SME Data

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Austrian economy: 99.8 % of all enterprises are SMEs. These 588,000 companies employ more than 2.3 million people and generate revenues of € 510 billion.

	SME 2021	Share in all companies
Number of companies	588,000	99.8 %
Persons employed	2,374,400	66 %
Trainees	53,900	58 %
Turnover	€ 510 billion	57 %
Value added	€ 144 billion	57 %
	Balance sheet ratios 2021/222
Equity ratio	36 %
Return on sales (after financial result)	6.8 %

companies of the market-oriented economy (ÖNACE 2008 sections B – S and without S94); rounded values
²market-oriented economy excl. real estate and holdings
Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME research

Methodological changes (in German)

SME data for selected industries:

 

 

SME definition:

In Austria, the European Commission’s definition of SMEs applies. The European Commission has defined the following for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

Note: The values shown apply from 1 January 2005 and represent maximum limits. 
In general, most SMEs are autonomous, i.e. they are either completely independent or have partnerships with other companies with one or more minority holdings (each less than 25% each). If that holding is higher but does not exceed 50%, the relationship is deemed to be between partner enterprises. 

Source: European Commission

For further information: User guide to the SME definition

As particularly structural data from official statistics are only available based on employee categories, a considerable amount of data is classified only by the number of employees. 

 

Statistical resources:

In Austria, there are two large providers of structural data on SMEs, whereby in both cases only the employee criterion is used.

Statistics Austria publishes annual data on the Austrian business landscape in its Structural Business Statistics. Data classified by the number of employees as well as ÖNACE 2008 industries can be queried via the following link: to Statistics Austria

Within the framework of employment statistics, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber publishes data on companies classified by company size according to the chamber classification. Further statistics regarding SMEs in Austria can be obtained via the following link (only available in German): to the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

 

Publications:

The report “KMU im Fokus” (SME report) is produced on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy (BMAW) and is published regularly (only available in German):

More Information & Download Report

Main Results (German)