Guiding Cross-Border Data Collection: Methods, Definitions, and Metadata Now Available

Statistics Netherlands, in collaboration with ÖIR GmbH, INSEE and Statistics Denmark, has prepared a set of documents to guide data collection for our ongoing Cross-Border Data Collection project. These documents include a Methods and Definitions document, a Metadata Form and code lists with standardized country codes. These documents accompany the data templates we use for data collection. They are available for public consultation here: The Cross-Border Data Collection Project.  

About the Study

This study collects detailed data from administrative sources to measure incoming cross-border employees in EU and EFTA border regions at a high regional detail (NUTS3 level). The focus is on capturing annual data from 2019 to 2023, using sources such as social security files and population registers.

Key Definitions

The Methods and Definitions document clarifies essential concepts:

• Region of Work: Refers to the actual place of work. If a company operates in multiple regions, the location where the employee works should be recorded, not the headquarters. For employees with multiple jobs, data should reflect the main job.
• Country of Residence: Identified as either the country of employment or one of its neighbouring countries using standard EU country codes. A comprehensive list of bordering countries, including non-EU members will be provided for each data inquiry.
• Breakdown 1: Citizenship: Data can be based on either nationality or citizenship, depending on each country’s administrative practices. Most countries are expected to report citizenship, which should follow the same coding rules as the country of residence.
• Breakdown 2: Sex: Only male and female categories will be recorded. Employees with unspecified sex should be included in the total but not as a separate category.

Metadata Form Details

As described in the metadata form, we ask participating countries to provide:

• Population Details: Unit of measure, reference date/period, and administrative data sources.
• Method Descriptions: For example, how was the main job determined for multi-job holders?
• Concept Clarifications: Fo instance, how were multiple work locations managed? Was nationality or citizenship used?
• Time Coverage: Particularly if data for the full 2019-2023 period isn’t available.
• Additional Information: Including other breakdowns (e.g., age) or any issues, comments, or remarks.

Feedback Invitation

We welcome your feedback on these documents. Your insights can help us to improve our approach and to develop a sustainable system of collecting cross-border data. Please send your feedback to crossborderdata@cbs.nl.