CVTS, continuing vocational training: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: CVTS, continuing vocational training
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) describe development of personnel competence in enterprises and enterprises' training practices. The data are collected and published around every five years. The survey is conducted in EU Member States and in a few other European countries.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics cover enterprises with a minimum of 10 people, excluding agriculture and forestry, health and social welfare as well as education, and public administration.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The statistical unit is an enterprise.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The statistics’ statistical population consists of enterprises with a minimum of 10 people, excluding agriculture and forestry, health and social services as well as education, and public administration. In 2020, the sampling frame of the data collection covered 18,853 enterprises, of which around 3,000 were selected for the sample. The sample was drawn as a random sample from strata formed by three size categories and 20 industry categories, nevertheless in such a way that all enterprises with more than 250 employees were included. The sample was drawn from Statistics Finland’s Business Register.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The data cover enterprises operating in Finland which have employees whose salaries are paid by this unit registered in Finland. Both Continent Finland and Åland are included - no under-coverage.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Data are available on the survey years 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. The statistics are final.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The data are published in numbers, shares, euros and training hours and days.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The latest reference period of the statistics is the calendar year 2020.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Costs of training
Costs of training refer to indirect and direct costs of training in total. Indirect costs include labour costs of employees who took part in training during the training period and direct costs are fees and payments to outside training providers, training participants' travel expenses, accommodation, food and daily allowances, trainers' labour costs, costs of premises and equipment and materials.
Total costs of training
Indirect and direct costs in total, from which receipts from collective funds and from other sources of revenue for training are deducted (e.g. EU support).
Training day
In the CVTS, the Continuing Vocational Training Survey, a training day includes hours of training received during paid working time. The length of one training day is one working day.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
The data collection related to the statistics on continuing vocational training is based on Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council and on Commission Regulation (EU) No 1153/2014, which defines the data collection’s practical implementation (timetable, content, sample, quality reporting).
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The data are published in the release system on Statistics Finland’s website, as database tables and articles.
The statistical data are delivered to Eurostat no later than within 18 months from the end of each reference year, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005. Eurostat publishes tables containing EU-level survey data, and makes the survey microdata available to researchers in accordance with its own licensing procedures.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The sampling frame in the statistics’ data collection covered all private sector enterprises with at least ten employees, excluding agriculture and forestry, education, health and social welfare as well as public administration. The sampling frame in 2020 covered 18,853 enterprises, of which around 3,000 were selected for the sample. The sample was drawn as a random sample from strata formed by three size categories and 20 industry categories, nevertheless in such a way that all enterprises with more than 250 employees were included. The sample was drawn from Statistics Finland’s Business Register. The net sample was 1,643 enterprises.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The data are collected roughly every five years. In Finland, the data have been collected in 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data collection of CVTS6 (2020) was carried out in the form of an online survey. An accompanying letter, which included a user ID and password, was mailed to all enterprises selected for the sample. The data were collected in the spring and summer of 2021.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The data of the statistics on continuing vocational training are validated at many stages during the statistical process. During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured through various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data providers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The data are reviewed and tested in terms of errors in the orders of magnitude or entries, illogicality and unit changes. The necessary conversions of national variables are also carried out. The aim in corrections is to obtain the correct data through recontacting. Mean imputations in specified groups (stratum or broken down stratum) are carried out in terms of the undefined item nonresponse of continuous variables.
The differences in the stratum-specific setting of quotas carried out with a stratified sample (20 industry categories and three size categories, enterprises with more than 250 employees with certainty) are accounted for in the weighting through so-called design weights. Correspondingly, potential differences in the representation of various response groups within the response data attributable to unit nonresponse are corrected with a nonresponse weight, which allows for correcting the deficiency resulting from the nonresponse to the level of the sample within the stratum. The weight used in the calculation of the results is the product of the design weight and nonresponse weight.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The accuracy of data collected in a sample survey is affected by measurement errors, non-response and the random variation attributable to the sample. Measurement errors may arise from the erroneous interpretation or marking of questions, for example.
The values of the CVTS6 (2020) indicators have fallen significantly from the previous CVTS5 (2015). Possible reasons for this are the corona pandemic, which has decreased the organisation of training and participation in it, and the fact that the skills and competence development of personnel have been arranged in enterprises in ways from which no data are collected in the data collection of the survey.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
The quality of the statistics on continuing vocational training is assessed in several different stages of the statistical process. During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data on continuing vocational training is ensured through various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data providers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources.
A quality report in accordance with Eurostat’s requirements is also prepared on the statistics.
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The statistics on continuing vocational training are compiled approximately every five years. The most recent data collection was carried out in the spring and summer of 2021; it concerned the statistical reference year 2020. The deadline for the delivery of the data was 18 months after the data collection's reference year. The data were delivered 1.5 weeks after the deadline. The first data are published some 22 to 23 months after the data collection’s reference year.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The deadline for the delivery of the data was 18 months after the data collection's reference year. The data were delivered 1.5 weeks after the deadline.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
The data from 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 are mutually comparable.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
Both the statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) and the statistics on participation in adult education measure the participation rate in education and training subsidised by the employer (personnel training). In the statistics on continuing vocational training, the term competence development in enterprises has been adopted instead of the term personnel training. Competence development in enterprises refers to the competence development of the enterprise's personnel, which is wholly or partly financed by the employer, and which is performed wholly or partly during working hours.
The statistics on participation in adult education produce this information from the viewpoint of individuals (wage and salary earners aged 18 to 69) while the statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) produce it from the viewpoint of enterprises (mainly private sector enterprises with at least 10 employees). The reference years of the statistics differ from each other.
The statistics on participation in adult education cover all types of learning activities, whereas the collection of data in the statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) focuses on course-based studying.
Possible differences in survey results are caused by differing survey designs, data collection methods, target groups and contexts.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: CVTS, continuing vocational training
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The statistics on continuing vocational training are compiled at approximately five-year intervals and the results are published on Statistics Finland’s website.
The material concerning a single year is published in several releases covering different areas of content.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published on CVTS, continuing vocational training.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
The control tables and tested, accurate data (imputed and unimputed) are delivered to Eurostat via the EDAMIS Web Portal no later than within 18 months from the end of each reference year, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005.
The quality report is delivered to Eurostat on the ESS Metadata Handler platform no later than within 21 months from the end of the reference year. Its structure must accord with the European Statistical System’s standard outline for quality reports.
Unidentifiable and aggregated national or international data may be made available for research groups through a special licensing procedure. Each participating country nevertheless decides on the disclosure of such data on the basis of its own
data protection policies and data disclosure procedures. CVTS microdata (for research purposes) is available for the survey years 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020.