Enterprises, 1 January 2003

Figures from the Central register of establishments and enterprises of Statistics Norway substantiate this development. The data register by 1 January 2002 is updated by statistical and administrative sources not available when these figures were published for the first time. In addition, there were some adjustments of the definition of enterprises by 1 January and drop-outs. Therefore, these figures are not identical with earlier published ones.

More enterprises and fewer employees

The number of enterprises is higher by 1 January 2003 compared with 2002 and 2001. The largest increase in number of enterprises is among sole proprietorships. The portion of sole proprietorships of the total number of enterprises rose from 43 per cent in 2001 to 48 per cent in 2003 (figure 1).

The number of employees in enterprises by 1 January has decreased. By 1 January 2003, the number of employees was considerable lower within industry, construction and computer activities compared with 1 January 2002.

New established enterprises and enterprise closures

A change in the number of enterprises by 1 January is classified as new enterprises/new established enterprises and enterprise drop-outs/closures.

A new established enterprise is one that is not registered to take over an existing establishment. In 2002 many new enterprises were established within computer services and other business services.

All enterprises that close down or sell their establishment are considered an enterprise drop-out. If all of the establishment is closed down, and is not taken over by another enterprises, the drop-out is also classified as a closure. In 2002, there were many enterprise drop-outs in construction, retail trade and other business services. The figures for enterprise drop-outs are not final.

About 93 per cent of all new enterprises is also new established enterprises, and 81 (2002) and 85 (2001) of all drop-outs is classified as closures. There are, however, few employees in new established enterprises and enterprise closures. In 2002, 70 per cent of the employees in new enterprises were in enterprises registered to take over an existing establishment (figure 2). 80 per cent of the employees in dropped out enterprise where employed in enterprises where the establishment, or part of the establishment continued in an other enterprise (figure 3).

More in the StatBank

In the StatBank figures are also available by industry codes, legal form and size class, on national and county level.

Tables:

• Table 1 Number of enterprises, new enterprises, enterprise drop outs and enterprise closure, by activity. 2001-2002, number of enterprises per 1 January 2003
• Table 2 New enterprises and enterprise drop out in the ICT-sector. 2001-2002, number of enterprises per 1 January 2001-2003
• Table 3 New enterprises, enterprise drop outs and enterprise clousure, by legal form. 2001-2002, number of enterprises per 1 January 2001-2003
• Table 4 New enterprises, enterprise drop outs and enterprise closure, by county. 2001-2002, number of enterprises per 1 January 2001-2003
• Table 5 Number of employees in new enterprises and enterprise dropouts in 2001-2002, and in the stock of enterprises per 1 January 2001-2003