In 2013, there were 33,374 high-growth enterprises - those enterprises that have increased the number of employees at least by 20% a year for three consecutive years and counted with at least 10 salaried employed persons in the first year of observation. They were equivalent to 0.7% of the total number of active enterprises in the economy and to 7.0% of the total number of enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons that year. Among 2010 and 2013, those enterprises registered a 172.0% growth of employed persons and, as a result, generated 3.1 million new job positions or 42.0% of the job vacancies created by all the active enterprises with at least one salaried employed person and 91.9% of the vacancies generated in enterprises with 10 or more salaried persons.

As to the distribution of these enterprises into sectors, the construction sector (10.5%) presented the greatest proportion of high-growth enterprises in the total of active enterprises with 10 or more salaried persons, although in absolute terms, the greatest number of high-growth enterprises is in services (9,948). The distribution of high-growth enterprises by economic activities showed that the three major sections were trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (26.4%); manufacturing industries (21.3%); and construction (12.1%).

In 2013, the active enterprises with 10 or more salaried persons generated R$ 1.789 trillion in gross value added. The high-growth enterprises were responsible for R$ 264.1 billion, 14.8% of this total. In relation to the net revenue, the high-growth enterprises accounted for R$ 861.4 billion, 14.2% of the total of R$ 6.055 billion of net revenue generated by enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons.

Among the high-growth enterprises in 2011 (34,528), 13,528 (39.2%) continued to grow at an average of 20% a year in 2012 and 7,071 (20.5%) sustained that growth in 2013. These enterprises, classified as of continuous high-growth, represented 21.2% of the total of high-growth enterprises in 2013, employed 1.9 million of salaried persons (38.0% do total) and paid R$ 43.5 billion in salaries and other compensation (40.4%).

These data are part of the survey Statistics of Entrepreneurship 2013, carried out by the IBGE in partnership with the Endeavor Brazil Institute. The difference between this edition and the previous ones is the analysis of multi-located enterprises, those which have at least one branch set in a municipality other than that of the headquarter. 18.8% (6,583) of multi-located enterprises were of high-growth, aged 21.0 years old on average. This result was higher than that of the general high-growth enterprises (13.9 years old). The pattern of intensity of connections is concentrated in the Center-South and along the coast. Among the municipalities with three or more headquarters of multi-located high-growth enterprises, 72.0% are found in the Center-South.

The complete publication of Statistics of Entrepreneurship 2013 can be accessed here.

Table 2
Number of enterprises, salaried employed persons, salaries and other compensation, average monthly salary and respective rates for high-growth enterprises
Brazil - 2011-2013

Source: IBGE, Cadastro Central de Empresas 2008-2013.

In 2013, there were 33,374 high-growth enterprises, which employed almost 5,0 million salaried persons and paid R$ 107.5 billion in salaries and other compensation. Compared with the previous year, there was a reduction of 5.2% in the total number of high-growth enterprises, of 5.8% in salaried employed persons and of 1.1% in salaries and other compensation paid, in nominal values, by those enterprises.

In relation to the total active enterprises, the participation of high-growth enterprises remained below 1% along the triennium surveyed (2011-2013). Concerning contribution to the total of enterprises with one or more salaried employed persons, the rate is relatively stable, achieving 1.4% in 2013. On the other hand, as to enterprises with 10 or more employed persons, the value has been decreasing, from 7.7% (2011) to 7.0% (2013).

As to the proportion of employed persons in relation to active enterprises with one or more salaried employed persons, between 2011 and 2012, the rate changed from 15.4% to 15.6%, followed by a reduction in the biennium 2012-2013, reaching 14.3%. This contribution loss is also seen in the total of salaries and compensation in relation to active enterprises with one or more employed persons: after a biennium of a stable rate (14.4% between 2011-2012), the rate decreases to 12.7% in the biennium 2012-2013. The absolute average monthly salary also reduced from 2.7 minimum wages in 2011, falling to 2.5 minimum wages in 2012-2013.

High-growth enterprises generate 3.1 million of salaried jobs created between 2010 and 2013

Despite representing a small share in the total active enterprises in Brazil, high-growth enterprises stand out in terms of increment of salaried job posts. Among the high-growth enterprises of 2013, there was an increase of 172.0% in employed persons between 2010 and 2013. This value was above that of the high-growth enterprises of 2012 (167.8%), but below the figure seen in this group of enterprises in 2011, when the rate was of 175.5%.

The salaried employed persons in high-growth enterprises in 2013 went from 1.8 million in 2010 to 5.0 million in 2013, an increment of 3.1 million salaried employed persons. That represents 42.0% of posts generated in enterprises with one or more salaried employed persons and 91.9% in enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons. In Brazil, between 2010 and 2013, 7.5 million job posts were created, a rise of 27.2% - a rate below the one seen among high-growth enterprises (172.0%) and above the rate seen in enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons (13.4%).

In 2013, the average age of high-growth enterprises was 13.9 years old. Among high-growth enterprises, 79.6% were concentrated in the age group up to 20 years old. Between 2012 and 2013, in the enterprises with up to 20 year of age, there was a reduction in the total contribution of salaried employed persons from 68.3% to 68.0% and increase in the contribution of salaries and other compensation from 62.7% to 66.0%.

Enterprises over 40 years of age represented 2.7% of the total number of high-growth enterprises but employed 8.8% of the employed persons and paid 11.3% of salaries and other compensation.

13.6% of the high-growth enterprises were gazelles

In 2013, there were 4.529 gazelles or high-growth enterprises with up to five years of age in the first year of reference. They represented, between 2011 and 2013, a slight increase in their representativeness in relation to the total high-growth enterprises, moving from 12.4% to 13.6%. Gazelles employed 407,231 salaried persons and paid R$ 8.1 million in salaries and other compensation.

The representativeness of enterprises with 10 to 49 salaried persons in the total number of gazelles was of 58.6%, higher than in the group of high-growth enterprises (52.4%).

More than 1/4 of high-growth enterprises were in trade

In 2013, the construction sector (10.5%) presented the greatest proportion of high-growth enterprises in the total of active enterprises with 10 or more salaried persons, although, in absolute terms, the greatest number of high-growth enterprises is in found in services (9,948).

Table 12
Number of high-growth enterprises and active enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons, with index of representativeness, according CNAE 2.0 sections
Brazil - 2013

Source: IBGE, Cadastro Central de Empresas 2008-2013.

The distribution of high-growth enterprises by economic activities showed that the three major sections were trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (26.4%); manufacturing industries (21.3%); and construction (12.1%). On the other hand, the less represented sectors were human health and social services (2.1%); and other activities of services (1.3%).

The distribution of salaried employed persons of the high-growth enterprises by sections of activities showed that manufacturing industries (22.5%); Administrative and support service activities (18.8%); trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (17.7%); and construction (16.1%) employed more persons. Conversely, the sector of public administration, defense and social security; gas and energy got a contribution near zero.

Among 2010 and 2013, in high-growth enterprises, the sectors that mostly generated job posts, in absolute terms, were manufacturing industries (688.6 thousand); administrative activities and complementary services (635.1 thousand); trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (539.4 thousand); and construction (522.6 thousand). The highest average monthly salaries were paid in the sectors of gas and energy (9.6 minimum wages): mining and quarrying industries (7.5 minimum wages); and financial and insurance activities, and related services (5.1 minimum wages).

Average value added of high-growth enterprise is 99.3% higher than that of enterprises with 10 or more salaried persons

In 2013, active enterprises with 10 or more salaried persons generated R$ 1.789 trillion in gross value added. High-growth enterprises were responsible for R$ 264.1 billion, 14.8% of this total. Thus, the average value added (gross value added divided by the number of enterprises) of the high-growth enterprises was of R$ 8.4 million, 99.3% above that seen in the enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons (R$ 4.2 million). Among high-growth enterprises, the activity of petroleum and natural gas extraction generated the highest average value added (R$ 648.3 million). In relation to the net revenue, high-growth enterprises accounted for R$ 861.4 billion, 14.2% of the total of R$ 6,055 trillion of the net revenue generated by enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons.

20.5% of high-growth enterprises in 2011 kept on growing up to 2013

Continuous high-growth enterprises are the ones that have continued to increase the number of salaried employed persons at least at 20% a year, for an uninterrupted period above three years since the initial year of observation. Among the total high-growth enterprises in 2011 (34,528), 13,528 (39.2%) continued to grow on average 20% a year in 2012 and 7,071 (20.5%) have sustained that growth in 2013.

These enterprises, classified as of continuous high-growth , in 2013, employed 1.9 million of salaried persons (38.0% of the total) and paid R$ 43.5 billion in salaries and other compensation (40.4%). In 2013, those enterprises represented 21.2% of high-growth enterprises.

In 2013, 18.8% of the multi-located enterprises were high-growth

In 2013, there were in Brazil 479.2 thousand enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons. Out of them, 7.3% (35,077) were multi-located, i. e., had branches in municipalities other than the headquarter's. High-growth enterprises represented 18.8% (6,583) of the multi-located active enterprises. This figure is above the one seen for enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons, 7.0%. The average age of multi-located high-growth enterprises is 21.0, higher than that of general high-growth enterprises (13.9 years old).

The greatest occurrence of multi-located enterprise is in the Center-South and along the Brazilian coast. Among the municipalities with three or more headquarters of multi-located high-growth enterprises, 72.0% are found in the Center-South. In terms of Federation Units, São Paulo has almost 25.0% of the municipalities in this situation.

Concentration of local units of high-growth enterprises is higher in the Northeast and North Regions

The Southeast Region presents the greatest concentration of local units of high-growth enterprises (50.0%) and of employed population (52.0%) in these units. However, the representativeness of local units of high-growth enterprises in relation to local units of enterprises with 10 or more salaried employed persons is higher in the Central-West Region (10.9%), followed by the North (10.6%), Northeast (10.2%), Southeast (9.9%) and South Regions (9.7%).

In the case of representativeness in terms of employed persons, the Central-West Region also appears as first with 19.3%, followed by the Northeast (19.2%), North (18.9%), Southeast (16.5%) and South Regions (15.8%).