Government Statistics 101: the Census and Beyond

Nyama MarshFlint Public Library

Hailey MooneyMichigan State University

Rhianna WilliamsMichigan Technological University

Government Documents Roundtable of Michiganhttp://tinyurl.com/migodort

Slides online at http://staff.lib.msu.edu/mooneyh/govstats101.ppt

Michigan Library Association Annual Conference – November 10, 2010 – Traverse City, MI

Understanding Government Statistics: Why does the government collect statistics?

“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.”

Understanding Government Statistics:How does the government collect statistics?

• Censuses• Surveys• Administrative Records

Statistics Reference Interview

• Statistics or data?• Who or What?

– Topic– Unit of Analysis

• When?– Most current available, a single year, time series

• Where?– Geographic unit(s)

DECENNIAL CENSUS AND AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY

Major U.S. Census Programs

Decennial Census

Goal: Count American population every ten years Count of the American People is authorized by the Constitution

Used to reorganize congressional districts every ten years

Decennial Census

Basic population characteristics:

• Sex• Age• Race• Homeowner Status

American Community Survey

Purpose: Measure social and economic characteristics  Created to replace decennial long form

Provides continually updated data on American households Samples about 3 million households annually

American Community Survey

Geographic areas: National, State, County, City, Census Tracts and Blocks.

Data Groups:

1 yr Estimate 65,000+ people3 yr Estimates 20,000 + people5 yr Estimates All Areas (available in 2011)

American Community Surveysample of subjects included

• Basic Demographic• Economic

– Income– Labor Force Status– Health Insurance Coverage– Journey to Work

• Financial – Housing Value– Monthly owner costs– Owner or Renter

• Social– Marital Status & History– Education– Veterans Status– Disability– Place of Birth

• Housing– Phone service– Number of Rooms– Year Built– House Heating Fuel

www.factfinder.census.gov

1

2

4

3

1

2

3

ECONOMIC CENSUSMajor U.S. Census Programs

What is the Economic Census

• The Economic Census profiles the US economy from the national to the local level.

• Every 5 years, on the 2 and 7s.• Most recent is 2007.

– Data analyzed and released from 2009-2011.

• Economic Census businesses households

How to access

• http://business.census.gov• http://factfinder.census.gov

Who participates?

• 4.7 Million establishments.– All large and mid-size businesses.– A sample of small businesses

• May file via paper or online.

What is included?

• The Economic Census covers approximately 85% of domestic economic activity, as classified by NAICS (North American Industry Classifications System)

• Another 13% is covered by:– The Census of Governments, conducted by the

Census Bureau– The Census of Agriculture, conducted by U.S.

Department of Agriculture

What is the 2% not covered?

• Whole industries excluded:– Agriculture, forestry; Rail transportation; Funds & Trusts; Schools &

Colleges; Religious organizations; Labor unions; Political organizations; Private households; Public administration

• However, businesses run by religious orgs are included, such as day care centers or thrift stores.

• Partial industries excluded:– Public utilities– Government owned buses, subways, and ambulance services (Private

owned are included)• Exceptions to the exclusions

– Government owned hospitals and liquor stores are included.

What kind of data?

• Key Statistics– the number of establishments per industry

classification– their sales – annual payroll– number of employees.

• Economic Census data is also available via American FactFinder– http://factfinder.census.gov

What is data used for?

• Benchmarking for other statistics and surveys. • Tracking changes in local economies. (How has MI’s

automotive sales changed from 2002 to 2007?).• Analyzing the impact of policies and economic programs.• To study an industry or a geographical market to inform

strategic plans and business-to-business marketing.

• Sorted by Industry or Geography• Available to view as a Quick Report or a

Thematic Map

Quick Report - Industry

Quick Report - Geography

• Reports available at various levels of geographic specificity– Nation: US– Region: Midwest, Northeast, South, West– State: AL, AK, AR, etc– County– Consolidated City– Economic Place, with 5000+ inhabitants or works– Combined Statistical Area (ex. Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI

CSA)– Metropolitan/Micropolitan Statistical Area (ex. Adrian, MI Micro

Area; Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI Metro Area)– Commercial Area (ex. Specific to Puerto Rico)

Genesee County, MI Table 1: Selected Statistics by Economic Sector

Thematic Map

* Select State as a geo type

* Picking state

* Show result button

*AFF data

display

*Filter rows by NAICS

. Entering search term

. Adding 722211

. Show result button

* Results

* Sort Rows dialog

* Display in rank order

* Display in rank order

* Download dialog

http://factfinder2.census.gov

New for 2011!

OTHER SOURCES OF GOVERNMENT STATISTICS

Beyond the Censuses…

Primary Statistical Agencies of the U.S. Federal Government

1. Bureau of Economic Analysis2. Bureau of Justice Statistics3. Bureau of Labor Statistics4. Bureau of Transportation Statistics5. Census Bureau6. Economic Research Service, Dept of Agriculture7. Energy Information Administration8. Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income9. National Agricultural Statistics Service10. National Center for Education Statistics11. National Center for Health Statistics12. National Science Foundation, Science Resources Statistics13. Social Security Administration, Office of Policy

U.S. Federal Government Agencies with Statistical Programs1. Administration for Children and Families [Dept of Health and Human Services]2. Administration on Aging [Dept of Health and Human Services]3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [Dept of Health and Human Services]4. Agency for International Development [Independent agency]5. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [Dept of Health and Human Services]6. Agricultural Research Service [Dept of Agriculture]7. Army Corps of Engineers [Dept of Defense]8. Broadcasting Board of Governors [Independent agency]9. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection [Dept of Homeland Security]10. Bureau of Economic Analysis [Dept of Commerce]11. Bureau of Justice Statistics [Dept of Justice]12. Bureau of Labor Statistics [Dept of Labor]13. Bureau of Prisons [Dept of Justice]14. Bureau of Reclamation [Dept of Interior]15. Bureau of Transportation Statistics [Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Dept of Transportation]16. Census Bureau [Dept of Commerce]17. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [Dept of Health and Human Services]18. Consumer Product Safety Commission [Independent agency]19. Defense Manpower Data Center, Statistical Information Analysis Division [Dept of Defense]20. Department of Veterans Affairs [Cabinet]21. Drug Enforcement Administration [Dept of Justice]22. Economic Research Service [Dept of Agriculture]23. Economics and Statistics Administration [Dept of Commerce]24. Employment and Training Administration [Dept of Labor]25. Employment Standards Administration [Dept of Labor]26. Energy Information Administration [Dept of Energy]27. Environmental Protection Agency [Independent agency]28. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [Independent agency]29. Federal Aviation Administration [Dept of Transportation]30. Federal Bureau of Investigation [Dept of Justice]31. Federal Emergency Management Agency [Dept of Homeland Security]32. Federal Highway Administration [Dept of Transportation]33. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Dept of Transportation]34. Federal Railroad Administration [Dept of Transportation]35. Federal Transit Administration [Dept of Transportation]36. Fish and Wildlife Service [Dept of Interior]37. Food and Nutrition Service [Dept of Agriculture]38. Foreign Agricultural Service [Dept of Agriculture]39. Forest Service [Dept of Agriculture]40. Health Resources and Services Administration [Dept of Health and Human Services]41. Indian Health Service [Dept of Health and Human Services]42. Institute of Museum and Library Services [Independent agency]43. Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics [Interagency forum]44. International Trade Administration [Dept of Commerce]45. Maritime Administration [Dept of Transportation]46. Mine Safety and Health Administration [Dept of Labor]47. Minerals Management Service [Dept of Interior]48. National Aeronautics and Space Administration [Independent agency]49. National Agricultural Statistics Service [Dept of Agriculture]50. National Cancer Institute [National Institutes of Health]

51. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [National Institutes of Health]52. National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance [Institute of Education Sciences,

Dept of Education]53. National Center for Education Statistics [Dept of Education]54. National Center for Health Statistics [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]55. National Eye Institute [National Institutes of Health]56. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute [National Institutes of Health]57. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Dept of Transportation]58. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease [National Institutes of Health]59. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease [National Institutes of Health]60. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [National Institutes of Health]61. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [National Institutes of Health]62. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research [National Institutes of Health]63. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [National Institutes of Health]64. National Institute of Mental Health [National Institutes of Health]65. National Institute on Aging [National Institutes of Health]66. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [National Institutes of Health]67. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders [National Institutes of Health]68. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research [Dept of Education]69. National Institute on Drug Abuse [National Institutes of Health]70. National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director [National Institutes of Health]71. National Marine Fisheries Service [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]72. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Dept of Commerce]73. National Park Service [Dept of Interior]74. Natural Resources Conservation Service [Dept of Agriculture]75. National Science Foundation, Science Resources Statistics [National Science Foundation]76. Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Dept of Labor]77. Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight [Dept of Housing and Urban Development]78. Office of Health, Safety, and Security [Dept of Energy]79. Office of Immigration Statistics [Dept of Homeland Security]80. Office of Management and Budget [Executive Office of the President]81. Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy [Dept of Education]82. Office of Policy Development and Research [Dept of Housing and Urban Development]83. Office of Population Affairs [Dept of Health and Human Services]84. Office of Public and Indian Housing [Dept of Housing and Urban Development]85. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing [Dept of Housing and Urban Development]86. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation [Dept of Health and Human Services]87. Office of the Secretary, Dept of Transportation [Dept of Transportation]88. Patent and Trademark Office [Dept of Commerce]89. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Dept of Transportation]90. Preparedness Directorate [Dept of Homeland Security]91. Small Business Administration [Independent agency]92. Social Security Administration, Office of Policy [Independent agency]93. Statistics of Income [Internal Revenue Service]94. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [Dept of Health and Human Services]

95. United States Geological Survey [Dept of Interior]

Statistics NOT collected by the government

• Who else collects and publishes statistics?– NGOs and nonprofits – Academic & Research Institutions– Private Sector

Helpful Finding Aids

http://tinyurl.com/umstatshttp://www.fedstats.gov

http://www.census.govhttp://tinyurl.com/msustats

U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010 (129th Edition) Washington, DC, 2009; <http://www.census.gov/statab/www/>.

Agency Name Major Publication Secondary Publication

Bureau of Economic Analysis

Survey of Current Business

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics

Crime in the United States (FBI)

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics (Bernan Press)

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

National Transportation Statistics

Energy Information Administration

Annual Energy Review

Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income

IRS Data Book

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Agricultural Statistics Census of Agriculture

National Center for Education Statistics

Digest of Education Statistics Condition of Education

National Center for Health Statistics

Health, United States

Michigan Government Statistics• Department of

Agriculture• Department of

Community Health• Department of

Education• Department of

Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

• Department of Environmental Quality

• Department of Human Services

• Department of Technology, Management, and Budget

• Department of Transportation

• Department of Treasury

• State Police

Summary

• Scope of statistics collected by the U.S. government

• Decennial Census & American Community Survey

• Economic Census• Slides posted at http://

staff.lib.msu.edu/mooneyh/govstats101.ppt• Michigan Federal Documents Depository Libraries

http://tinyurl.com/midocslibs