Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Austrian economy: 99.6 % of all enterprises are SMEs. These 358,400 companies employ more than 2 million people and generate revenues of € 521 billion.
SME 20191 | Share in all companies | |
Number of companies |
358,400
|
99.6 % |
Persons employed | 2,072,800 | 67 % |
Employees | 1,734,300 | 63 % |
Turnover | € 521 billion | 62 % |
Value added | € 137 billion | 61 % |
Balance sheet ratios 2019/202 | ||
Equity ratio | 34 % | |
Return on sales (after financial result) | 5.0 % |
1companies of the market-oriented economy (ÖNACE 2008 sections B – N and division 95); rounded values
2market-oriented economy excl. real estate and holdings
Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME research
SME data for selected industries:
Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values) Sources: Statistics Austria, Austrian Institute for SME Research (rounded values)Manufacturing
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
25,700
98 %
Persons employed
320,900
48 %
Employees
300,400
46 %
Turnover
€ 73 billion
35 %
Value added
€ 23 billion
38 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity ratio
38 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
4.8 %
Construction
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
99.7 %
Persons employed
263,200
83 %
Employees
231,800
81 %
Turnover
€ 42 billion
76 %
Value added
€ 15 billion
78 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity ratio
30 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
4.7 %
Trade
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
99.7 %
Persons employed
445,800
65 %
Employees
368,300
60 %
Turnover
€ 211 billion
76 %
Value added
€ 27 billion
68 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity ratio
35 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
3.2 %
Transportation
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
15,000
99.5 %
Persons employed
124,200
59 %
Employees
109,400
56 %
Turnover
€ 27 billion
59 %
Value added
€ 8 billion
55 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity ratio
37 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
4.3 %
Accomodation and food service
SME 2018
Share in all companies
Number of companies
48,100
99.9 %
Persons employed
298,300
95 %
Employees
248,400
94 %
Turnover
€ 20 billion
93 %
Value added
€ 10 billion
94 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity Ratio
23 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
5.9 %
Information and communication
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
22,000
99.8 %
Persons employed
93,200
74 %
Employees
72,000
69 %
Turnover
€ 16 billion
61 %
Value added
€ 7 billion
60 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity Ratio
37 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
9.7 %
Professional, scientific and technical activities
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
99.9 %
Persons employed
249,800
91 %
Employees
171,800
87 %
Turnover
€ 34 billion
88 %
Value added
€ 16 billion
88 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity Ratio
36 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
12.1 %
Administrative and support service activities
SME 2019
Share in all companies
Number of companies
99.3 %
Persons employed
144,600
55 %
Employees
125,400
51 %
Turnover
€ 20 billion
75 %
Value added
€ 10 billion
67 %
Balance sheet ratios 2019/20
Equity Ratio
35 %
Return on sales (after financial result)
7.0 %
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 following two publications are regularly produced by the Austrian Institute for SME research and reflect the SME landscape in Austria:
The report “KMU im Fokus” (SME report) is produced on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) and is published regularly (only available in German): report “KMU im Fokus”
The publication Wirtschaftskraft KMU (Economic strength of Austrian SMEs) is commissioned by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and is published once a year (only available in German): Wirtschaftskraft KMU