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Census of Services
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The Census of Services (CSR) provides periodic and comprehensive data about service establishments and their activities. The United States Code, Title 13, requires this census and provides for mandatory responses. The universe consists of domestic establishments that provide services to consumers, businesses, governments, and other organizations. These include all taxable establishments and tax-exempt establishments with payroll classified in SIC Division I except: academic and professional schools (SIC 821-2); labor, political, and religious organizations (SIC 863 and 865-6); and households (SIC 88). In 1992, over 8.7 million employer and nonemployer establishments reported receipts or revenues of some $1.6 trillion.
Basic data obtained for all establishments include kind of business, Federal income tax status, geographic location, taxable operating receipts (revenue for tax-exempt establishments), annual and first quarter payroll, and employment for the pay period including March 12. Establishments receiving a census form provide additional data on operational and organizational status, sources of receipts, business characteristics, and industry specific measures such as exports and the number of hotel accommodations. Other measures for tax-exempt organizations include gifts and endowment income.
Detailed Methodology
All establishments of multi-unit firms and single-establishment employers with annualized payroll above a size cutoff (cutoffs vary by industry, but include all employers with 10 or more employees) receive a census form. A sample of small employers also receive a census form and are selected using a stratified sample based on industry and geography. Basic data for non-selected small employers and taxable non-employers are obtained from Federal administrative records. Estimates for industry-specific data are based partly on small employer sample results.
Every 5 years since 1972, for years ending in "2" and "7." From 1933 through 1967, selected service industries statistics were published periodically as part of the census of business. Industry coverage has broadened over time; a major expansion in 1977 added coverage of many tax-exempt activities. Data collection begins at the end of December of the census year and responses are due in about 8 weeks. Data are requested for activities taking place during the census calendar year.
The Census of Services (CSR) provides data on employment, payroll, detailed industry, and the amount of revenue by detailed source. The files also include responses to special inquiries included on the forms for certain detailed industries. The files include state, county, and place codes for all years. About 80% of cases in the 2002 and 2007 files also have tract codes, as do about 65% of 1977 cases.
The CSR files include NAICS sectors 51 (Information), 54 (Professional, scientific, and technical services), 56 (Admin and support and wast management and remediation services), 61 (Educational services), 62 (Health care and social assistance(, 71 (Arts, entertainment and recreation) and 81 (Other services, except public admin) in years 1997-2007. In 2002 and 2007, they also include sector 55 (Management of companies and enterprises). In years 1977-1992, they include SIC major groups 70-89.
To link to external business data, also request County Business Patterns Business Register. SURVU_ID is called EMPUNIT_ID in some surveys.