In 2005, there were almost 20 million enterprises active within the non-financial business economy (NFBE) in the EU27. Nearly all of these enterprises (99.8%) were either micro, small or medium-sized enterprises, with up to 249 persons employed. This share varied only marginally between Member States.
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises' relative importance in terms of contribution to jobs and wealth was lower than their share in the total number of enterprises, since they accounted for 67% of total employment and 58% of value added in the non-financial business economy in the EU27 in 2005.
This information is based on a report published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
Share of total employment in micro enterprises highest in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Cyprus… In 2005, 92% of all NFBE enterprises in the EU27 were micro enterprises (1-9 persons employed). They employed 38 million persons, which equalled 30% of total employment, and created 1 100 billion euro of value added, which equalled 21% of total value added. The sectors with the highest share of total employment in micro enterprises were real estate (56%), hotels & restaurants (45%) and motor trades (43%).
Among the Member States, the highest shares of total employment in micro businesses were found in Greece (56%), Italy (47%), Portugal (43%) and Cyprus (40%), while the lowest shares were found in Slovakia (13%), Germany (19%), Denmark, Luxembourg and Romania (all 20%).
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