ISTAT - Istituto Nazionale di Statistica
ESS Standard for Quality Report Structure (ESQRS) V2 (ESQRS_MSD 3.0 ESTAT)
Job Vacancy Statistics (JVS)
2013 - A0
1. Contact
1.1 Contact organisation

Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics)

1.2 Contact organisation unit

Short-term Employment and Income Statistics Division
Short-term Economic Statistics Directorate
National Accounts and Economic Statistics Department

1.3 Contact name
1.4 Contact person function
1.5 Contact mail address

Via Tuscolana, 1788 - 00173 Rome - Italy

1.6 Contact email address
1.7 Contact phone number
1.8 Contact fax number
2. Statistical presentation
2.1 Data description

These metadata refer to the first releases of the 2013 data, that is to the data transmitted for the 45 and 70-day EU Regulation deadlines. It does not refer to the revisions of the 2013 data disseminated in June 2014, together with the data for 2014Q1. The only exception is the table on June 2014 revisions in 5.3.6.2, where the data for 2013 disseminated for the 70-day regulation deadlines are compared with the June 2014 revisions.

2.2 Classification system

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.3 Coverage - sector

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.4 Statistical concepts and definitions

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.5 Statistical unit

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.6 Statistical population

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.7 Reference area

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.8 Coverage - Time

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

2.9 Base period

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

3. Statistical processing

see below

3.1 Source data

Since 2012, data for both job vacancies and occupied posts are collected separately for enterprises with 10-499 employees and enterprises with at least 500 employees. For enterprises with 10-499 employees, data are collected by the Istat quarterly survey on job vacancies and hours worked (VELA). For enterprises with at least 500 employees data are collected by an extended quarterly version of a well-established census monthly Istat survey on employment, hours worked, wages and labour cost in large enterprises (LES).

Coverage:

- geographical: the whole country

- NACE: sections B to S, except O, of Nace Rev. 2

- enterprise size: 10+ employees.

Statistical unit: enterprise.


Sampling design

Base used for the sample: Both VELA and LES surveys employ the last version of the statistical business register (SBR) available at the time when the sample is drawn. For the 2013 sample, the 2011 SBR release was used.

Sampling design: The LES survey includes in its sample all the enterprises in the population with at least 500 employees. The VELA survey is based on a sample of around 15,100 enterprises with 10-499 employees, drawn via a stratified random scheme from the SBR. The VELA sample is allocated via a constrained optimisation method (where the sample size is minimised under constraints on the maximum values of the expected coefficients of variation for the interest variables in the study domains).

Retention/renewal of sampling units:

Once a year (for the wave referring to the first quarter):

- the list of all the population enterprises with at least 500 employees is updated on the basis of the SBR most recently available version, and

- around one third of the 10-499 employee sample enterprises is rotated.

Sample size: around 16,600 enterprises.

Stratification:

Economic activity, size and geographical area are used as stratification variables for the VELA sample. The considered stratification classes are the following:

- for economic activity: divisions from 05 to 36 and from 45 to 47; the aggregate of divisions 37, 38 and 39; sections F, and from H to S (excluding O);

- for size (in terms of employees): 10-19, 20-99 and 100-499;

- for geographical area: North, Centre and South (this last class includes also Sardinia and Sicily).

Sampling fractions: see table below

 

Economic activity (Nace Rev. 2) 10-499 employees   500+ employees(a)   10+ employees
sample firms SBR firms sampling fraction   sample firms SBR firms sampling fraction   sample firms SBR firms sampling fraction
B 456 525 86.9   1 1 100.0   457 526 86.9
C 4,736 65,164 7.3   466 474 98.3   5,202 65,638 7.9
D 256 483 53.0   19 21 90.5   275 504 54.6
E 745 2,272 32.8   37 38 97.4   782 2,310 33.9
F 1,168 22,522 5.2   26 29 89.7   1,194 22,551 5.3
G 1,102 32,974 3.3   195 209 93.3   1,297 33,183 3.9
H 940 11,794 8.0   121 128 94.5   1,061 11,922 8.9
I 1,985 14,330 13.9   50 51 98.0   2,035 14,381 14.2
J 569 5,530 10.3   76 77 98.7   645 5,607 11.5
K 433 1,917 22.6   120 123 97.6   553 2,040 27.1
L 376 601 62.6   1 2 50.0   377 603 62.5
M 597 6,662 9.0   41 42 97.6   638 6,704 9.5
N 609 10,344 5.9   196 212 92.5   805 10,556 7.6
P 254 1,434 17.7   0 0 -   254 1,434 17.7
Q 343 5,702 6.0   84 85 98.8   427 5,787 7.4
R 350 2,172 16.1   10 11 90.9   360 2,183 16.5
S 204 2,788 7.3   5 5 100.0   209 2,793 7.5
Total B-S 15,123 187,214 8.1   1,448 1,508 96.0   16,571 188,722 8.8
(a) 500+ employees firms are selected with unit inclusion probability. The sampling fraction is slightly below 100.0 in some sections because firms which are in the SBR but have been identified as no more active during the survey previous waves are not included in the sample. 
3.2 Frequency of data collection

Reference dates

 The last day of the reference quarter.

3.3 Data collection

Brief description of the data collection method(s)

Remarks

As mentioned above in 12.1, since 2012, data are collected separately for enterprises with 10-499 employees and enterprises with at least 500 employees. For enterprises with 10-499 employees, data on job vacancies and occupied posts are collected by VELA, mainly via CATI and Web (a small share of questionnaires are transmitted by fax or email and are registered by the CATI operators). On average, in 2012, about 80% of the respondents have been interviewed through CATI (or they have sent their data via fax or mail and these data have been registered by the CATI operators) while the remaining 20% used the Web or email mode. The first time an enterprise is included in the sample, it is requested to respond via CATI, while afterwards it can opt for the Web mode. For enterprises with at least 500 employees, data on job vacancies and occupied posts are collected by LES, mainly via Web, while a small share of questionnaires are transmitted by fax or email. On average, in 2013, about 85% of the LES respondents have completed the questionnaire via Web, while the remaining 15 % have sent their data by fax or email.

Since 2012Q1, the wording of the JV questions has been modified, after an in depth analysis of the quality of the collected job vacancy data (including telephone follow ups) carried out during 2011. This analysis revealed that the wording used until 2011Q4 could generate some misunderstanding in the respondents. In particular, some sample enterprises misinterpreted JVs at the end of the quarter as hires during the quarter or did not include in the transmitted data some JVs (for example, those aimed at replacing workers or at fixed terms hires). The new wording of the JV questions was formulated specifically to counter the difficulties identified by this analysis. Moreover, it was tested with a small set of sample enterprises, including some of those which tended to misinterpret the previous wording, and found to be clearer for the respondents. The new wording of the JV questions is used in both VELA and LES.

3.4 Data validation

Not requested.

3.5 Data compilation

Brief description of the weighting method

Weighting dimensions

Unit non responses in enterprises with at least 500 employees are imputed.

All responding enterprises and the unit non response imputed records are assigned a weight via calibration. The only exception is a small list of extremely large enterprises which are assigned a unit weight.

The theoretical reference population for the calibration is made by all the enterprises with at least 10 employees in Nace Rev. 2 sections B to S which were active in the reference quarter. This population is well represented by the set of microdata of the OROS survey for the reference quarter. The OROS survey is based on the social security database of the forms that all enterprises (with at least one hour of remunerated work) have to fill each month to pay the compulsory social contributions. It is this set of microdata that is therefore used to derive the calibration constraints. The quarterly average of monthly data on jobs, as measured by OROS, is used as the auxiliary variable in the calibration.

The calibration classes are based on economic activity and enterprise size. Starting from 2010, the economic activity classes for calibration are based on Nace Rev. 2 divisions for sections from C to E, G and N, while they are based on sections for B, F, and from H to M and P to S. The considered size classes are based on employees and are thus defined: 10-19, 20-99, 100-499 and at least 500.

The initial calibration weights are based on both inclusion probabilities and response rates.

The calibration is carried out using a generalized software purposely built by Istat, Genesees, and within it, a truncated logarithmic distance function.

See the description of weighting methods.

3.6 Adjustment

Not requested.

4. Quality management
4.1 Quality assurance

Not available.
New concept added with the migration to SIMS 2.0.
Information (content) will be available after the next collection.

4.2 Quality management - assessment

Not requested.

5. Relevance

see below

5.1 Relevance - User Needs

Description of the national users and their main needs

Remarks

 Not requested.

 

5.2 Relevance - User Satisfaction

Extent to which the needs of national users are satisfied (voluntary)

Remarks

 Not requested.

 

5.3 Completeness

Description of missing variables and missing breakdowns of the variables

Report progress on the implementation measures regarding quarterly job vacancies statistics of Regulation (EC) No 453/2008, including :

- a detailed plan and timetable for completing implementation

- a summary of the remaining deviations from EU concepts

 No missing variables or breakdown.

 The Italian statistics on job vacancies for 2013 do not cover:

 - enterprises with 1-9 employees and

 - public institutions.

 So far, there is no plan to extend the coverage to these enterprises and institutions.

Starting from December 2013 the coverage of the Italian statistics on job vacancies has been extended to 10+ employee private enterprises in sections P to S. Back data starting from the first quarter 2010 have also been disseminated at that time.

 Deviation from EU concepts:

- job vacancies do not include those for managers;

- job vacancies and occupied posts for employees of the temporary work agencies (including temporary workers) are not included in the published figures. Figures for agency workers are not included either in the data of the enterprises where they actually work.

5.3.1 Data completeness - rate

Not requested.

6. Accuracy and reliability

see below

6.1 Accuracy - overall

see below

6.2 Sampling error

see 5.2.1

6.2.1 Sampling error - indicators
6.3 Non-sampling error

Information on variables with non-negligible measurement and processing errors

Information on main sources of (non-negligible) measurement and processing errors and, if available, on methods applied for correction

Estimation bias: An assessment of the non-sampling errors, in terms of the absolute number of vacant posts,  for the total number of job vacancies and, where possible, for aggregation level of NACE Rev. 2 specified in Annex 1 to this Regulation and size classes (1-9, 10 + employees).

Remarks

Number of occupied posts.

For all the enterprises with 10-499 employees, occupied posts are checked by comparing them with the OROS microdata: if the data collected by the two sources differ substantially and there are signals that the difference is due to problems in those of the VELA survey, occupied posts are imputed by a nearest neighbour donor imputation, using OROS employment as matching variable. For large enterprises (500+ employees), occupied posts collected and edited by the monthly survey LES are used. They are very accurate, due to the work of Istat experts who follow each enterprise along time.

 None.

 

6.3.1 Coverage error

Description of any difference between the reference population and the study population

Description of classification errors

Description of any difference between the reference dates and the reference quarter

Any other relevant information

The main difference between the reference and the study population depends on the enterprises beginning and finishing their activities in the reference population between the SBR reference year and the survey reference quarter. An attempt at measuring these errors is made, on the basis of the assumption that the OROS list for the reference quarter is a better representation of the population of enterprises with at least 10 employees which were active in the quarter than the most recent version of the SBR.

See the following tables:

- coverage errors 1: enterprises in the 2011 SBR and in the sample drawn from it which are not in the average grossing up reference population (OROS) for 2013

Economic activity (Nace Rev. 2) sample firms   firms in the population lists
total in OROS not in OROS (%)   in the 2011 SBR both in the 2011 SBR and in OROS 2013 not in OROS 2013 (%)
B 457 439 3.9   526 507 3.7
C 5,202 4,938 5.1   65,638 59,637 9.1
D 275 270 1.7   504 476 5.7
E 782 743 5.0   2,310 2,169 6.1
F 1,194 1,086 9.1   22,551 19,734 12.5
G 1,297 1,235 4.8   33,183 30,446 8.2
H 1,061 918 13.5   11,922 9,927 16.7
I 2,035 1,863 8.4   14,382 12,792 11.1
J 645 606 6.1   5,607 5,131 8.5
K 553 535 3.3   2,040 1,855 9.1
L 377 314 16.7   603 502 16.8
M 638 606 5.0   6,704 6,114 8.8
N 805 725 9.9   10,557 8,813 16.5
P 254 246 3.3   1434 1,299 9.4
Q 427 416 2.7   5787 5,415 6.4
R 360 311 13.5   2183 1,761 19.4
S 209 198 5.5   2793 2,502 10.4
Total B-S 16,571 15,447 6.8   188,724 169,076 10.4

- coverage errors 2: enterprises in the average 2013 OROS list which are not in the 2011 SBR. 

Economic activity (Nace Rev. 2) firms in the 2013 OROS list firms in the 2011 SBR and in the 2013 OROS list firms not in the 2011 SBR (%)
B 418 379 9.3
C 57,743 50,793 12.0
D 510 426 16.4
E 2,131 1,903 10.7
F 16,882 13,196 21.8
G 28,858 24,156 16.3
H 10,834 8,025 25.9
I 15,512 9,440 39.1
J 5,169 4,179 19.2
K 1,937 1,612 16.8
L 790 350 55.6
M 6,032 4,833 19.9
N 9,803 6,973 28.9
P 1,464 1,086 25.8
Q 5,669 4,801 15.3
R 2,115 1,290 39.0
S 2,574 1,928 25.1
Total B-S 168,439 135,369 19.6

Note that the comparisons with OROS are based on the averages of the figures obtained considering OROS for each of the four quarters of 2013.

Firms with different economic activity sections or size classes(a) in the 2011 SBR or in the sample drawn from it with respect to the average for the 2013 OROS list, by Nace rev. 2 section
Economic activity (Nace Rev. 2) sample firms   SBR firms
with different economic activity sections (%) with different size classes (%)   with different economic activity sections (%) with different size classes (%)
           
B 0.0 9.5   0.0 8.8
C 0.1 10.6   0.0 9.7
D 0.0 12.0   0.0 12.6
E 0.0 14.2   0.0 12.6
F 0.0 15.9   0.0 13.0
G 0.0 11.8   0.0 9.9
H 0.1 18.4   0.0 15.9
I 0.0 17.4   0.0 16.1
J 0.3 16.3   0.0 14.4
K 0.0 11.3   0.0 11.0
L 1.5 12.4   1.0 12.8
M 0.2 14.5   0.1 11.0
N 0.1 20.3   0.1 20.1
P 0.0 15.4   0.1 15.6
Q 0.2 12.8   0.0 14.1
R 0.0 22.9   0.1 23.8
S 0.0 13.8   0.1 11.4
Total B-S 0.1 13.8   0.0 12.1
(a) The considered size classes are: 10-19 employees, 20-99 employees, 100-499 employees and 500+ employees. While the size class in the SBR and in the sample are based on the number of employees in the SBR (that is on the average number of employees in 2011), the size class in OROS in each reference quarter is based on the number of employees in the reference quarter itself (measured as the average of the number of employees to whom at least one hour of work has been paid in each of the three months of the quarter).

 

The reference date for both job vacancies and occupied posts is the last day of the reference quarter.

 

6.3.1.1 Over-coverage - rate

see 5.3.1

6.3.1.2 Common units - proportion

Not requested.

6.3.2 Measurement error

see 5.3.4.1

6.3.3 Non response error

see below

6.3.3.1 Unit non-response - rate

Unit response rate

See the following table for unit response rates (as the percentage ratios between the number of respondents and the number of contacted enterprises in the quarter) by economic activity.

 

Economic activity (Nace Rev. 2) 2013Q1 2013Q2 2013Q3 2013Q4  2013 Mean
B 80.1 82.4 81.5 83.5 81.9
C 83.8 84.8 84.8 85.4 84.7
D 85.7 88.2 87.5 90.6 88.0
E 78.2 78.6 77.8 80.7 78.8
F 70.9 70.4 69.2 72.2 70.7
G 82.2 83.2 83.8 85.7 83.8
H 65.6 65.8 65.1 67.4 66.0
I 66.8 67.7 69.3 72.6 69.1
J 78.7 79.4 79.8 79.7 79.4
K 85.7 85.5 86.3 87.8 86.3
L 55.8 59.1 59.7 63.2 59.5
M 83.2 85.3 83.4 85.0 84.2
N 70.6 72.2 72.9 72.7 72.1
P 75.6 78.3 77.1 82.3 78.3
Q 82.8 82.6 84.8 86.3 84.1
R 62.6 68.9 69.5 73.5 68.6
S 74.5 75.1 75.1 75.0 74.9
Total B-S 77.0 78.0 78.2 79.9 78.3
6.3.3.2 Item non-response - rate

see 5.3.4.1

6.3.4 Processing error

see below

6.3.4.1 Imputation - rate

Item imputation rate and methods and, where possible, the effect of imputation on the estimates for the variables transmitted

quarter year respondents (including the imputed unit nonresponses) imputed unit nonresponse imputed measurement errors imputed unit nonresponse (percentage) imputed measurement errors (percentage)
1 2013 12,420 240 41 1.9 0.3
2 2013 10,472 271 37 2.6 0.4
3 2013 12,444 230 38 1.8 0.3
4 2013 12,472 207 49 1.7 0.4

Imputation of occupied posts (as described in 5.3).

Job vacancies (for non responding 500+ employee enterprises and for the smaller sample enterprises with item non responses) by nearest neighbour donor imputation.

6.3.5 Model assumption error

If modelling is used, include a description of the models used. Particular emphasis should be given to models for imputation or grossing-up to correct for unit non-response.

 Job vacancies imputation methods:

• in enterprises with less than 10,000 employees: by hot deck nearest neighbour donation (variables in the distance function: occupied posts, lagged job vacancy rates, lagged hiring rates, lagged occupied posts’ growth rate);

• in enterprises with at least 10,000 employees: if sufficient auxiliary information is available, on the basis of a time series model on the data of the concerned enterprise, with lagged job vacancy and hiring rates among the regressors.

Grossing up is done by calibrating to the known totals of the OROS measure of occupied posts in cells defined by economic activity and size.

This procedure is used also as correction for unit non response, under the assumption that the response probability is constant among enterprises within each calibration cell.

6.4 Seasonal adjustment

Brief description of seasonal adjustment procedures, in particular with regard to the European Statistical System guidelines on seasonal adjustment which have been endorsed and supported by the SPC.

Seasonal adjustment is carried out with Tramo Seats. No equality constraint over the year between raw and seasonally adjusted data is imposed. A direct approach and partial concurrent adjustment are used. Extensive use of quality measures is made both in the identification of the models and in the validation of results.

6.5 Data revision - policy

see 5.3.6.2

see below

6.6 Data revision - practice

Provide a revision history, including the revisions in the published number of job vacancies and a summary of the reasons for the revisions.

Each year in June, when the data for the first quarter of a year are published, revisions of the previous eight quarters are also disseminated.

Reasons for revisions:

- inclusion of late responses (i.e. arrived after the first publication of the quarterly figures);

- the revision of the auxiliary sources which are used for editing and imputation and calibration.

See the following table for a comparison of figures for 2013 transmitted for the 70-day regulation deadline with those disseminated in June 2014.

SECTION YEAR QUARTER REVISED JVR ORIGINAL JVR DIFFERENCE (REVISED-ORIGINAL)
B 2013 1 0.7 0.7 0.0
C 2013 1 0.4 0.4 0.0
D 2013 1 0.2 0.2 0.0
E 2013 1 0.4 0.5 -0.1
F 2013 1 0.6 0.6 0.0
G 2013 1 0.4 0.3 0.1
H 2013 1 0.3 0.3 0.0
I 2013 1 2.6 2.5 0.1
J 2013 1 0.5 0.5 0.0
K 2013 1 0.4 0.4 0.0
L 2013 1 0.6 0.6 0.0
M 2013 1 0.8 0.8 0.0
N 2013 1 0.5 0.5 0.0
P 2013 1 0.2 0.2 0.0
Q 2013 1 0.4 0.4 0.0
R 2013 1 0.6 0.6 0.0
S 2013 1 0.4 0.4 0.0
Tot 2013 1 0.5 0.5 0.0
B 2013 2 0.6 0.7 -0.1
C 2013 2 0.4 0.4 0.0
D 2013 2 0.2 0.2 0.0
E 2013 2 0.3 0.2 0.1
F 2013 2 0.6 0.6 0.0
G 2013 2 0.7 0.6 0.1
H 2013 2 0.2 0.2 0.0
I 2013 2 1.1 1.0 0.1
J 2013 2 0.5 0.6 -0.1
K 2013 2 0.3 0.3 0.0
L 2013 2 0.9 1.1 -0.2
M 2013 2 0.6 0.6 0.0
N 2013 2 0.6 0.6 0.0
P 2013 2 0.5 0.5 0.0
Q 2013 2 0.6 0.6 0.0
R 2013 2 1.3 1.2 0.1
S 2013 2 0.3 0.3 0.0
Tot 2013 2 0.5 0.5 0.0
B 2013 3 0.6 0.7 -0.1
C 2013 3 0.3 0.4 -0.1
D 2013 3 0.2 0.2 0.0
E 2013 3 0.2 0.2 0.0
F 2013 3 0.6 0.6 0.0
G 2013 3 0.4 0.4 0.0
H 2013 3 0.4 0.4 0.0
I 2013 3 0.4 0.4 0.0
J 2013 3 0.6 0.6 0.0
K 2013 3 0.3 0.3 0.0
L 2013 3 0.2 0.2 0.0
M 2013 3 0.7 0.7 0.0
N 2013 3 0.2 0.2 0.0
P 2013 3 1.3 1.3 0.0
Q 2013 3 0.4 0.4 0.0
R 2013 3 0.3 0.3 0.0
S 2013 3 0.2 0.3 -0.1
Tot 2013 3 0.4 0.4 0.0
B 2013 4 0.0 0.0 0.0
C 2013 4 0.4 0.4 0.0
D 2013 4 2.5 2.5 0.0
E 2013 4 0.2 0.2 0.0
F 2013 4 0.4 0.4 0.0
G 2013 4 0.3 0.3 0.0
H 2013 4 0.1 0.1 0.0
I 2013 4 0.4 0.4 0.0
J 2013 4 0.6 0.6 0.0
K 2013 4 0.3 0.3 0.0
L 2013 4 0.5 0.5 0.0
M 2013 4 0.7 0.7 0.0
N 2013 4 0.3 0.3 0.0
P 2013 4 0.3 0.3 0.0
Q 2013 4 0.3 0.3 0.0
R 2013 4 0.3 0.3 0.0
S 2013 4 0.2 0.2 0.0
Tot 2013 4 0.4 0.4 0.0

Furthermore, the preliminary confidential estimates for the entire reference population, which are transmitted to Eurostat within 45 days from the end of the reference quarter, can be revised when the data for the Nace Rev. 2 sections for that quarter are produced for the 70-day regulation deadline: see the following table.

quarter year JVR for 45 day deadline JVR for 70 day deadline Difference (70 days - 45 days)
         
1 2013 0.5 0.5 0.0
2 2013 0.4 0.5 0.1
3 2013 0.4 0.4 0.0
4 2013 0.3 0.4 0.1
6.6.1 Data revision - average size

see 5.3.6.2

7. Timeliness and punctuality

see below

7.1 Timeliness

see below

7.1.1 Time lag - first result

Information on the time span between the release of data at national level and the reference period of the data.

 Dates of press releases in Italy for data for 2013: 76 days after the end of the reference quarter on average.

7.1.2 Time lag - final result

Not requested.

7.2 Punctuality

see below

7.2.1 Punctuality - delivery and publication

Deadlines for the respondents to reply, also covering recalls and follow-ups

Period of the fieldwork

Period of data processing

Dates of publication of first results

Remarks

On the whole, around 50 days on average are allowed for replies for the first, third and fourth quarters data:

- enterprises have about 40 days from the end of the reference quarter to reply,

- the following week is dedicated to follow-up of non respondents.

Due to the enterprises summer holiday period (that for most of them takes place in August), for the data for the second quarter, almost 80 days are allowed for replies:

- enterprises have about 70 days from the end of the reference quarter to reply,

- the following week is dedicated to follow-up of non respondents.

In general, for the data for the first, third and fourth quarters, the CATI data collection period lasts about 33 days (from 7 to 40 days after the end of the reference quarter). An exceptional extension of the CATI data collection period can be granted when a newly updated sample contains more enterprises for which telephone numbers have not been tested in previous survey waves (that is for the first quarter of a year wave).

For the data for the second quarter, the CATI data collection period goes from the 7th to the 40th day after the reference quarter and from the 55th to the 70th day.

The same data collection periods apply also to the Web mode.

This activity lasts approximately one working week.

Three working days for the preliminary estimates (at 45 days after the end of the reference quarter); five working days for the national release and the production of the figures for the 70-day EU Regulation deadline.

Preliminary confidential estimates within 45 days from the end of the reference quarter, only for the entire reference population.

For the estimates by Nace Rev. 2 section: transmission to Eurostat within the 70 day EU Regulation deadline; press releases in Italy for data for 2013 around 76 days after the end of the reference quarter.

 

8. Coherence and comparability

see below

see below

8.1 Comparability - geographical

Information on differences between national and European concepts, and — to the extent possible — their effects on the estimation.

 Job vacancies for managers are not considered.

There is no estimate of the effects of this exclusion on the disseminated aggregate data. However, since the share of employees which are managers is very low these effects should be negligible.

8.1.1 Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

Not requested.

8.2 Comparability - over time

Information on changes in definitions, coverage and methods in any two consecutive quarters, and their effects on the estimation.

Remarks

Starting from the fourth quarter 2007, data have been collected referring to the Nace Rev. 2 classification, while previously they had been collected on the basis of the Nace Rev. 1.1.

The time series for the Nace Rev. 2 B to N sections have been calculated after the transition to this new classification version also for the period from the first quarter 2004 to the third quarter 2007.

However, due to some relevant differences in the definitions of the sections in the two Nace versions, data for some service sections (in particular, Nace Rev. 2 sections M and N) referring to the period before the fourth quarter 2007 are less accurate and thus less comparable with current data.

Moreover, data referring to Nace Rev.2 section L for the period before the fourth quarter 2007 are not very accurate, due to the very small number of respondents.

Finally, data referring to the economic activities in section E (and to a lesser extent J) which were not included in Nace Rev 1.1 sections C-K are completely reconstructed at the macro level for the period before the fourth quarter 2007 and are therefore not very accurate.

Starting the first quarter 2010 the coverage of job vacancy statistics has been extended from 10+ employee private enterprises in Nace Rev. 2 B to N sections to 10+ employee private enterprises in Nace Rev. 2 B to N and P to S sections. The data on sections P to S have been published starting from December 2013.

 

8.2.1 Length of comparable time series

see 8.2

8.3 Coherence - cross domain

Comparisons of data on the number of vacant jobs from other relevant sources when available, in total and broken down by NACE at section level when relevant, and reasons if the values differ considerably.

 

 No other source of vacant jobs is available for comparison.

 The Beveridge curve (see below) seems coherent with the economic cycle experienced by the country in 2012 and 2013. The job vacancy rate seems to give meaningful signals on the developments on the demand side of the labour market.

This happens even if the job vacancy rate does not refer to the entire economy.

Country Italy Beveridge Curve for Italy                        
Section 2010Q4 2011Q1 2011Q2 2011Q3 2011Q4 2012Q1 2012Q2 2012Q3 2012Q4 2013Q1 2013Q2 2013Q3 2013Q4 2014Q1
UR             8.5             8.3             8.2             8.2             8.4             9.0             9.7           10.2           10.7           11.2           11.6           12.0           12.2           12.4
JVR           0.68           0.73           0.78           0.78           0.78           0.73           0.63           0.58           0.53           0.48           0.48           0.45           0.45           0.48

see Annex 1

As it can be seen in the following figure and table, in 2013 occupied posts at the denominator of the job vacancy rate represent around half of all the LFS employees. This is due to the fact that job vacancy statistics do not cover businesses with less than 10 employees or public institutions. The difference between LFS employees and occupied posts is therefore especially large in the Nace sections where the share of employment in 1-9 employee businesses or public institutions is bigger.

 

  IT    
Section Employees Posts Relative difference (emp/posts)
B              32,136            23,959 34%
C        3,611,806      2,575,673 40%
D           117,699            77,964 51%
E           214,736          154,376 39%
F           950,937          420,863 126%
G        2,008,513      1,179,150 70%
H           904,956          796,972 14%
I           861,531          456,470 89%
J           422,664          354,050 19%
K           517,387          409,564 26%
L              71,872            20,186 256%
M           558,547          234,672 138%
N           767,888          655,111 17%
O        1,287,970  .  .
P        1,400,475            43,134 3147%
Q        1,506,917          398,863 278%
R           168,455            73,887 128%
S           418,860            71,425 486%
B_S     15,823,349      7,946,319 99%

see Annex 2

Not requested.

8.4 Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

see above

8.5 Coherence - National Accounts

Not requested.

8.6 Coherence - internal

Not requested.

9. Accessibility and clarity

see below

9.1 Dissemination format - News release

Web addresses:

for press releases:

- in Italian: http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/posti+vacanti

- in English: http://www.istat.it/en/archive/vacancies

9.2 Dissemination format - Publications

Dissemination scheme, including to whom the results are sent

Periodicity of national publication

References for publications of core results, including those with commentary in the form of text, graphs, maps, etc.

Information on what results, if any, are sent to reporting units included in the sample

 Job vacancy rates are disseminated quarterly at the national level as follows:

 -          45 days after the end of the reference quarter: a news page announcing the publication of preliminary estimates in the online datawarehouse I.Stat (http://dati.istat.it)

 -          around 76 days after the end of the reference quarter: a press release and the publication in the   online datawarehouse I.Stat (http://dati.istat.it)

Furthermore, the job vacancy rates figures are transmitted quarterly to Eurostat via Edamis for the 45 and 70 day regulation deadlines.

 Twice each quarter.

Web addresses:

for press releases:

- in Italian: http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/posti+vacanti

- in English: http://www.istat.it/en/archive/vacancies

- for I.Stat: http://dati.istat.it

 None.

9.3 Dissemination format - online database
9.3.1 Data tables - consultations
9.4 Dissemination format - microdata access

None

9.5 Dissemination format - other

Not requested.

9.6 Documentation on methodology

Not requested.

9.7 Quality management - documentation

Description of and references for metadata provided

References for core methodological documents relating to the statistics provided

Description of main actions carried out by the national statistical services to inform users about the data

Remarks

Metadata in the “Nota metodologica” disseminated together with the national press releases provide information on:

 - definitions and concepts;

 - main characteristics of the survey;

 - editing, imputation and calibration methods;

 - revisions;

 - seasonal adjustment methods.

 See: http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/125925

 

In-depth descriptions of the error prevention, data integration and editing and imputation methods applied in the quarterly survey on job vacancies and hours worked can be found in:

-           Baldi, C., Bellisai, D., Fivizzani, S. and M. Sorrentino, “Prevenzione degli errori, integrazione dei dati e metodi statistici nel processo di controllo e correzione dell'Indagine trimestrale sui posti vacanti e le ore lavorate”, Istat, Contributi, n. 13/2008, Rome, 2008 (http://www3.istat.it/dati/pubbsci/contributi/Contributi/contr_2008/13_2008.pdf)

-          Bellisai, D., Fivizzani, S. and M. Sorrentino, “A Business Survey on Job Vacancies: Integration with Other Sources and Calibration”, in Davino, C. and L. Fabbris (eds.), Survey Data Collection and Integration, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2012

-          Baldi, C., Bellisai, D., Fivizzani, S., Lucarelli A. and M. Sorrentino, “L’indagine trimestrale sui posti vacanti e le ore lavorate ed il passaggio alla classificazione Ateco 2007”, chapter 5 in Istat, “Il sistema degli indicatori congiunturali sulla domanda di lavoro e le retribuzioni in base 2005 e Ateco 2007”, Rome, Metodi e norme, 2013 (http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/97314)

Bellisai, D., Binci, S., Gigante, S., Libratore, A., Serbassi, L. and M. Sorrentino, “Verso la modernizzazione della produzione delle statistiche congiunturali sull’input di lavoro: il processo di integrazione tra la rilevazione mensile sulle grandi imprese e quella trimestrale sui posti vacanti e le ore lavorate”, Istat, Working Papers, n.11, 2013 (http://www.istat.it/it/files/2013/12/IWP_11_2013.pdf)

 - the calendar of all the press releases of the year is published on the Istat Web Site (http://www.istat.it/it/informazioni/per-i-giornalisti/calendario-comunicati);

- an agenda of the press releases of the month is in evidence on the home page of the Istat Web Site (http://www.istat.it);

- a tweet is posted at the time of each press release by @istat_it and @istat_en.

 

9.7.1 Metadata completeness - rate

Not requested.

9.7.2 Metadata - consultations

Not requested.

10. Cost and Burden

Not requested.

11. Confidentiality

see 11.2

11.1 Confidentiality - policy

see 11.2

11.2 Confidentiality - data treatment

Disclosure rules: Brief description of when data have to be deleted for reasons of confidentiality

Italian figures on the number of job vacancies and occupied posts are confidential for all study domains. This is so far Istat dissemination policy.

Furthermore, the job vacancy rate figures are confidential until their first national release (for the preliminary estimates  on the B to S aggregate, at 45 days after the end of the reference quarter; for the data by Nace sections, currently around 76 days after the end of the reference quarter). However, the data for Nace Rev. 2 section L remain confidential also after this date, due to the small size of the section.

Finally, once a year, when the data for the first quarter are disseminated, the figures for the previous two years are revised. Hence, also these revised figures are confidential until their first national release (which coincides with that of the data for the first quarter).

12. Comment

Special remarks