1. Workshop on Improving Statistics on SMEs and Entrepreneurship OECD, Paris 17 to 19 September 2003

2. SME Statistics In Australia 3 Key areas: 3 Key areas:  Current ABS statistical activity  Major developments planned using administrative data  Issues associated with using administrative data

3. Current ABS Statistical Activity Existing statistical activity to continue: Existing statistical activity to continue:  Annual Economy Wide Survey (EAS)  Qtly Business Indicators Surveys (QBIS)  Qtly Labour Employer Surveys  A range of industry specific surveys  Characteristics of Small Business Owners

4. Current ABS Statistical Activity Issues: Issues:  Provider load reductions; and  Competing demands for statistical activity, leading to:  Reduced sample sizes  Some survey rationalisation  Some reduction in detail collected/published

5. Demand for ABS SME Statistics Demand centres on: Demand centres on:  Number of SMEs by size/industry/region  Business entries and exits  Business performance/productivity  Micro/home-based businesses Policy interest mainly on SME sector Policy interest mainly on SME sector

6. Current/future Developments  Sample supplementation using tax data  Business longitudinal database  Business entries and exits  Regional small business estimates  Annual MLS supp survey

7. Business Longitudinal Database 3 year project, commencing 2003-04 3 year project, commencing 2003-04  Based on ABS and admin data  ABN as link between datasets  First reference year – 2000/01  First production version – mid 2005  User requirements being established  Some additional collection activity likely Data access a key issue Data access a key issue

8. Business Entries and Exits Based on Eurostat business demography methodological guidelines Based on Eurostat business demography methodological guidelines Adapted to Australian data and requirements Adapted to Australian data and requirements Based on ABR/ABN Based on ABR/ABN Conceptual model being developed Conceptual model being developed May require development of survey for deaths May require development of survey for deaths

9. Regional SME Estimates Estimates based on income tax data Estimates based on income tax data Need for development of standard definitions of small business based on admin data Need for development of standard definitions of small business based on admin data

10. Annual MLS Supp Survey Annual survey commencing June 2003 Annual survey commencing June 2003 Expansion of topics every 3 rd year Expansion of topics every 3 rd year User requirements being gathered User requirements being gathered No small area estimates available No small area estimates available

11. Use of Administrative Data Issues: Issues:  Legislation/policy  Data quality

12. Admin Data Legislative/policy Issues Legislation allowing release to ABS Legislation allowing release to ABS Legislative provisions regarding use of data Legislative provisions regarding use of data Development of agreements regarding use Development of agreements regarding use Data confidentiality Data confidentiality

13. Admin Data Legislative/policy Issues ABS policy principles: ABS policy principles:  Use must be for statistical purposes  Demonstrable statistical benefit  No disadvantage to providers  Integrity/openness  Trust of providers  Outputs must be available

14. Admin Data – Quality Issues Development of quality assessment framework Development of quality assessment framework Reliability of source data Reliability of source data Knowledge of data/processes Knowledge of data/processes Involvement in source data quality assessment/improvement Involvement in source data quality assessment/improvement

15. Related developments Input Data Warehouse (IDW) Input Data Warehouse (IDW) Provider Integration Management System (PIMS) Provider Integration Management System (PIMS)

16. Questions?