Potential New Content and Structures for the U'S' Census Bureaus Business Register

1
Potential New Content and Structures for the U.S.
Census Bureaus Business Register

• Shirin A. Ahmed and Eddie J. Salyers
• U.S. Census Bureau
• United States of America

2
Agenda

• Background about the register
• Improvements to date
• Improvements under consideration
• Using BLS data
• Creating two-way information flows
• Collecting information to profile and measure
  enterprises
• Next steps

3
Background about the Register

• Houses information for 26 million businesses (7.5
  million employer businesses)
• Distinguishes between multi units (more than one
  location) and single units
• Identifies and links enterprise and establishment
  (local) structures
• Primary administrative source is the Internal
  Revenue Service

4
Background about the Register

• Structures link tax reporting units (Employer
  Identification Numbers)
• Updates from the Economic Census, Annual Report
  of Organization, and Annual Survey of
  Manufactures
• Frame for census and current surveys samples,
  maintenance and benchmarking activities and
  micro-data research

5
Improvements to Date

• For the 2002 Economic Census
• New methods
• Better organization of information
• Modern technology
• For the 2007 Economic Census
• More functionality tools
• Improved user outreach
• For the 2012 Economic Census
• Integrate and use new information

6
Improvements Under Consideration

• Use of more information from the Bureau of Labor
  Statistics (BLS)
• Standardizing and using current survey
  information
• Collecting information to better profile and
  measure enterprises

7
Using BLS Data Started in 1990s

• Classification of BLS Data Sharing
• Multi-establishment indicator
• Split out single units on BOC register
• Created more consistent register
• Physical address

8
New Uses of BLS Data

• Register Comparison Project 2004
• Comparison of the BOC register and BLS register
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of each
• Review of information
• Multiunit data for firms operating within States
• Provide detail for large single units
• Reduce mailout for the Annual Survey of
  Organization
• Discontinue mailing significant single units
• Discontinue mailing growth multi-unit
• Client Data for Professional Employer
  Organizations (PEOs)
• Resolve issues with treatment across programs
• Define nonemployer versus employer frame

9
Current Surveys

• Background
• Register contains enterprise and establishments
• Current collections may depend on division-level
  estimates
• Lack of communication between register and
  current surveys
• Standardize on ID
• Why its Important
• Communicate organizational changes
• Limit respondent burden
• Provide more robust micro data sets
• Company calendar first step

10
Collecting and Using Information About Enterprises

• Background
• Economic Census is an establishment collection
• Multi-establishment companies get enterprise
  form for limited information
• Proposal
• Expand enterprise form
• Improve quality of programs, produce new
  products, link to current collections

11
Collecting and Using Information About Enterprises

• Improve Quality
• Clarify Employer and Nonemployer universes
• Better editing and coherence
• Capture Data Not Reportable at Establishment
  Level
• Release New Data
• Globalization, Technology, Supply-chain
• New products
• Mergers, acquisitions, divestitures
• Diversification and specialization
• Company size

12
Collecting and Using Information About Enterprises

• Recognize Divisions and Companies within
  Enterprises
• Better current survey linkages
• Recognize New Classifications

13
Next Steps

• Legal and administrative hurdles for data sharing
• Internal organizational buy-in to work
  corporately and change current programs
• Business case for enterprise collection

14
Contacts

• Shirin.anne.ahmed_at_census.gov
• Eddie.joe.salyers_at_census.gov