Continuing Vocational Training Survey (enterprise survey) (CVTS)
Kiirviited
Ava kõik atribuudid
Kontakt
Contact organisation: Statistics Estonia
Contact organisation unit: Population and Social Statistics Department
Contact name: Käthrin Randoja
Contact person function: Population and Education Statistics Service Team, Leading Analyst
Contact mail address: Narva mnt 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
Contact email address: kathrin.randoja@stat.ee
Contact phone number: 372 5411 0050
Metadata last certified 11/02/2026
Metadata last update 09/05/2025
Purpose
The survey on continuing vocational training in enterprises is an international survey conducted every five years in all European Union countries. The statistical activity is commissioned by Eurostat. The aim of the survey is to collect information on the organization of continuing training, employees' participation in continuing training, and expenditures on continuing training in Estonian companies.
Type of activity
Probability survey
Statistical presentation
Data description (S.3.1)
Number and share (among all enterprises) of enterprises that organised continuing vocational training/training courses, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (among all enterprises' employees) of employees in enterprises that organised continuing vocational training/training courses, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (of total hours worked in all enterprises) of hours worked in enterprises that organised continuing vocational training, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (of all enterprises) of enterprises that plan labour force needs and employee skills, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (of all enterprises) of enterprises with a training budget, training plan, and training center, by primary economic activity and size class.
number and share (among all enterprises' employees) of employees in enterprises that organised continuing vocational training/training courses, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (of total hours worked in all enterprises) of hours worked in enterprises that organised continuing vocational training, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (of all enterprises) of enterprises that plan labour force needs and employee skills, by primary economic activity and size class;
number and share (of all enterprises) of enterprises with a training budget, training plan, and training center, by primary economic activity and size class.
Classification system (S.3.2)
Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK 2008) based on NACE Rev. 2.
The survey covers the following NACE Rev. 2 categories:
B – mining and quarrying;
C10–C12 – manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products;
C13–C15 – manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; manufacture of leather and related products;
C17–C18 – manufacture of paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media;
C19–C23 – manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; manufacture of rubber and plastic products; manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products;
C24–C25 – manufacture of basic metals; manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment;
C26–C28, C33 – manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; manufacture of electrical equipment; manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; repair and installation of machinery and equipment;
C29–C30 – manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; manufacture of other transport equipment;
C16, C31–C32 – manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials; manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing;
D–E – electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities;
F – construction;
G45 – wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
G46 – wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
G47 – retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
H – transportation and storage;
I – accommodation and food service activities;
J – information and communication;
K64–K65 – financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding; insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security;
K66 – activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities;
L, M, N, R, S – real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities.
The survey covers the following NACE Rev. 2 categories:
B – mining and quarrying;
C10–C12 – manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products;
C13–C15 – manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; manufacture of leather and related products;
C17–C18 – manufacture of paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media;
C19–C23 – manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; manufacture of rubber and plastic products; manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products;
C24–C25 – manufacture of basic metals; manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment;
C26–C28, C33 – manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; manufacture of electrical equipment; manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; repair and installation of machinery and equipment;
C29–C30 – manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; manufacture of other transport equipment;
C16, C31–C32 – manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials; manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing;
D–E – electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities;
F – construction;
G45 – wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
G46 – wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
G47 – retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
H – transportation and storage;
I – accommodation and food service activities;
J – information and communication;
K64–K65 – financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding; insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security;
K66 – activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities;
L, M, N, R, S – real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities.
Sector coverage (S.3.3)
Enterprises engaged in the following activities are surveyed:
mining and quarrying;
manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products;
manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; manufacture of leather and related products;
manufacture of paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media;
manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; manufacture of rubber and plastic products; manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products;
manufacture of basic metals; manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment;
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; manufacture of electrical equipment; manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; repair and installation of machinery and equipment;
manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; manufacture of other transport equipment;
manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials; manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing;
electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities;
construction;
wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
transportation and storage;
accommodation and food service activities;
information and communication;
financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding; insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security;
activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities;
real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities.
mining and quarrying;
manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products;
manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; manufacture of leather and related products;
manufacture of paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media;
manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; manufacture of rubber and plastic products; manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products;
manufacture of basic metals; manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment;
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; manufacture of electrical equipment; manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; repair and installation of machinery and equipment;
manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; manufacture of other transport equipment;
manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials; manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing;
electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities;
construction;
wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles;
transportation and storage;
accommodation and food service activities;
information and communication;
financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding; insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security;
activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities;
real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities.
Statistical concepts and definitions (S.3.4)
Continuing vocational training (CVT) – part of non-formal learning that is targeted and organised learning based on a curriculum outside formal education. It is divided into CVT courses and other forms of CVT.
Continuing vocational training (CVT) course – CVT courses are typically clearly separated from the active workplace (learning takes place in locations specially assigned for learning, e.g. a classroom or training centre). They show a high degree of organisation (time, space and content) by a trainer or a training institution. The content is designed for a group of learners (e.g. a curriculum exists). Two distinct types of CVT courses are identified: internal CVT courses and external CVT courses. Internal CVT courses are principally designed and managed by the enterprise itself.
Enterprise – consists of one or more companies (public limited company, private limited company, limited partnership, general partnership, commercial association) or branches of foreign companies or sole proprietors
Number of employees – the number of all the employees in the enterprise regardless of the length of their working week.
Employees include:
‒ the owners working in the enterprise and their family members working without pay;
‒ full-time or part-time employees who are listed as paid employees;
‒ persons who work outside the enterprise (e.g. marketing personnel) but who belong to the staff of the enterprise and are listed as paid employees;
‒ persons who are temporarily absent from work (on sick leave, paid leave, study leave, strike, etc.);
‒ seasonal workers, apprentices (trainees) and out-workers who are listed as paid employees;
‒ persons working under a contract for services.
The number of employees does not include employees of other enterprises who operate in the enterprise in question by performing orders, nor the persons who are absent from work for a long period (on parental leave, in compulsory military service, etc.), who have been absent and have not received pay throughout the reference period.
Number of hours worked ‒ the total number of actual hours worked by all employees of the enterprise during the reference period. In addition to regular working hours, overtime is included. Excluded from the calculation are paid but non-working hours (such as vacations, sick leave, etc.), as well as lunch breaks, time spent commuting to and from work, time spent in formal education (degree programs), vocational training (courses, workshops), and any other time not directly considered working hours. The working hours of apprentices and interns are also excluded.
For example, in 2020, the enterprise employed 10 full-time workers. They worked for 11 months in the year and took 1 month of vacation. On average, there are 168 working hours in a month. Let's assume each employee participated in training for an average of 3 workdays during the year. Thus, the total number of hours worked by the enterprise’s employees in 2020 would be (10 x 11 x 168) – (10 x 3 x 8) = 18,240 hours.
Principal activity of an enterprise – the activity of an enterprise that consumes the most working hours. The principal activity of an enterprise is coded according to a 5-diggit code of the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK).
Other forms of continuing vocational training – the type of training that is typically related to active work and the workplace, but it can also include participation (instruction) in conferences, trade fairs, and similar events for the purpose of learning. These other forms of CVT are often characterised by a degree of self-organisation (time, space, and content) by an individual learner or by a group of learners. The content is often tailored according to the learners’ individual needs in the workplace.
Participant of the CVT courses – a person who has participated at least in one continuing vocational training (CVT) course during the reference period. Each person can be counted only once regardless of the number of times he or she has participated in the CVT courses. Thus, if an employee has taken part in two external CVT courses and one internal CVT course, he or she will be considered as one participant.
Training centre – a training unit with training personnel, training premises, and training equipment. The training centre can be located within or outside the enterprise, or it can be shared with other enterprises. The ownership of the training centre is not important, as some enterprises may run a training centre jointly with other enterprises without actual ownership.
Training plan – a written training plan or programme that covers continuing vocational training (CVT) in the enterprise.
The training plan may include:
objectives of the training activities;
the planned proportion of different forms and types of training;
priority topics and target groups;
information about the trainer;
the scope of the training, schedule, and location;
planned resources.
Continuing vocational training (CVT) course – CVT courses are typically clearly separated from the active workplace (learning takes place in locations specially assigned for learning, e.g. a classroom or training centre). They show a high degree of organisation (time, space and content) by a trainer or a training institution. The content is designed for a group of learners (e.g. a curriculum exists). Two distinct types of CVT courses are identified: internal CVT courses and external CVT courses. Internal CVT courses are principally designed and managed by the enterprise itself.
Enterprise – consists of one or more companies (public limited company, private limited company, limited partnership, general partnership, commercial association) or branches of foreign companies or sole proprietors
Number of employees – the number of all the employees in the enterprise regardless of the length of their working week.
Employees include:
‒ the owners working in the enterprise and their family members working without pay;
‒ full-time or part-time employees who are listed as paid employees;
‒ persons who work outside the enterprise (e.g. marketing personnel) but who belong to the staff of the enterprise and are listed as paid employees;
‒ persons who are temporarily absent from work (on sick leave, paid leave, study leave, strike, etc.);
‒ seasonal workers, apprentices (trainees) and out-workers who are listed as paid employees;
‒ persons working under a contract for services.
The number of employees does not include employees of other enterprises who operate in the enterprise in question by performing orders, nor the persons who are absent from work for a long period (on parental leave, in compulsory military service, etc.), who have been absent and have not received pay throughout the reference period.
Number of hours worked ‒ the total number of actual hours worked by all employees of the enterprise during the reference period. In addition to regular working hours, overtime is included. Excluded from the calculation are paid but non-working hours (such as vacations, sick leave, etc.), as well as lunch breaks, time spent commuting to and from work, time spent in formal education (degree programs), vocational training (courses, workshops), and any other time not directly considered working hours. The working hours of apprentices and interns are also excluded.
For example, in 2020, the enterprise employed 10 full-time workers. They worked for 11 months in the year and took 1 month of vacation. On average, there are 168 working hours in a month. Let's assume each employee participated in training for an average of 3 workdays during the year. Thus, the total number of hours worked by the enterprise’s employees in 2020 would be (10 x 11 x 168) – (10 x 3 x 8) = 18,240 hours.
Principal activity of an enterprise – the activity of an enterprise that consumes the most working hours. The principal activity of an enterprise is coded according to a 5-diggit code of the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK).
Other forms of continuing vocational training – the type of training that is typically related to active work and the workplace, but it can also include participation (instruction) in conferences, trade fairs, and similar events for the purpose of learning. These other forms of CVT are often characterised by a degree of self-organisation (time, space, and content) by an individual learner or by a group of learners. The content is often tailored according to the learners’ individual needs in the workplace.
Participant of the CVT courses – a person who has participated at least in one continuing vocational training (CVT) course during the reference period. Each person can be counted only once regardless of the number of times he or she has participated in the CVT courses. Thus, if an employee has taken part in two external CVT courses and one internal CVT course, he or she will be considered as one participant.
Training centre – a training unit with training personnel, training premises, and training equipment. The training centre can be located within or outside the enterprise, or it can be shared with other enterprises. The ownership of the training centre is not important, as some enterprises may run a training centre jointly with other enterprises without actual ownership.
Training plan – a written training plan or programme that covers continuing vocational training (CVT) in the enterprise.
The training plan may include:
objectives of the training activities;
the planned proportion of different forms and types of training;
priority topics and target groups;
information about the trainer;
the scope of the training, schedule, and location;
planned resources.
Statistical unit (S.3.5)
Enterprise
Statistical population (S.3.6)
Enterprises with at least 10 employees whose primary economic activity is:
mining and quarrying (B);
manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products (C10–C12);
manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; manufacture of leather and related products (C13–C15);
manufacture of paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media (C17–C18);
manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; manufacture of rubber and plastic products; manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (C19–C23);
manufacture of basic metals; manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (C24–C25);
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; manufacture of electrical equipment; manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; repair and installation of machinery and equipment (C26–C28, C33);
manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; manufacture of other transport equipment (C29–C30);
manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials; manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing (C16, C31–C32);
electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (D–E);
construction (F);
wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G45);
wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G46);
retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G47);
transportation and storage (H);
accommodation and food service activities (I);
information and communication (J);
financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding; insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security (K64–K65);
activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities (K66);
real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities (L, M, N, R, S).
mining and quarrying (B);
manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products (C10–C12);
manufacture of textiles and wearing apparel; manufacture of leather and related products (C13–C15);
manufacture of paper and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media (C17–C18);
manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products; manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; manufacture of rubber and plastic products; manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (C19–C23);
manufacture of basic metals; manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (C24–C25);
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products; manufacture of electrical equipment; manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; repair and installation of machinery and equipment (C26–C28, C33);
manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers; manufacture of other transport equipment (C29–C30);
manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials; manufacture of furniture; other manufacturing (C16, C31–C32);
electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (D–E);
construction (F);
wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G45);
wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G46);
retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G47);
transportation and storage (H);
accommodation and food service activities (I);
information and communication (J);
financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding; insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security (K64–K65);
activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities (K66);
real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities; arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities (L, M, N, R, S).
Reference area (S.3.7)
Estonia as a whole
Time coverage (S.3.8)
1999, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020
Base period (S.3.9)
Not applicable
Reference period
Year
Institutional mandate
Legal acts and other agreements (S.6.1)
Official Statistics Act;
Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises (Text with EEA relevance);
Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance)
Regulation (EC) No 1552/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on statistics relating to vocational training in enterprises (Text with EEA relevance);
Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance)
Data sharing (S.6.2)
None