1. Statistics on the language industry
Possibilities to improve the statistical description of the language industry
Nino Platteel

2. Statistics on the language industry
Main problem:
No separate categories in statistical classifications.
Relevant EU classifications:
Activity classification NACE Rev.2
Product classification CPA 2008
Both laid own in EU regulations

3. Statistics on the language industry
Subsectors:
Translation
Interpreting
Software localisation and website globalisation
Language technology tool development
Language teaching
Subtitling and dubbing
Organisation of international conferences
Consultancy in linguistic issues

4. Statistics on the language industry
This presentation:
For the different subsectors steps to be taken to improve statistical coverage
Modifications in classifications
Pilot studies

5. Statistics on the language industry
Translation and Interpreting
The activity classification NACE rev.2 already has a separate category: NACE 74.30
Since reference year 2008 data available for Structural Business Statistics (SBS)
Turnover, employment, investment, costs, etc.

6. Statistics on the language industry
Translation and Interpreting
NACE is compulsory in EU countries, but at national level additional breakdowns allowed.
In Germany NACE is broken down in:
Translation
Interpretation
 In Germany separate data available

7. Statistics on the language industry
Translation and Interpreting
To be proposed for NACE Rev.3:
Breakdown: Translation
74.32 Interpretation
But:
Not expected before 2015 – 2020
 Statistics on 2020?

8. Statistics on the language industry
Translation and Interpreting
For some sectors of service industry the SBS requires a product breakdown for turnover based on CPA
Medium term proposal:
Use this system also for a Product breakdown in NACE 74.30

9. Statistics on the language industry
Translation and Interpreting
For enterprises in NACE breakdown of turnover:
CPA Code
Description
Translation services
Interpretation services
 Present system for breakdown of turnover only covers enterprises with 20 or more persons employed

10. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
Belongs in NACE to the education sector
Classification of this sector for a large part based on level of education and not on the subject:
 primary, secondary, etc.
A small part on subject:
 sports, cultural, driving and other

11. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
For primary, secondary, etc. education
UN, OECD and Eurostat (UOE) together collect data on language learning in the various education levels:
Percentage of pupils learning 0, 1 or 2 languages
Percentage of pupils learning En, Fr, De, Es or Ru

12. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
Education not yet covered by SBS
For primary, secondary, etc. Education SBS not most suitable
That part of education mostly in public sector and SBS only covers market activities
 NACE adaptation not meaningful

13. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
NACE in “Subject based” part of education:
NACE code
Description
85.51
Sports and recreation education
85.52
Cultural education
85.53
Driving school activities
85.59
Other education n.e.c.

14. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
Language schools are part of
NACE Other education
In Italy and Switzerland already separate category:
IT: Scuole e corsi di lingua
CH: Cours de langues
No separate data found

15. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
To be proposed for NACE Rev.3:
Breakdown: Language school
85.59 Other education n.e.c.
But:
Not expected before 2015 – 2020
And not yet covered by SBS!

16. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
In SBS regulation:
A series of pilot studies for, amongst others, Education will be instituted by the Commission to test the feasibility of covering market activities.
This instrument could be used to test SBS data collection for the NACE category “other education”.

17. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
In such a pilot study:
Either a separate category for Language schools
(as in Italy and Switzerland)
Or a breakdown by product based on CPA:

18. Statistics on the language industry
Language teaching
CPA for Other education:
CPA code
Description
Language school services
IT school services
Vocational education services n.e.c.
Education services n.e.c.

19. Statistics on the language industry
Subtitling and dubbing
Part of NACE 59.12: Motion picture, video and television programme post-production activities
Data available in SBS
 Further detail in NACE not most suitable
Instead breakdown of turnover based on CPA

20. Statistics on the language industry
Subtitling and dubbing
CPA code
Description
Colour correction and digital restoration services
Visual effects services
Animation services
Captioning, titling and subtitling services
Sound editing and design services
Other motion picture, video and television programme post- production services

21. Statistics on the language industry
Subtitling and dubbing
CPA code
Description
Animation services
Subtitling and dubbing
Other captioning and titling services
Other sound editing and design services
Other motion picture, video and television programme post- production services

22. Statistics on the language industry
Subtitling and dubbing
SBS does not include a breakdown by CPA for NACE 59.12
But data could be collected in a pilot project

23. Statistics on the language industry
Language technology tools
Software localisation and website globalisation
These activities are probably included in
58.29 Other software publishing
62.01 Computer programming activities
SBS provides a product breakdown based on CPA, but no separate codes for language activities
 Investigate possibilities for a separate headings

24. Statistics on the language industry
Organisation of international conferences
Part of NACE 82.30, Organisation of conventions and trade shows
Consultancy in linguistic issues
Part of NACE , Business and other management consultancy activities
Given their small proportion in these NACE classes separate categories for language activities not feasible

25. Statistics on the language industry
Summary
Pilot data collections:
Other education with a breakdown for Language schools
Breakdown for Translations and Interpretation
CPA breakdown for Subtitling and dubbing

26. Statistics on the language industry
Summary
Modifications for classifications:
A separate NACE category for Language schools
A breakdown in NACE for Translation and Interpretation
A separate CPA category for Subtitling and dubbing
Investigate the possibilities to have a separate CPA code for Language technology tools

27. Statistics on the language industry
Final remarks
All suggestions for improving statistical coverage of the language industry involve additional data collection
Additional costs for statistical offices
Additional burden for respondents
But:
Because of austerity measures Statistical Offices are looking for reductions and simplifications

28. Statistics on the language industry
Final remarks
Search for simplification resulted in an initiative for modernisation of the European Statistical System
Eurostat launched a project to establish an integrated system of business statistics
Including SBS, STS and Prodcom
 More flexibility

29. Statistics on the language industry
Thank you for your attention!