Exploring MSMEs through the Jamaica Survey of Establishments

The Jamaica Survey of Establishment (JSE), which was conceptualised in 2014 and conducted between July- December 2018, has now made public the long-awaited findings from the survey. The survey will provide data on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to inform policy direction going forward.
Speaking at a presentation of the report on Wednesday at the AC Hotel Kingston, director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Dr Wayne Henry said the survey will provide invaluable data that will aid in identifying and understanding trends in the economy, business expansions/growth, and improve the robustness of policy prescriptions.
“Today’s event is a significant step towards filling the gap identified five years ago. It will aid in filling the need for data to enhance business, economic planning, and development in Jamaica,” he said.
Carol Coy, director general at Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), also expressed similar sentiments in saying that the JSE, which is a first of its kind in Jamaica, seeks to provide baseline data on the numbers and distribution of economic units operating in the country.
“The JSE arose out of the need for a wider range of business statistics to assess the impacts of government policy over time. The primary goal of the 2018 JSE is to provide data for the strengthening of the business register,” she added.
STATIN’s Deputy Director Leesha Delatie-Budairm, in presenting a round-up of the findings said the survey was undertaken across all 14 parishes of the country from “non-farm, non-agriculture entities operating from stationary, visible economic premises”, with establishment sizes ranging from three or more permanent employees, utilising a reference period of March 31, 2018.
She noted that based on the response rate, 35,287 establishments were identified. An establishment was defined to mean “an enterprise or part of an enterprise that is situated in a single location and in which only a single (non-ancillary) productive activity is carried out or in which the principal productive activity accounts for most of the value added. In cases where an entity has multiple branches, each branch is considered as a separate establishment”.