Large enterprises generated half the net business turnover in the European Union in 2022, despite representing just 0.2% of the total number of enterprises in the bloc.
A large enterprise is one that employs more than 249 people, and as of last year, there were 53,000 such businesses in operation across the EU, Eurostat’s data showed. These businesses employed more than a third of the labour force (56.5 million people, or 35%) during 2022.
Elsewhere, micro enterprises (49 people or less) employed almost half of all persons employed in the business sector (78.8 million people), and generated €12.2 trillion in net turnover, representing 32% of the total net turnover.
Medium-size enterprises (50-249 persons employed) represented just 0.8% the total number of enterprises last year, encompassing 247,000 businesses in total, and employed 15% of the people (24.6 million people). These businesses registered approximately one-fifth of the net turnover (€6.8 trillion; 18%), Eurostat’s data showed.
The European picture
In the year 2022, the EU had a total of 32 million enterprises, employing 160 million people, and boasating a net turnover of €38 trillion.
The ‘industry’ sector contributed the largest share of turnover in 2022, amounting to one-third (€13.5 trillion), constituting 35% of the overall net turnover. Trade accounted for 29% of the total turnover (€11.2 trillion), while construction accounted for 6% of the total turnover (€2.1 trillion).
Other services encompassed a wide range of activities, including transportation, storage, accommodation, foodservice, education, health, social work, arts, entertainment, and recreation. Collectively, these segments represented the highest number of enterprises at 62% (19.9 million), employed over half of the total workforce (83.3 million, 52%), and contributed almost one-third of the net turnover (€11.4 trillion, 30%).
Top Business Segments Ranked By Net Turnover (EU, 2022)
| Industry | Net Turnover (in €m) |
|---|---|
| Industry, construction and market services (except public administration and defence; compulsory social security; activities of membership organisations) | 38,228,551.11 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 11,196,525.91 |
| Manufacturing | 9,720,417.65 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 3,250,000.00 |
| Construction | 2,135,321.25 |
| Transportation and storage | 1,840,810.00 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 1,619,409.11 |
| Information and communication | 1,601,068.17 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 1,079,193.34 |
| Human health and social work activities | 900,000.00 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 649,667.45 |
| Real estate activities | 562,110.03 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 305,668.54 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 260,000.00 |
| Mining and quarrying | 178,884.49 |
