Potential New Content and Structures for the U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Register

1. Potential New Content and Structures for the U.S. Census Bureau’s 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 1990’s • 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 Organization’s (PEO’s) • 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 it’s 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@census.gov Eddie.joe.salyers@census.gov