The 1997 Economic Census: The Data

by the Pennsylvania State Data Center

Volume 1, Number 2 August 1999

This is the second of a series of reports on the Economic Census.

Every five years an Economic Census is conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. While the Decennial Census tracks population and housing characteristics over time, the Economic Census keeps the pulse of the national and local economies

Economic Sectors
The U.S. Economic Census collects data on 20 major economic sectors. Establishments are categorized by the principal activity in which they are engaged. These broad groupings include:

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
(A separate census of Agriculture is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and covers farming but not agricultural services, forestry and fisheries)

Mining

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation and Warehousing
(Census excludes U.S. Postal Service, large certificated passenger air transportation and all rail transportation)

Information

Finance and Insurance
(Census excludes funds and trusts)

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
(Census excludes landscape architecture and veterinary services)

Management of Companies and Enterprises

Administrative and Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services (Census excludes landscaping services)

Educational Services
(Census excludes elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and professional schools)

Health Care and Social Assistance

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

Accommodation and Food Services

Other Services Except Public Administration
(Census excludes pet care; labor, political, and religious organizations; and private households)

Public Administration
(Separate Census of governments does not present data according to NAICS or SIC system)

Data Items
The U.S. Economic Census statistics are collected and published by "establishment." An establishment is a business or industrial unit at a single physical location that produces or distributes goods or performs services. Many companies own or control more than one establishment. These may be located in different geographic areas and may be engaged in different activities. By collecting data for each establishment, the Economic Census can include detailed data for each industry and each area.

Several key statistics are tabulated for all industries covered in the Economic Census. These include:

    Number of establishments or companies

    Number of employees

    Payroll

    Measure of output (sales, receipts, revenues, value of shipments, or value of construction work done)

Some sectors may also include data on expenses, assets, capital expenditures, or inventories.

A sample data table may include:

The most detailed data will be released at the national level. However, most data is also published at the state level. Data are also available for counties, ZIP codes, metropolitan areas and places of more than 2,500 population. However, as the geographic level becomes smaller, fewer data are available. This is to protect the confidentiality of businesses.

All data are confidential. Only summary statistics are published.

How is the Data Released?
The results of the Census are published on a flow basis, state by state and sector by sector. The flow of Pennsylvania data is expected to begin in the fall of 1999.

Data is published in several ways.

Geographic Area Series
These are published for all economic sectors and provides detail for establishments with employees for the nation, states, and some substate areas. ZIP Code statistics are published for most sectors.

Industry Series
National totals are published for individual industries and their products for manufacturing, mining and construction. Limited data are available for states.

Subject Series
This covers all economic sectors. It provides national and limited state and metropolitan area data on special topics including merchandise line sales, concentration ratios, and establishment/firm size.

Summary Reports
These feature primarily national data and general statistics by state. They provide highlights of the data in print.

The Pennsylvania State Data Center is a repository for Pennsylvania's data. Data usees should contact the PSDC or one of its affiliates located across the Commonwealth. The PSDC can interpret Economic Census definitions and provide data as well.

For the first time, the U.S. Census Bureau will publish this data on the Internet. Through its American Fact Finder component, data users may obtain tables of data or quick reports. CD-ROM products with updated, user-friendly software also will be produced.

A 1997 Economic Census Guide has been produced by the Census Bureau. It is available on the Bureau's web site in pdf format. The web site for the Bureau is www.census.gov. Click on Economic Census.