Structural business statistics (STATENT) from 2011 onwards

The structural business statistics (STATENT) provides comprehensive information that is updated every year on the structure of the Swiss economy on the basis of register data (mainly the AHV/AVS register and the FSO business and enterprise register) as well as data from the business surveys. STATENT has replaced the Business Census, which was conducted for the last time in 2008. Selected variables from the extensive data stock are analysed at hectare resolution and transformed into geodata, which is then made available.

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Survey principles

The structural business survey (STATENT) is an exhaustive register-based survey. Most data for the primary sector are collected through coordination of administrative data in the context of the Direct Payments Ordinance (SR 910.13). Secondary and tertiary sector data come mainly from the AHV/AVS funds and are completed from time to time with surveys. An obligation to report employment exists for annual incomes above CHF 2300. Participation in the complementary surveys is compulsory.

NOGA classification 2008

NOGA (General Classification of Economic Activities) is a fundamental work tool, used to structure, analyse and present statistical information. This system classifies the statistical units "businesses/enterprises" and "establishments" by economic activity in a clear and uniform system, thus making it possible to make a realistic and complete description of the observed statistical universe and in sufficient detail for the various uses made of this information.

The current version, NOGA 2008, is composed of 5 levels and distinguishes 794 different economic activities. It takes into account not only the framework conditions fixed by the EU's statistical classification of economic activities (NACE Rev. 2) but also the requirements of the various interest groups in Switzerland.

Geodata production, hectare reference

By a combination of informations from the FSO business and enterprise register (BER) and the federal building and dwellings register (BDR) the business establishments recorded in each survey are geocoded. For the dissemination of data, statistical information on enterprises and establishments is analysed by using a hectare grid. For each hectare, the coordinates of the south-west corner (bottom left) are used as an identifier. Every characteristic or numeric value shown for each cell relates to occurrences within the 100x100 m surface of this cell, i.e. the number of establishments, for example, whose central coordinates are found in the square in question. In this way they build an aggregation of the individual records from a survey that are allocated to each grid cell or hectare.

Clustering small values to ensure data protection

For reasons of data protection, certain restrictions apply to variables from the structural business survey with regard to forwarding raw data and cartographic representations based on a measurement in hectares. To ensure data protection, absolute values from 1 to 4 are shown in standard tables as a group with the value of "4". Where their use can be justified, data that have not been grouped together in this way can be used for statistical, research and planning purposes after conclusion of a data protection agreement.

Status of available geodata

2011-2023: as of August 2023