Classification of Economic Activities 2008 (WZ 2008)

The Classification of Economic Activities 2008 defines its categories differently at the various hierarchical levels. At the highly aggregated levels , general characteristics of goods and services are the relevant factors. At the more detailed aggregation levels, on the other hand, the similarities in the production process are decisive (Federal Statistical Office 2008: 19f.). The WZ 2008 is subdivided into five levels: 21 sections, 88 divisions, 272 groups, 615 classes and 839 subclasses (Federal Statistical Office 2008: 18).

Origin/Creator:	Federal Statistical Office
Method/Structure:	The WZ 2008 was formally developed from the ISIC revision 4 and the NACE revision 2. The top level of organisation, the sections, of all three classifications is identical. The delimitation criteria of the individual categories are general characteristics of the produced goods respectively services as well as possible areas of application of the statistics (Federal Statistical Office 2008: 17ff.). The second level of organisation, the divisions, is also identical for all classifications. The delimitation criteria are the type and intended use of the produced goods respectively services, factor input, procedures and production technology (ibid.). The third level of organisation, the groups, is identical for the NACE Rev. 2 and the WZ 2008. This level is an adaptation of the ISIC Rev. 4 to European requirements. The delimitation criteria are the same as for the second organisation level, but they are more differentiated (ibid.). The fourth level of organisation, the classes, are again the same for the WZ 2008 and the NACE Rev. 2 and an adaptation to European requirements. Here units were grouped together which preferably perform the same activities (ibid.). The lowermost level of organisation, the subclasses, only exists in the WZ 2008 and further differentiates the classes based on same activities (ibid.).
Development/implementation for Germany:	The WZ 2008 is the revision of the WZ 2003. The classification structure of the WZ 2003 was extensively changed in some areas in the course of the revision. New structure levels at the top level of the classification and new partitions were created. Particularly in the area of services, the WZ 2008 is organised much more deeply than its previous version. Where no modifications were necessary, the structure of the WZ 2003 was adopted (cf. Federal Statistical Office 2008: 53).

Related classifications:

Statistical Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev. 2)

Classification of Economic Activities 2003 (WZ 2003)

International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities Revision 4 (ISIC Rev.4)

Knowledge and technology-intensive industries

Keywords

classification of economic activities, produced goods, services, intended use, production technology, production process, production activity

Classification of Economic Activities 2008 (WZ 2008)

Fundamental literature: Federal Statistical Office (2008): Klassifikation der Wirtschaftszweige Mit Erläuterungen. Statistisches Bundesamt: Wiesbaden.