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Outline of Monthly Survey on Service Industries
Purpose of the Survey
The main aim of the surveys is to provide the best possible estimates of sales and persons working at the location of establishment for the service industries and subsequently to enhance the accuracy of economic indicators such as Quarterly Estimates (QE) of GDP. Also, this survey aims to grasp the annual situation of service industries by region or by detailed industrial classification.
History of the Survey
In Japan, statistics had not been in place adequately for service industries, a part of the tertiary industry, a sector which makes up over 70% of the total GDP.
The "Monthly Survey on Service Industries" was established in July 2008 based on governmental policy regarding the development of statistical infrastructure stated in "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform 2006" (Cabinet Decision made on July 7, 2006), to grasp the trends in business activities of the service industries in a timely and comprehensive manner.
Subsequently, the annual survey (expanded survey) was launched in 2013 to grasp the situation of service industries by detailed industrial classification or by region, mainly in response to the "Master Plan Concerning the Development of Official Statistics" (Cabinet Decision made on March 13, 2009) in which the importance of further developing the collection of statistical data on service business activities was stressed.
Legal Basis of the Survey
This survey is conducted as the General Statistical Survey under the Statistical Act (Act No. 53 of 2007).
Coverage of the Survey and Sampling Method
The survey covers enterprises, etc.[1] or establishments in the industries mentioned below:
Establishments belonging to the minor group "establishments engaged in administrative or ancillary economic activities" set for each medium group are excluded.
The major group "G Information and communications" is not covered in the annual survey (expanded survey).
Note: [1] An "enterprise" is defined as a corporation (excluding foreign companies) conducting business activities or an establishment of individual proprietorship. "Enterprise, etc." refers to those entities, including a part of public enterprises, etc. operated by the national government or a local government.
| Major groups |
Medium groups |
Note |
|---|---|---|
| G Information and communications |
37 Communications |
|
| H Transport and postal activities |
42 Railway transport |
|
| K Real estate and goods rental and leasing |
68 Real estate agencies |
|
| L Scientific research, professional and technical services |
72 Professional services, n.e.c. |
Excluding the medium group "71 Scientific and development research institutes" and the detailed category "7282 Pure holding companies." |
| M Accommodations, eating and drinking services |
75 Accommodations |
|
| N Living-related and personal services and amusement services |
78 Laundry, beauty and bath services |
Excluding the minor group "792 Domestic services." |
| O Education, learning support |
82 Miscellaneous education, learning support |
Excluding the medium group "81 School education." |
| P Medical, health care and welfare |
83 Medical and other health services |
Excluding the minor group "841 Public health centers", "851 Social insurance organizations" and "852 Welfare offices." |
| R Services, n.e.c. |
88 Waste disposal business |
Excluding the medium group "93 Political, business and cultural organizations", "94 Religion" and "96 Foreign government and international agencies in Japan." |
(1) Enterprise, etc.
A. The survey is conducted on enterprises, etc. belonging to the industries that do not fit a survey by sampling establishments, such as the minor group "371 Fixed telecommunications," "372 Mobile telecommunications," and "382 Private-sector broadcasting except cablecasting," and the medium group "42 Railway transport," "46 Air transport" or "49 Postal activities including mail delivery service."
B. The survey is conducted on all enterprises belonging to the industries other than above A, with capital, investment, or fund (hereinafter "capital, etc.") of 100 million yen or more.
(2) Establishment
Samples are selected by stratified random samples for group based of number of persons working at the location of establishment for establishments which belong to the industries other than above A and do not belong to enterprise, etc. falling under the above A or B. For sampling establishments, all establishments in the stratum above a certain scale are surveyed.
Scale of Survey
(1) Enterprise, etc.
The monthly survey covers about 12,000 enterprises, etc.
The annual survey (expanded survey) covers about 9,500 enterprises, etc., excluding those in "G Information and communications."
(2) Establishment
The monthly survey covers about 25,000 establishments.
The annual survey (expanded survey) covers about 69,000 establishments, excluding those in "G Information and communications."
| Coverage |
Number of persons working at the location of establishment |
Number of enterprises, etc. and establishments surveyed |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly survey |
Enterprise, etc. |
- |
About 12,000 |
| Establishment |
Census survey group |
About 5,000 |
|
| Sample survey group |
About 20,000 |
||
| Expanded survey [2] |
Enterprise, etc. |
- |
About 9,500 |
| Establishment |
Census survey group |
About 4,500 |
|
| Sample survey group |
About 64,500 |
||
Survey Items
The following items are surveyed using "first month questionnaires" for the first month after the start of the monthly survey, "monthly questionnaires" for the second month and after for the monthly survey, and "expanded survey questionnaires" for the annual survey (expanded survey).
(1) Enterprise, etc.
A. First month questionnaires
- Number of persons working at the location of establishment and breakdowns (of survey month and the previous month)
- Monthly sales (income) and breakdowns by business activity (of survey month and the previous month)
B. Monthly questionnaires
- Number of persons working at the location of establishment and breakdowns (of survey month)
- Monthly sales (income) and breakdowns by business activity (of survey month)
C. Expanded questionnaires (once a year)
- Legal organization and the amount of capital, etc.
- Period for posting sales (income)
- Annual sales (income), etc. and breakdowns by business activity and prefecture
- Number of persons working at the location of establishment by business activity and breakdowns
(2) Establishment
A. First month questionnaires
- Categories of main business of establishments
- Number of persons working at the location of establishment and breakdowns (of survey month and the previous month)
- Monthly sales (income) (of survey month and the previous month)
B. Monthly questionnaires
- Number of persons working at the location of establishment and breakdowns (of survey month)
- Monthly sales (income) (of survey month)
C. Expanded questionnaires (once a year)
- Legal organization and the amount of capital, etc.
- Types of major business of establishments
- Period for posting sales (income)
- Annual sales (income), etc.
- Number of persons working at the location of establishment and breakdowns
Survey Schedule
Date of Survey
The monthly survey is conducted regarding sales for each month, and regarding the number of persons working at the location of establishment on the business day nearest to the end of the month.
The annual survey (expanded survey) conducted in June once a year is in principle conducted on a calendar year basis regarding sales for each year, and regarding the number of persons working at the location of establishment on the business day nearest to the end of June.
Deadline of Submission of Questionnaires
For the monthly survey, the deadline is in principle the 20th of the month following the survey month. For the annual survey (expanded survey), the deadline is in principle the last day of July.
Survey Method
Survey by Mail
In principle, questionnaires are distributed and collected by mail.
However, questionnaires have yet to be collected, the enumerators can directly visit the surveyed establishment and collect questionnaires.
Online Survey
Depending on the request of the surveyed enterprises, etc. or establishments, questionnaires are distributed and collected online.
Release of Survey Results
The results of the monthly survey are released as a preliminary report in late the second month after the survey month to expedite release as much as possible.
In addition, to provide more accurate statistical information, collecting questionnaires continues to be conducted and the results are released as a final report in late the fifth month after the survey month.
- Preliminary report: In principle, released in late the second month after the survey month.
- Final report: In principle, released in late the fifth month after the survey month.
The results of the annual survey (expanded survey) is released as a "preliminary report" by the end of July of the next year of the survey year and as a "final report" by the end of the next fiscal year of the survey.
Implementation and Tabulation of the Survey
The SBJ entrusts the implementation of the survey to private research institutes and the tabulation to the National Statistics Center.
