1. LAMAS Working Group 5-6 October 2016
Agenda Item 4.2 JVS seasonal adjustment

2. Transmission of SA data SA quality reports sent by the NSIs
Overview
Transmission of SA data
SA quality reports sent by the NSIs
Eurostat's validation of the SA data
SA data for the European aggregates

3. I. Transmission of SA data
SA data required for individual/aggregated NACE sections B-E, F, G-I, J, K, L, M-N, O-Q, R-S
All Member States except Finland now provide SA data for both job vacancies and occupied posts
Finland will be able to provide SA data from June due to a methodological break in time series
No SA data transmitted by Norway

4. II. SA quality reports
LAMAS agreed in January 2016 on filling the template for SA quality report and transmitting it to Eurostat
Eurostat developed a plug-in for JDemetra+ version 2.1 producing the information required
The SA quality report was sent by all Member States except Greece, France and Luxembourg
No report from Switzerland

5. Software and method used
JDemetra+ officially recommended, since 2 February 2015, to the members of the ESS
Eleven countries use JDemetra+ version 2.0 or higher
A number of countries still use the old versions of the Demetra software
Austria and the United Kingdom use the X12/X13 software whereas Portugal uses SPSS/TRAMO-SEATS

6. Time span of SA data transmitted
Varies across the countries from 4 years to 15 years
Some countries do not transmit regularly the whole SA time series: CZ, HR, EL, IE, NL, PT and SE
All countries are reminded to provide full SA time series by each data transmission i.e. not just the last quarter(s)

7. III. Eurostat's validation of the SA data
Covering the times series for job vacancies and occupied posts in the NACE sections: B-E, F, G-I, J, K, L, M-N, O-Q and R-S for enterprises 1+
STEP 1: Eurostat checked for each series if it had been seasonally and/or calendar adjusted
By comparing SA with NSA data
By consulting the SA quality report

8. Eurostat's validation of the SA data
STEP 2: Eurostat processed non-seasonally adjusted time series in JDemetra+ version 2.1
TRAMO-SEATS or X12/X13 method used
Direct approach applied for B-E, G-I, M-N, O-Q and R-S
Results compared with SA data provided by the countries
STEP 3: Eurostat checked for residual seasonality in the SA time series provided by the countries

9. Eurostat's validation of the SA data
Seasonal adjustment: major discrepancies between the results of the countries and Eurostat seen for BG, HR, HU, PL, PT and RO
General recommendation not to apply calendar adjustment
Residual seasonality detected in times series of DK, DE (now corrected by Germany)

10. IV. SA data for the European aggregates
Methodology
Assessment
Dissemination plans

11. 4.1 Methodology Three main strategies possible: - the direct approach
- the centralised indirect approach
- the decentralised indirect approach
The direct approach is the only option that can be implemented in the short run (see next slides)

12. 4.1 Methodology
Seasonal patterns rather not the same across EU Member States which would support using indirect-centralised or decentralised–approach
Difficult to justify the centralised indirect-approach as Member States are required by the JVS regulation to provide SA data
The centralized indirect approach could be considered after some NSIs improve their national seasonal adjustment practice/methodology
Therefore, the direct approach is the only option that can be implemented in the short run

13. 4.2 Assessment
The decentralised indirect approach gives the highest volatility of SA data
Lower volatility for both the centralised indirect approach and the direct approach
The centralised indirect approach not selected (against the subsidiarity principle)
This supports implementating the direct approach in the short term and re-assessing the decentralised approach in the long term

14. 4.3 Dissemination plans
SA data for the EU aggregates could be published in December 2016
Disseminated for NACE aggregates: B-S, B-N, B-F and G-N
In the course of 2017, Eurostat will assess if SA figures could be given more visibility

15. LAMAS delegates are invited (1/2):
For the countries that have not transmitted their SA quality reports to do so before the end of this year
To take note that, from 2017 onwards, the SA quality reports should be included in the standard quality report due in August each year
To ensure that full SA back series are transmitted to Eurostat by each quarterly transmission

16. LAMAS delegates are invited (2/2):
For the countries: BG, HR, HU, PL, PT and RO to take note of Eurostat’s findings as regards possible caveats in their seasonally adjusted data
To take note of the general recommendation not to apply calendar adjustment for JVS
To take note that seasonal adjustment should be done in accordance with ESS guidelines and (preferably) using JDemetra+ version 2.1
To take note of Eurostat's plans and methods to publish SA data for European aggregates

17. Thank you for your attention!