Definition

An enterprise is a legal entity possessing the right to conduct business on its own; for example to enter into contracts, own property, incur liabilities and establish bank accounts. It may consist of one or more establishments situated in a geographically separate area. In this section, small enterprises refer to those with less than 20 persons engaged. Data on the number of small enterprises and the number of employees working in them refer to the manufacturing sector.

Employees includes all persons covered by a contractual arrangement, working in the enterprise and receiving compensation for their work. They include salaried managers, students who have a formal commitment whereby they contribute to the unit's process of production in return for remuneration and/or education services, and employees engaged under a contract designed to encourage the recruitment of unemployed persons. They also include persons on sick leave, paid leave or vacation, while excluding working proprietors, active business partners, unpaid family workers and home-workers, irrespective of whether or not they are on the payroll.

For more statistics on economic, environmental and social issues visit online the OECD Factbook 2010.