John Deasy
Question:100. Deputy John Deasy asked the Taoiseach the percentage of the overall workforce that is employed in small and medium enterprises. [26494/13]
View answerTuesday, 11 June 2013
Questions (100)
Written answers
The breakdown requested by the Deputy is included in Table 1 which follows. The year 2010 is the latest reference year for which final data is available. Data from 2006 – 2010 is included for comparison purposes. The source of the estimates is the Business Demography series as published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Small to medium enterprises (SME’s) are defined as follows:
1. Small Enterprises: less than 50 persons engaged.
2. Medium Enterprises: between 50 and 249 persons engaged.
3. Large Enterprises: greater than 250 persons engaged.
The enterprise figures quoted relate to the private business economy, which includes Industry, Construction and Services in NACE Rev 2 sectors B – N (excluding 64.20 “Activities of holding companies”). Enterprises in the Public Sector, Health, Education and Agriculture are not covered.
Table 1: Persons Engaged as percentage of total by Year (2006 - 2010):
|
Enterprise |
Persons Engaged |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Small Enterprises |
0 - 49 |
53% |
52% |
50% |
51% |
50% |
|
Medium Enterprises |
50 - 249 |
20% |
20% |
20% |
19% |
19% |
|
Large Enterprises |
250 and over |
27% |
28% |
30% |
30% |
31% |
|
All Enterprises |
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
The following should be noted when analysing the figures provided above. The figures provided are on a “person engaged in employment” basis and not on an employee basis. The definitions used are:
1. Persons engaged, includes employees, proprietors and family members.
2. Employees are persons who are paid a fixed wage or salary. Persons at work or temporarily absent because of illness, holidays, strike etc, are included. Persons working on a labour-only subcontract basis are excluded.
3. Proprietors and family members; included here are those proprietors (partners etc) and members of their families who work regularly in the firm and are not paid a definite wage or salary.
The Business Demography Press Release of 22 June 2012 is available at;
http://www.cso.ie/en/newsandevents/pressreleases/2012pressreleases/pressreleasebusinessdemography2010/