4.2.2006

Official Journal of the European Union

L 32/15

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 198/2006

of 3 February 2006

implementing Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council of 7 September 2005 on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises (1), and in particular Articles 7(3), 8(2), 9(4), 10(2), and 11(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 establishes a common framework for the production of Community statistics on vocational training in enterprises.

(2) In order to implement Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005, measures concerning the sampling and precision requirements and sample size needed to meet these requirement, and the detailed NACE and size categories into which the results can be broken down, should be adopted.

(3) The Commission should define the specific data to be collected with respect to the training and non-training enterprises and to the different forms of vocational training.

(4) Implementing measures concerning the quality requirements for the data to be collected and transmitted for Community statistics on vocational training in enterprises, the structure of the quality reports and any measures necessary for assessing or improving the quality of the data should be adopted.

(5) The first reference year for which the data are to be collected should be established.

(6) Provisions should also be adopted concerning the appropriate technical format and interchange standard of the electronically transmitted data.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Statistical Programme Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

This Regulation lays down measures to implement Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises.

Article 2

The first reference year for which the data are to be collected shall be the calendar year 2005.

Article 3

The specific variables to be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat) shall be as specified in Annex I.

Article 4

Sampling and precision requirements, the sample sizes needed to meet these requirements, and the detailed specifications of the NACE and size categories into which the results can be broken down shall be as specified in Annex II.

Article 5

Member States shall be responsible for data checking, error correction, imputation and weighting.

Imputation and weighting of variables shall follow the principles laid down in Annex III. Derogation from these principles shall be fully justified and reported in the quality report.

Article 6

Data shall be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat) by the means and in the format specified in Annex IV.

Article 7

Each Member State shall perform a quality evaluation of its data, to be presented in the form of a quality report. The quality report shall be prepared and presented to the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with the format specified in Annex V.

Article 8

With a view to achieving a high level of harmonisation of the survey results across countries, the Commission (Eurostat) in close cooperation with Member States, shall propose methodological and practical recommendations and guidelines for the implementation of the survey in the form of a ‘European Union Manual’.

Article 9

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 3 February 2006.

For the Commission

Joaquín ALMUNIA

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 1.

ANNEX I

VARIABLES

Note to the table:

The value ‘core’ and ‘key’ in the column ‘variable group’ are explained in Annex III.

The value ‘ID’ means that the variable is an ‘identification variable’.

In the column ‘variable type’ the value ‘QL’ refers to ‘Qualitative variable’ and ‘QT’ refers to ‘Quantitative variable’.

Variable name

Variable group

Variable type

Variable length

Variable format

Variable description

Variable remark

COUNTRY

2

Char

Country code

No missing — Unique by Country

ENTERPR

6

Num

Enterprise ID

No missing — Unique by case

WEIGHT

10

Num

Two decimal positions — Use ‘.’ as decimal separator

No missing

NACE_SP

4

Num

Sampling plan NACE — Category economic activity

No missing

SIZE_SP

1

Num

Sampling plan size group

No missing

NSTRA_SP

5

Num

Sampling plan — Number of enterprises in the stratum defined by NACE_SP and SIZE_SP, i.e. the population

No missing

N_SP

5

Num

Sampling plan — Number of sampled enterprises from the sample-frame in the stratum defined by NACE_SP and SIZE_SP

No missing

SUB_SP

1

Num

Sub-sample indicator, shows if enterprise belongs to sub-sample

No missing

N_RESPST

5

Num

Number of responding enterprises in the stratum defined by NACE_SP and SIZE_SP, i.e. the population

No missing

N_EMPREG

6

Num

Number of persons employed according to the register

RESPONSE

1

Num

Response indicator

No missing

PROC

2

Num

Record data collection method

No missing

IDLANGUA

2

Char

Language identification

IDREGION

3

Char

Region identification NUTS — Level 1

No missing

EXTRA1

10

Num

Extra variable 1

EXTRA2

10

Num

Extra variable 2

EXTRA3

10

Num

Extra variable 3

Core

4

Num

Actual NACE CODE

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

A2tot04

Key

6

Num

Total number of persons employed 31.12.2004

Key variable — No missing

A2tot05

Core

6

Num

Total number of persons employed 31.12.2005

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

A2m05

6

Num

Total number of males employed 31.12.2005

A2f05

6

Num

Total number of females employed 31.12.2005

A3a

6

Num

Persons employed — Under 25 years of age

A3b

6

Num

Persons employed — 25 to 54 years of age

A3c

6

Num

Persons employed — 55 years and older

Key

12

Num

Total number of hours worked in the reference year 2005 by persons employed

Key variable — No missing — in hours

A4m

12

Num

Total number of hours worked in the reference year 2005 by male persons employed

In hours

A4f

12

Num

Total number of hours worked in the reference year 2005 by female persons employed

In hours

Key

12

Num

Total labour costs (direct + indirect) of all persons employed in the ref year 2005

Key variable — No missing — in euro

1

Num

SIGNIFICANTLY new technologically improved products or services or methods of producing or delivering products and services during the reference year

B1a

Core

1

Num

Internal CVT courses

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B1b

Core

1

Num

External CVT courses

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B2aflag

Core

1

Num

Flag — On-the-job training

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B2a

6

Num

Participants in other form of CVT — On-the-job training

B2bflag

Core

1

Num

Flag — Job rotation

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B2b

6

Num

Participants in other form of CVT — Job-rotation, exchanges, secondments or study visits

B2cflag

Core

1

Num

Flag — Learning and quality circles

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B2c

6

Num

Participants in other form of CVT — Learning or quality circles

B2dflag

Core

1

Num

Flag — Self-directed learning

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B2d

6

Num

Participants in other form of CVT — Self-directed learning

B2eflag

Core

1

Num

Flag — Attendance at conferences etc.

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

B2e

6

Num

Participants in other form of CVT — Attendance at conferences, etc.

B3a

1

Num

CVT courses for persons employed in the previous year 2004

B3b

1

Num

Expect to provide CVT courses for persons employed during the next year 2006

B4a

1

Num

Other forms of CVT for persons employed in the previous year 2004

B4b

1

Num

Expect to provide other forms of CVT for persons employed during the next year 2006

C1tot

Key

6

Num

Total CVT course participants

Key variable — No missing

C1m

6

Num

CVT course participants — Male

C1f

6

Num

CVT course participants — Female

C2a

6

Num

CVT participants — Under 25 years of age

C2b

6

Num

CVT participants — 25 to 54 years of age

C2c

6

Num

CVT participants — 55 years and older

C3tot

Key

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) spent on all CVT courses

Key variable — No missing — In hours

C3i

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) for internal CVT courses

In hours

C3e

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) for external CVT courses

In hours

C4tot

Key

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) spent on all CVT courses

Key variable — No missing — In hours

C4m

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) in CVT courses — Male

In hours

C4f

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) in CVT courses — Female

In hours

C5a

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Languages, foreign (222) and mother tongue (223)

In hours

C5b

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Sales (341) and marketing (342)

In hours

C5c

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Accounting (344) and finance (343), management and administration (345) and office work (346)

In hours

C5d

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Personal skills/development (090), working life (347)

In hours

C5e

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Computer science (481) and computer use (482)

In hours

C5f

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Engineering, manufacturing and construction (5)

In hours

C5g

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Environment protection (850) and occupational health and safety (862)

In hours

C5h

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Personal services (81), transport services (84), protection of property and persons (861) and military (863)

In hours

C5i

10

Num

Paid working time in hours — Other training subjects

In hours

C6a

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) — Schools, colleges, universities and other higher education institutions

In hours

C6b

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) — Public training institutions (financed or guided by the government; e.g. adult education centre)

In hours

C6c

10

Num

Paid working time in (hours) — Private training companies

In hours

C6d

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) — Private companies whose main activity is not training, (equipment suppliers, parent/associate companies)

In hours

C6e

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) — Employers’ associations, chambers of commerce, sector bodies

In hours

C6f

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) — Trade unions

In hours

C6g

10

Num

Paid working time (in hours) — Other training providers

In hours

C7aflag

1

Num

Flag — fees

C7a

10

Num

CVT course costs — Fees and payments for courses for employees

In euro

C7bflag

1

Num

Flag — Travel costs

C7b

10

Num

CVT course costs — Travel and subsistence payments

In euro

C7cflag

1

Num

Flag — Labour costs trainers

C7c

10

Num

CVT course costs — Labour costs of internal trainers

In euro

C7dflag

1

Num

Flag — Training centre and teaching materials etc.

C7d

10

Num

CVT course costs — Training centre, or rooms and teaching materials for CVT courses

In euro

C7sflag

1

Num

‘Sub-total only’ flag

C7sub

Key

10

Num

CVT costs sub-total

Key variable — No missing — In euro

PAC

Key

10

Num

Personal absence cost — to be calculated (PAC=C3tot*A5/A4)

Key variable — No missing — In euro

C8aflag

1

Num

Flag — CVT contributions

C8a

10

Num

Contributions CVT

In euro

C8bflag

1

Num

Flag — CVT receipts

C8b

10

Num

Receipts CVT

In euro

C7tot

Key

10

Num

Total cost CVT — To be calculated (C7sub + C8a – C8b)

Key variable — No missing — In euro

C9a1

1

Num

Migrants and ethnic minorities — Employed

C9a2

1

Num

Migrants and ethnic minorities — Specific courses

C9b1

1

Num

Persons with a disability — Employed

C9b2

1

Num

Persons with a disability — Specific courses

C9c1

1

Num

Persons without formal qualifications — Employed

C9c2

1

Num

Persons without formal qualifications — Specific courses

C9d1

1

Num

Persons at risk of losing job/redundancy — Employed

C9d2

1

Num

Persons at risk of losing job/redundancy — Specific courses

C10a1

1

Num

Part-time contract persons — Employed

C10a2

1

Num

CVT courses geared to part-time contract holders

C10b1

1

Num

Fixed term contract persons — Employed

C10b2

1

Num

CVT courses geared to fixed term contract holders

1

Num

Own or shared training centre

1

Num

Person or unit within your enterprise with responsibility for the organisation of CVT

1

Num

Enterprise makes use of an external advisory service

1

Num

Enterprise implements regular formal procedures with the objective of evaluating the future skills needs of the enterprise

1

Num

Conduct structured interviews with its employees with the objective of establishing the specific training needs of persons employed

1

Num

Planning of CVT in the enterprise lead to a written training plan or programme

1

Num

Annual training budget, which includes provision for CVT

1

Num

Measure the satisfaction of the persons trained after the training

1

Num

After the training assess the trainees to establish whether the targeted skills were in fact successfully acquired

D10

1

Num

Enterprise assess the participants’ occupational behaviour and change in performance following the training

D11

1

Num

Measures the impact of training on business performance through the use of indicators

D12

1

Num

National, sectorial or other agreements between the social partners, which influenced the CVT plans, policies and practices

D13

1

Num

Existence of a formal structure

D13a

1

Num

Role of formal structure — Objective and priority setting for CVT activities

D13b

1

Num

Role of formal structure — Establishing the criteria for the selection of the target population who should participate to CVT

D13c

1

Num

Role of formal structure — The subject matter of the CVT activity

D13d

1

Num

Role of formal structure — The budgeting process related to CVT

D13e

1

Num

Role of formal structure — The procedure for the selection external CVT providers

D13f

1

Num

Role of formal structure — Evaluation of training outcomes

D14a

1

Num

Publicly-funded advisory service aimed at identifying training needs and/or developing training plans

D14b

1

Num

Financial subsidies towards the costs of training persons employed

D14c

1

Num

Tax relief on expenditure on training persons employed

D14d

1

Num

Procedures to ensure the standards of trainers (e.g. by national registers, assessment etc.)

D14e

1

Num

Provision of recognised standards and frameworks for qualifications and certification

D15a

1

Num

The high costs of CVT courses

Max 3 — No ranking

D15b

1

Num

The lack of suitable CVT courses in the market

Max 3 — No ranking

D15c

1

Num

Difficulties in assessing the enterprise’s CVT needs

Max 3 — No ranking

D15d

1

Num

A major training effort was realised in a previous year

Max 3 — No ranking

D15e

1

Num

The high workload and the limited available time of persons employed

Max 3 — No ranking

D15f

1

Num

The current level of training is appropriate to the enterprises needs

Max 3 — No ranking

D15g

1

Num

A higher focus on IVT than CVT

Max 3 — No ranking

D15h

1

Num

Other reasons

Max 3 — No ranking

E1a

1

Num

The existing skills and competences corresponded to the current needs of the enterprise

Max 3 — No ranking

E1b

1

Num

The enterprise’s preferred strategy was to recruit individuals with the required skills and competencies

Max 3 — No ranking

E1c

1

Num

The enterprise had difficulties in assessing its needs concerning CVT

Max 3 — No ranking

E1d

1

Num

The lack of suitable CVT courses in the market

Max 3 — No ranking

E1e

1

Num

The costs of CVT courses were too high for the enterprise

Max 3 — No ranking

E1f

1

Num

The enterprise preferred to focus on IVT rather than CVT

Max 3 — No ranking

E1g

1

Num

An investment in CVT was made in a previous year and did not require to be repeated in 2005

Max 3 — No ranking

E1h

1

Num

The persons employed had no available time to participation in CVT

Max 3 — No ranking

E1i

1

Num

Other reasons

Max 3 — No ranking

F1tot05

Core

6

Num

Total number of IVT participants in the enterprise during 2005

Core variable — No missing — No imputation

F1m05

6

Num

Total number of male IVT participants in the enterprise during 2005

F1f05

6

Num

Total number of female IVT participants in the enterprise during 2005

F2aflag

1

Num

Flag — IVT individual labour costs

F2a

10

Num

IVT costs — Labour costs of individuals registered on an IVT activity

In euro

F2bflag

1

Num

Flag — IVT other costs

F2b

10

Num

IVT costs — Other costs — Training fees, travel costs, teaching materials, costs of training centres etc.

In euro

F2cflag

1

Num

Flag — IVT trainer or mentor labour costs

Optional variable

F2c

10

Num

IVT costs — Labour costs of IVT trainers or mentors

Optional variable — In euro

F3aflag

1

Num

Flag IVT contributions

F3a

10

Num

Contributions IVT

In euro

F3bflag

1

Num

Flag IVT receipts

F3b

10

Num

Receipts IVT

In euro

F2tot

Key

10

Num

Total IVT costs (F2b + F3a – F3b)

Key variable — No missing — In euro

ANNEX II

SAMPLE

The Statistical Business Register (SBR) referred to in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2186/93 (1) shall normally be taken as the main source of the sampling frame. A nationally representative stratified probability sample of enterprises shall be taken from this frame.
The sample shall be stratified by NACE and size category according to the following minimum specification:

—

20 NACE rev1.1 categories (C, D (15-16, 17-19, 21-22, 23-26, 27-28, 29-33, 34-35, 20 + 36-37), E, F, G (50, 51, 52), H, I (60-63, 64), J (65-66, 67), K + O)

—

3 enterprise size categories, according to their number of persons employed: (10-49) (50-249) (250 and more)

A sample size shall be calculated to assure a maximum half length of the 95 % confidence interval of 0,2 for the estimated parameters, which are a proportion of ‘training enterprises’ (after allowance for the non-response rate in the sample) for each of the 60 stratified elements identified above.
The following formula may be used in determining the sample size:

nh = 1/[c2 . teh + 1/Nh] / rh

Where:

the number of sampling units in the stratum cell, h

the anticipated response rate in the stratum cell, h

maximum length of half the confidence interval

teh

the anticipated proportion of training enterprises in the stratum cell, h

the total number of enterprises (training and non-training) in the stratum cell, h

(1) OJ L 196, 5.8.1993, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

ANNEX III

Imputation principals and record weighting

Countries shall take all appropriate measures to reduce item and unit non-response. Prior to imputation countries shall make all reasonable efforts to use other data sources.

Core variables, for which no missing value shall be accepted, nor imputation permitted are:

—

A1, A2tot05, B1a, B1b, B2aflag, B2bflag, B2cflag, B2dflag, B2eflag, F1tot05.

Key variables, for which every effort should be made to avoid missing values and for which imputation is recommended are:

—

A2tot04, A4, A5, C1tot, C3tot, C4tot, C7sub, C7tot, PAC, F2tot.

Imputation for item non-response shall be recommended within the following general limits (Member State experts should at all times apply their professional judgement in the application of these rules):

When a record contains less than 50 % of variables presented then this record shall normally be considered as a unit non-response.
For a single NACE/size cell imputations shall not be allowed if more than 50 % of the responding enterprises have missing data for more than 25 % of the quantitative variables.
For a single NACE/size cell no imputation shall be performed on a quantitative variable if the proportion of responding enterprises for that particular variable is less than 50 %.
For a single NACE/size cell no imputation shall be performed on a qualitative variable if the proportion of responding enterprises for that particular variable is less than 80 %.

Quantitative and qualitative variables are identified in Annex 1.

Departures from these principals shall be fully documented and justified in the national quality report.

Member States shall calculate and transmit a weight to be applied to each data record together with any auxiliary variables, which may have been used in the calculation of this weight. These auxiliary variables should be recorded as the variables EXTRA1, EXTRA2, EXTRA3 as necessary. The methodology adopted for establishing the weights shall be detailed in the quality report.

ANNEX IV

Data file format and transmission rules

Data shall be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat) in electronic form by means of a secure data transmission software application (STADIUM/EDAMIS) to be made available by the Commission (Eurostat).

Countries shall transmit two checked data sets to ESTAT:

(a) the data set prior to imputation with preliminary checks;

(b) the fully checked data set after imputation.

Both data sets shall contain the variables identified in Annex 1.

Both files shall be presented in comma separated variable (.csv) format. The first record in each file shall be a header record containing the ‘variable names’ as defined in Annex 1. Subsequent records shall detail the values of these variables for each responding enterprise.

ANNEX V

QUALITY REPORT FORMAT

1. RELEVANCE

Implementation of the survey and the degree to which statistics meet current and potential user’s needs.

—

Description and classification of users.

—

Individual needs of each user group.

—

Evaluation if and to what degree these needs have been satisfied.

2. ACCURACY

2.1 Sampling errors

—

Description of the sample design and the realised sample.

—

Description of the calculation of the final weights including non-response model and auxiliary variables used.

—

Estimator used, e.g. Horvitz-Thompson estimator.

—

Variance of the estimates according to the sample strata.

—

Variance estimation software.

—

In particularly, a description of the auxiliary variables or information used should be reported in order to recalculate the final weights within Eurostat since it is needed for variance estimation.

—

In case of non-response analysis, a description of the biases in the sample and results.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan):

—

Number of enterprises in the sampling frame.

—

Number of enterprises in the sample.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

—

Coefficients of variation (1) for the following key statistics.

—

Total number of persons employed.

—

Total number of enterprises that provided CVT.

—

Ratio of the total number of enterprises that provided CVT to the total number of enterprises.

—

Total number of enterprises that provided CVT courses.

—

Ratio of the total number of enterprises that provided CVT courses to the total number of enterprises.

—

Total number of persons employed in enterprises that provided CVT.

—

Total number of participants in CVT courses.

—

Ratio of the total number of participants in CVT courses to the total number of persons employed.

—

Ratio of the total number of participants in CVT courses to the total number of persons employed in enterprises that provided CVT.

—

Total costs of CVT courses.

—

Total number of enterprises providing IVT.

—

Total number of participants in IVT.

—

Total costs of IVT.

—

Ratio of the total number of enterprises providing IVT to the total number of enterprises.

2.2 Non-sampling errors

2.2.1 Coverage errors

—

Description of the register used for sampling, and its overall quality.

—

Information included in the register, and its updating frequency.

—

Errors due to the discrepancies between the sampling frame and the target population and sub-populations (over-coverage, under-coverage, misclassifications).

—

Methods used to obtain this information.

—

Notes on the processing of misclassifications.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

—

Number of enterprises.

—

Ratio of the number of enterprises for which the observed strata equals the sampling strata: the number of enterprises in the sampling strata. Indicate whether the changes of activities have been taken into account.

2.2.2 Measurement errors

Where appropriate an assessment of errors that occurred at the stage of data collection due for example to:

—

The questionnaire design (results of pre-tests or laboratory methods; questioning strategies) — questionnaire to be submitted in annex.

—

Reporting unit/respondent (reactions of respondents):

—

Memory errors.

—

Lack of attention of the respondents.

—

Effects of age, education etc.

—

Errors when filling the forms.

—

Information system of the respondent and the use of administrative records (correspondence between the administrative and survey concept, e.g. Reference period, availability of individual data).

—

Modes of data collection (comparison of different data collection methods).

—

Interviewer characteristics and behaviour.

—

Socio-economic characteristics.

—

Different ways of administering the questionnaire.

—

Different assistance to the respondent.

—

Specific studies or techniques to assess these errors.

—

Methods used to reduce this kind of errors.

—

Detailed comments on problems with the questionnaire as a whole or with single questions (comments on all variables).

—

Description and assessment of measures taken to assure the high quality of ‘participants’ and to assure that ‘participant events’ were not collected.

2.2.3 Processing errors

Description of the data editing process.

—

Processing system and tools used.

—

Errors due to coding, editing, weighting, and tabulation etc.

—

Quality checks at macro/micro level.

—

Corrections and failed edits breakdown into missing values, errors and anomalies.

2.2.4 Non-response errors

—

A description of the measures undertaken regarding ‘re-contacts’.

—

Unit and item response rates.

—

Assessment of unit non-response.

—

Assessment item non-response.

—

Full report on imputation procedures including methods used for imputation and/or re-weighting.

—

Methodological notes and results of non-response analysis or other methods to assess the effects of non-response.

Tables to be provided (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

—

Unit response rates (2).

—

Item response rates (3) for the following with respect to all respondents.

—

Total number of hours work as a function of all respondents.

—

Total labour cost as a function of all respondents.

—

Item response rates for the following with respect to enterprises offering CVT courses.

—

CVT courses by specific age groups as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

—

Total number of participants in courses, males, females as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

—

Total number of hours on CVT courses, males, females as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

—

Number of hours on CVT courses managed internally and externally as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

—

Total costs of CVT courses as a function of enterprises offering CVT courses.

—

Item response rates for the following with respect to enterprises offering IVT.

—

Total costs of IVT as a function of enterprises offering IVT.

3. TIMELINESS AND PUNCTUALITY

—

Table of dates when each of the following phases of the project started and ended.

—

Data collection.

—

Sending out questionnaires.

—

Reminders and follow-up.

—

Face-to-face interviews.

—

Data checking and editing.

—

Further validation and imputation.

—

Non-response survey (as appropriate).

—

Estimations.

—

Data transmission to Eurostat.

—

Dissemination of national results.

4. ACCESSIBILITY AND CLARITY

—

What results where or will be sent to enterprises.

—

Dissemination scheme of results.

—

Copy of any methodological documents relating to the statistics provided.

5. COMPARABILITY

—

As appropriate and relevant countries should comment upon.

—

Deviations from the European questionnaire.

—

Was the survey linked to another national survey.

—

To what extent was the survey realised through existing data in registers.

—

Definitions and recommendations.

6. COHERENCE

—

Comparison of statistics for the same phenomenon or item from other surveys or sources.

—

Assessment of coherence with structural business statistics for the number of persons employed as a function of NACE and Size Group.

—

Assessment of the coherence of the age group distribution of persons employed (A3a,A3b,A3c) with other national data sources as a function of NACE and size group (if available).

—

Assessment of the coherence of the age group distribution of CVT participants (C2a,C2b,C2c) with other national data sources as a function of NACE and size group (if available).

Tables to provide (broken down by NACE and size classes according to the national sampling plan, however allocation according to the observed enterprise characteristics):

—

Number of persons employed from Structural Business Statistics (Commission Regulation (EC) No 2700/98 (4) — code 16 11 0).

—

Number of persons employed from CVTS3.

—

Percentage of differences (SBS — CVTS3)/SBS.

—

Number of persons employed for each age group A3a,A3b,A3c.

—

Number of persons employed in other source for each age group.

—

Percentage of differences of (A3x — other national source A3x)/A3x (where x = a, b, c).

—

Number of CVT participants for each age group C2a,C2b,C2c.

—

Number of CVT participants in other source for each age group.

—

Percentage of CVT participants (C2x — other national source of C2x)/C2x (where x = a, b, c).

7. BURDEN AND BENEFIT

—

Analysis of the burden and benefit at the national level through for example a consideration of:

—

Average time for answering to the each questionnaire.

—

Problematic questions and variables.

—

Which variables have been most/least useful in describing CVT at the national level.

—

Estimated or actual satisfaction level of data users at the national level.

—

Different burden for small and large enterprises.

—

Efforts made to reduce burden.

(1) The coefficient of variation is the ratio of the square root of the variance of the estimator to the expected value. It is estimated by the ratio of the square root of the estimate of the sampling variance to the estimated value. The estimation of the sampling variance must take into account the sampling design and changes of strata.

(2) The unit response rate is the ratio of the number of in scope respondents to the number of questionnaires sent to the population selected.

(3) The item response rate for a variable is the ratio of the number of available data to the number of available and missing data (equal to the number of in scope respondents).

(4) OJ L 344, 18.12.1998, p. 49. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1670/2003 (OJ L 244, 29.9.2003, p. 74).

Commission Regulation (EC) No 198/2006 of 3 February 2006 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 198/2006

of 3 February 2006

implementing Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and the Council on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises

(Text with EEA relevance)

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

Article 5

Article 6

Article 7

Article 8

Article 9

ANNEX I

Note to the table:

Variable name

Variable group

Variable type

Variable length

Variable format

Variable description

Variable remark

2

6

10

4

1

5

5

1

5

6

1

2

2

3

10

10

10

4

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

12

12

12

12

1

1

1

1

6

1

6

1

6

1

6

1

6

1

1

1

1

6

6

6

6

6

6

10

10

10

10

10