So it’s come to my attention that some people **cough[team name redacted]cough** think that The Bureau of the Census and it’s employees are “…wasting the Tax Payers' dollars”.
I’d like to take this opportunity to talk a little bit about our quality economic and demographic data and it’s many many many uses.
Mission Statement
The Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy. We honor privacy, protect confidentiality, share our expertise globally, and conduct our work openly. We are guided on this mission by our strong and capable workforce, our readiness to innovate, and our abiding commitment to our customers.
History of Economic Programs
The growth of the economic census reflects the blossoming industrialization and the spread of communications in the United States since the early 19th century. Temporary census offices took these censuses with increasing detail and accuracy until 1900. Demands for more frequent enumerations, resulting in more current economic data, were major factors in the
establishment of a permanent Census Bureau in 1902. In the early twentieth century, there were censuses of manufactures every two years. Later, the Census Bureau conducted
these censuses at five-year intervals, and put them on the same schedule as those of the construction, mineral, service, financial, insurance, and real estate industries;
surveys of minority- and women-owned businesses; and many more. This integration took place during the 1950's, in order to ensure complete, unduplicated, comparable data for all of their components.
The Census Bureau has increasingly enumerated companies by mail and, for many small establishments, by using administrative records in lieu of questionnaires. The introduction of
mechanical tabulation,
electronic tabulation, and computers and the
Internet increased the variety of data products available and how the information could be accessed.
A little bit on my department: Survey: Quarterly Services Survey (QSS)PURPOSE
The Quarterly Services Survey (QSS) is the only source of service industry indicator performance providing timely estimates of revenue and expenses for selected service industries. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for voluntary responses.
COVERAGE
The QSS has covered the following industries since the fourth quarter of 2003: Sector 51 (Information); 54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Sector), and 56 (Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services). Starting in the fourth quarter of 2004 Hospitals (NAICS 622) and Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (NAICS 623) were added. In the second quarter of 2009 Ambulatory Health Care Services (NAICS 621) and Social Assistance Services (NAICS 624) were added to the survey.
CONTENT
The QSS is a principal economic indicator series that produces, for selected service industries, quarterly estimates of total operating revenue and the percentage of revenue by class of customer (government, business, consumers, and individuals). The survey also produces estimates of total operating expenses from tax-exempt firms in industries that have a large not-for-profit component. In addition, for hospital services, the survey estimates the number of inpatient days and discharges.
FREQUENCY
The Quarterly Services survey is conducted quarterly with the mail out occurring at the end of each calendar quarter. The survey form is due 14 days after the end of the reference period. A new sample will be selected about every five years. The QSS is released online, every 75 days, after each calendar quarter. The QSS is a sub-sample of the
Service Annual Survey (SAS).
METHODS
The sample includes approximately 12,000 service businesses with paid employees that operate in the covered sectors. Those in the sample can choose to respond though mail, fax, internet reporting, or by telephone. In order to be eligible for the list sample, service businesses must be in the Business Register (BR), which contains all Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) for listed businesses and locations of multi-establishment companies. EINs may represent one or more establishments, and firms may have one or more EINs.
The sample is updated quarterly to reflect births and deaths, adding new employer businesses identified in the Business and Professional Classification Survey, and deleting firms and EINs that are no longer active. During interim periods, service non-employers and businesses are represented by administrative records data or imputed values.
PRODUCTS
Quarterly Services Survey reports are available approximately 75 days following the end of each quarter. The first publication was released on September 13, 2004 and included data for the fourth quarter of 2003 and the first two quarters of 2004. In addition, each year, benchmark reports are released using the results of the latest Service Annual Survey (SAS). Future plans for the QSS include publishing seasonally adjusted data for additional industries.
USES
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is the primary Federal user of data collected in the QSS. The BEA utilizes this timely data to make improvements to the national accounts for service industries. In the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA), the quarterly data allow more accurate estimates of both Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) and private fixed investment. Quarterly revenue data from the QSS are also used to produce estimates of gross output by industry. This allows BEA to produce an earlier version of the gross domestic product (GDP) by industry estimates.
QSS estimates also provide the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) and Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) with timely information on current economic performance.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) use the QSS data to develop hospital-spending estimates in the National Accounts. In addition, the QSS data improves their ability to analyze hospital-spending trends. They also use the data in their healthcare indicator analysis publication; ten-year health spending forecast estimates; and studies in hospital regulation and Medicare policy, procedures, and trends.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The QSS provides the most timely data on revenue produced within service industries.
Other highly valued team members work on the team work on the Service Annual Survey (SAS)PURPOSE
To provide estimates of revenue and other measures for most traditional service industries. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory responses.
COVERAGE
The survey collects data from companies whose primary business or operation is to provide services to individuals, businesses, and governments (NAICS 51, 5231, 52392, 52393, 532, 54, 56,62, 71, 81). This survey also covers the Transportation and Warehousing sector (NAICS 484, 492, and 493). Industry coverage and detail have been expanded since 1982, and include most personal, business, automotive, amusement and recreation, social welfare, health care, and other professional services. The use of expanded 1987 SIC classifications began in 1991, and the industries covered accounted for about 20% of the Nation's 1994 Gross Domestic Product.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was used for the first time with the 1999 survey to collect data for the Service Annual Survey (SAS). The scope of the Service Annual Survey has been broadened to encompass the old Annual Survey of Communication Services and the old Transportation Annual Survey. With the implementation of NAICS, approximately 150 additional service industries are being covered. The North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) was introduced for the first time with the 2001 survey year to include the Information Sector (NAICS 51), and Computer System Design and Related Services (Industry Group 5415).
CONTENT
Collected data include operating revenue for both taxable and tax-exempt firms and organizations; sources of revenue and expenses by type for selected industries; operating expenses for tax-exempt firms; and selected industry-specific items. In addition, starting with the 1999 survey, e-commerce data were collected for all industries, and export and inventory data were collected for selected industries.
FREQUENCY
Data collection begins in January following the survey year and continues for about 28 weeks. Reported data are for activities which take place during the calendar year. Prior to 1982, the survey was conducted monthly and since that time it has been conducted annually. A new sample is introduced roughly every 5 years.
METHODS
This is a mail-out/mail-back survey of approximately 60,000 selected service businesses with paid employees; supplemented by administrative records data or imputed values to account for non-employer and certain other businesses. To be eligible for the list sample, service businesses must be in the Business Register List (BR), which contains all Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) for listed businesses and all locations of multi-establishment companies. EINs may represent one or more establishments and firms may have one or more EINs.
In the initial sampling, companies are stratified by major and minor kind of business, and by estimated receipts or revenue. All companies with total receipts above applicable size cutoffs are included in the survey and report for all their service industry locations. In a second stage, EINs of unselected companies are stratified by major kind of business and receipts or revenue. Within each stratum a simple random sample of EINs is selected.
The initial sample is updated quarterly to reflect births and deaths, adding new employer businesses identified in the business and professional classification survey, and dropping firms and EINs that are no longer active. During interim periods, service non-employer and other businesses are represented by administrative records data or imputed values.
PRODUCTS
Service Annual Survey reports are normally published no later than 13 months after the end of the survey year. Summary data (total revenue and total expenses) are provided at the sector, sub-sector and industry group level for the survey year and past years. Detailed expense data are published for select sectors and subsectors. Industry specific data, such as product line and detailed revenue (source of funding), are provided for selected industries. In addition, there are data for selected kinds of business by federal income-tax status (taxable and tax-exempt).
USES
The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses these data in its preparation of national income and product accounts, and its benchmark and annual input-output tables. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the data as input to its producer price indexes and in developing productivity measurements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses the data to estimate expenditures for the National Health Accounts. The Coalition of Service Industries uses data for general research and planning.
Trade and professional organizations use the estimates to analyze industry trends and benchmark their own statistical programs, develop forecasts, and evaluate regulatory requirements. The media use estimates for news reports and background information. Private businesses use the estimates to measure market share; analyze business potential; and plan investment decisions.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The Service Annual Survey provides the only source of annual receipts estimates for the service industries.
I’m sure that by now you’re convinced that we are money well spent. But alas, I haven’t even touched on what we’re most famous for!About 2010 Census
What
Count
The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.
Who
EveryoneAll residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.
When
Every 10 years, and the next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010.
The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010.
The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.
Where
Everywhere in the U.S.The census counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.
People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year.
Why
The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing.
More info…
How
The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. We will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire.
Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.)
Filling out your Census is very important!
Why fill out the census form?
Every household in the country will receive a questionnaire in 2010. To ensure an accurate and fair count of all populations at all geographic levels in the nation, the Census Bureau needs you or someone in your household to respond to the census questionnaire.
It’s important. – Census data affect funding for your community, your community’s representation in Congress and your community leader’s planning decisions.
More info. . .
It’s easy. – The census questionnaire takes only a few minutes to answer and return by mail.
It’s confidential. – Your responses are protected by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). All Census Bureau employees have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, a fine – or both – for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household.
More info…
It’s required by law. – The information you provide is combined with responses provided by your neighbors and other households across the country, to provide summary statistical data that are used by various local, state and federal agencies.
Census affects funding in your community Census data directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and much more. That's more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period. Spending just a few minutes to fill out your census form will help ensure your community gets its fair share of federal and state funding.
Census affects your voice in Congress Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is also used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to redistrict state legislatures.
More information about the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. . .
Census affects your representation in state and local governmentCensus data are used to define legislature districts, school district assignment areas and other important functional areas of government.
Census informs your community's decisions The census is like a snapshot that helps define who we are as a nation. Data about changes in your community are crucial to many planning decisions, such as where to provide services for the elderly, where to build new roads and schools, or where to locate job training centers.
As you can obviously see, we are not in fact “…wasting tax payers’ dollars”. We are providing the highest quality economic and demographic data while keeping you confidentiality in mind!
After reading the above (and I know you all did), I hope you all now write your congressmen and ask them to spend the both the bailout and stimulus money on giving valuable Census employees raises instead of rescuing banks and or trying to reduce unemployment.
After all how can you reduce unemployment if you don’t know what the unemployment rate is?
On a side note, while we lost last night, I did sweep Bill Belichick in a game of rock, paper, scissors!
Peace I’m outta here!
Craig (MATT)
