answer such questions as: how much wealth and how many jobs are created in an activity?; is there a shift from the industrial sector to the services sector and in which specific activities is this trend most notable?; which countries are relatively specialised in the manufacture of aerospace equipment?; what is the average wage of an employee within the hotels and restaurants sector?; how productive is the chemicals sector and how does it fare in terms of operating profitability?

SBS describe the economy through the observation of units engaged in an economic activity, which in SBS is generally the enterprise (Source: Eurostat website, "Structural business statistics" Dedicated section).

The objective of the Council Regulation on structural business statistics is to establish a common framework
for the collection, compilation, transmission and evaluation of Community statistics on the structure, activity, competitiveness and performance of businesses in the Community. The compilation of structural business statistics has as its purpose, in particular, to analyse:

(i) the structure and evolution of the activities of businesses;
(ii) the factors of production used and other elements allowing business activity, performance and competitiveness to be measured;
(iii) the regional, national, Community and international development of businesses and markets;
(iv) business conduct;
(v) small and medium-sized enterprises;
(vi) specific characteristics of enterprises related to particular groupings of activities (Source: Council Regulation on structural business statistics). http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/european_business/introduction/ European Union, Council Regulation on structural business statistics