In 2024, there were approximately 89.44 million people employed by SMEs in the European Union, Micro-sized enterprises (that employ between zero and nine people) employed approximately 41.4 million people overall in this year, small-sized businesses (10-49 employees) employed 26.8.5 million people, while medium ones (50-249 employees) employed around 21.2 million people.
Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union from 2008 to 2024, by enterprise size
The source adds the following information: The data cover the 'non-financial business economy', which includes industry, construction, trade, and services (NACE Rev. 2 sections B to J, L, M and N), but not enterprises in agriculture, forestry and fisheries and the largely non-market service sectors such as education and health. The following size-class definitions are applied: micro firms (0-9 persons employed), small firms (10-49 persons employed), medium-sized firms (50-249 persons employed), and large firms (250+ persons employed). The advantage of using Eurostat data is that the statistics are harmonised and comparable across countries. The disadvantage is that for some countries the data may be different from those published by national authorities.
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European Commission. (July 4, 2024). Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union from 2008 to 2024, by enterprise size [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/936845/employment-by-smes-in-european-union/
European Commission. "Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union from 2008 to 2024, by enterprise size." Chart. July 4, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/936845/employment-by-smes-in-european-union/
European Commission. (2024). Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union from 2008 to 2024, by enterprise size. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/936845/employment-by-smes-in-european-union/
European Commission. "Number of People Employed by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Smes) in The European Union from 2008 to 2024, by Enterprise Size." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Jul 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/936845/employment-by-smes-in-european-union/
European Commission, Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union from 2008 to 2024, by enterprise size Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/936845/employment-by-smes-in-european-union/ (last visited November 26, 2024)
Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union from 2008 to 2024, by enterprise size [Graph], European Commission, July 4, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/936845/employment-by-smes-in-european-union/
