Sectors that change codes more frequently, are the sectors that grow rapidly

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) regularly updates the so-called SBI codes (Standard Industrial Classification) to keep pace with changes in the economy. There were major updates in 1974, 1993, 2008, and again in 2025.  For example, in SBI 2008, there were separate codes for different sales channels, such as physical stores, market trading, and online or mail-order sales. This distinction has now disappeared, as more retailers operate both physically and digitally. Another example from this year's revision is the introduction of separate SBI codes for digital platforms and intermediaries—companies that bring together supply and demand without owning goods or services themselves.

Not just administrative changes 

Chief Economist Barbara Baarsma of PwC: 'We analysed seventeen years of CBS data, and this shows that the adjustments to the SBI codes are not merely administrative changes. In comparing sectors with many classification changes versus those with few changes, it showed that the first group had grown 8.5 times faster than the second. Frequent code adjustments are therefore strongly associated with dynamic sectoral growth.' The report includes an overview of the sectors with no, many, or few changes.

Insight into the dynamics of the economy 

Baarsma explains that these kinds of insights are important for understanding the dynamics of the economy. 'It may seem like a theoretical exercise, but it is also important for companies to know where value is heading. For years, sectors formed the foundation of economic analyses. Statistics, policy, and even business strategies were based on sector classifications: industry, trade, agriculture, services. The SBI codes are a direct result of this. They provide structure and make it possible to track and compare economic developments.' 

Thinking in terms of sectors is outdated

At the same time, Baarsma says thinking in terms of sectors is outdated. 'Today's economy no longer fits into separate boxes. Companies increasingly collaborate in complex value chains that span multiple sectors. A manufacturer works together with IT firms, logistics partners, and marketing agencies—often even across national borders. In addition, more business ecosystems are emerging: networks of companies, suppliers, customers, and even competitors that create value together and stimulate innovation.'

Time to update statistics

Baarsma: 'It would be a major step forward if, in its next revision, CBS not only looked at sectors but also included value chains and ecosystems in its data collection. By gaining insight into how companies collaborate, where value is added, and how networks function, a much richer and more accurate picture of the economy emerges. This enables policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs to better respond to today’s challenges and opportunities. After all, the economy is no longer a collection of separate sectors, but a dynamic network of interconnected players. It is time for our statistics to reflect that reality.'

Baarsma: 'Our research into changes in business classification gives us insight into where growth is occurring. A next step towards value chains and ecosystems would further enrich this picture.'