The Federal Business Census is a survey covering all second and third sector businesses and enterprises throughout Switzerland. The survey is being conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) with the support of regional statistical offices. The aim of the survey is to collect complete data from all economic production units on economic, social and regional aspects. The BC is used to update the Business and Enterprise Register (BER) and serves as a reference for various statistics.
Contents
Legal basis
Ordinance on the Conduct of Statistical Surveys by the Confederation of 30 June 1993 (RS 431.012.1)
Type of enquiry
The BC is a complete survey. Data is collected by means of paper questionnaires, online questionnaires (eSurvey), and profiling (separate collection of data from large (government) administration units and enterprises). Participation in the survey is compulsory.
Features registered
The BC is a complete survey of the workplaces and businesses of the second and third sectors.
The features registered are location (address), economic activity, number of persons employed by hours of work, sex and nationality at communal level (and per hectare for geocoded data).
Conduct
The first census took place in 1905. Since then conducted three times per decade (i.e. in years ending with 1, 5 and 8). Reference day for the current calendar year is always the last working day in September.