Using the Census

Using the Census** for Business

Business & Industry - Census Bureau Economic Statistics (Main page)

  • Here you will find links to:
    Manufacturers' shipments, US International Trade Stats, Annual Survey of Manufactures, County Business Patterns, Statistics of US Businesses, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners
     
  • Industry Statistics Portal (Business Data from the US Census)

American Community Survey (Main Page)

American Factfinder
Enter a state, county, city, town, or zip code:
(Find popular facts (population, income, etc.) and frequently requested data about your community

United States Census 2010 - Homepage
View 2010 Census statistics for local areas down to the block level. Statistics include population counts, age, sex, race, ethnicity and household information.

SANDAG (link is external)[San Diego Association of Governments]  County planning and transportation for San Diego County
In San Diego the local arm of the Census is SanDAG the San Diego Association of Governments which takes census data and inteprets and augments the data for local economic and land use and transportation planning

Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS] The BLS is an independent national agency that collects and analyzes labor economic statistics. The data is supplied by the Current Population Survey and Current Employment Statistics, which result form collaboration between BLS and the Census Bureau.

Occupational Outlook Handbook from the BLS The OOH can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations.

**Essential Census definitions:

Census:    Dicennial count on April 1 of the whole US population at that time.
American Community Survey ACS:   rolling monthy survey of a sample of 250,000 US households.   Reported as 1 year, 3 year and 5 year estimates.Z
Population Estimates Program PEP:  Cohort component method that accounts for changes in birth, death and migrations.

Confidence Interval   90%
Census Tract:  About 4,000 individuals
Census Block:   Subdivision of a tract
PUMA   Public Use Microdata Areas contain  PUMS Public Use Microdate Samples.  Aggregated census tracts, good alternative to counties

Group quarters (GQ) facilities.  Facilities where people live together that is managed by an organization.  May include custodial or medical care facilities.

Multiyear estimates and geography

1 year      > 65,000
3 year      > 20,000
5 year      > 4,000 (track level)

County level data not all in 1 year estimates.
PUMA have 1 and 3 year estimates.  Good alternative to Counties esp for urban areas where they represent subdivisions of counties.

 

Working with Margins of Error and some helpful web tools:
Consider the size of errors and adjust by size or time.

Cornell Program on Applied Demography. ACS Calculator for Margin of error
Missouri Census Data Center.   QUICK LINKS TO ACS Profile Report Calculator
American Community Survey Trends Reports are also accessible via the Missouri Census Data Center.

 

Tips for using the Census for business and economics demographics and population characteristics.

American Community Survey Guidance for Data Users.

Does the ACS have your subject or topic?

What data tool should I use?   Market analyst, business owner, non-profit administrator, regional planner, app developer, and others

Geography essentials and the ACS.   Whats a block (the smallest geographic unit), Tract (the next largest), whats available at County versus State level.

Use the Census for exact ten year  count

When to use 1-year, 3-year, 5-year estimates  There are differences in detail of data.

Read Comparing ACS data.  Use comparisons with caution, use the Table Comparison Lookup Tool

 

What the Business Community Needs to Know

Need info on using stats and sampling errors:   Handbook for Data Users. Look at  General Data Users Need

Need specialized data by government agency?

Current Population Survey (CPS) Dept of Labor Statistics tracks labor force characteristics

 

 

 

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