Business Sector FAQs

 Sector 23: Construction

Questions about this sector are provided below and apply to the Sector as a whole.

 Questions

• Sector Questions

1.  What type of activity does the 2007 Economic Census of the Construction Sector cover?
2.  What activities determine whether my project is a construction sector activity and should be included in the 2007 Economic Census?
3.  I do not believe that my company or establishment belongs in the construction sector. What should I do?
4.  Fifty percent or more of this establishment's revenues were not derived from activities listed in items 5 (Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue) and 22 (Detailed of Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue) considered to be construction activities. Does this mean that I do not have to fill out the questionnaire?
5.  What exactly is a "construction establishment"?
6.  What are some examples of "construction establishments"?
7.  How long will it take for me to complete this questionnaire?
8.  Our company only keeps records at the company or divisional level. How should I complete this form?
9.  What's new on this questionnaire since the last Economic Census?

 Answers

• Sector Questions




1.  What type of activity does the 2007 Economic Census of the Construction Sector cover?

The 2007 Economic Census of the Construction Sector covers domestic operations of establishments primarily engaged in these broad types of activities:



• Building Construction by general contractors, specialty trade contractors, design-builders, developers, or construction managers.


• Heavy Construction includes work on non-building structures, such as highways, utility related structures, and water projects by general contractors, specialty trade contractors, design-builders, developers, or construction managers.


• Land Subdivision represents subdividing and servicing or raw land into lots for sale by landowner to a builder.


• Specialty Trade Contractors represents specialty trade activities, such as plumbing, electrical, masonry, carpentry, painting, excavation, flooring, glass, metal, or concrete work, and other construction activities performed on building and non-building structures.



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2.  What activities determine whether my project is a construction sector activity and should be included in the 2007 Economic Census?

Construction includes the following types of activities: Construction includes the following types of activities:

• New or original construction
• Additions, alterations rehabilitation, remodeling or reconstruction
• Maintenance, repair or service work.

If this establishment performs any of these activities, please complete the 2007 Economic Census form.

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3.  I do not believe that my company or establishment belongs in the construction sector. What should I do?

Please review what broad kinds of activities are in the Construction sector included on the online Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 2007 Economic Census, Construction Sector, Information Sheet. Additionally, review for each form the list of Kind of Business Activities shown in item 22 (Detail of Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue) considered to be construction activities included on the BHS online Portable Document Format (PDF) Samples of the 2007 Economic Census Forms, Construction sector. If 50 percent or more of these establishments 2007 revenues were derived from these kinds of activities indicated, then your establishment is considered in the construction sector and you should complete the entire questionnaire.

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4.  Fifty percent or more of this establishment's revenues were not derived from activities listed in items 5 (Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue) and 22 (Detailed of Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue) considered to be construction activities. Does this mean that I do not have to fill out the questionnaire?

You still need to complete the following items: 1,2,3,4,5,7,22 and 30 and return to the U.S. Census Bureau. For items 5 and 22 indicate what the amounts were revenues from activities you did not consider to be construction activities. Additionally, review how to report in item 22 (Detail of Sales, Shipments, Receipts, or Revenue) construction activities an non-construction activities, refer to pages 3 and 4 included on the BHS online Portable Document Format (PDF) of the 2007 Economic Census, Construction Sector, Information Sheet.

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5.  What exactly is a "construction establishment"?

Construction establishments are those, which have a relatively permanent office, or other place of business, where the usual business activities related to construction are conducted. Generally, a relatively permanent office is one, which has been established for the management of more than one project or job and is expected, to be maintained on a continuing basis.

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6.  What are some examples of "construction establishments"?

• The office or branch office of a construction contractor or builder, even if the office is in your home.
• The office or shop of a special trade contractor who specializes in activities such as plumbing, painting, carpentry, etc.
• A Construction division or subsidiary of a manufacturing, mining or other business company, which undertakes construction for the parent company or others.
• A separate legal entity which has been established to carry out a given project, part of a project, or to undertake a construction project as a joint venture.

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7.  How long will it take for me to complete this questionnaire?

Public reporting burden or the length of time to complete this questionnaire is estimated to take an average of 2.3 hours. This includes the time to review the instructions, search existing data sources, gather and maintain data needed and time to complete and review the collection of information.

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8.  Our company only keeps records at the company or divisional level. How should I complete this form?

If any of the items requested are maintained in records at a parent company or divisional level, allocate the cost of each construction establishment for which you received a questionnaire. For example, item 9 (Value of Inventories) and item 13, value of building and equipment assets owned by the parent company should be assigned to each establishment that the establishment is responsible for as if it owned them. In the case of building and equipment, if the establishment is a tenant or lessee, item 14, rental costs should be adjusted accordingly.

Expenses in item 16B (Other Operating Expenses) incurred by the parent company on behalf of the establishment should be allocated to each establishment on an appropriate basis (e.g., the ratio of the payroll of each construction establishment to the total company payroll or revenues). The costs should not be duplicated on any establishment reports.

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9.  What's new on this questionnaire since the last Economic Census?

Item 16B, (Other Operating Expenses): We have expanded the collection of operating costs and expenses this establishment to be more comprehensive than in the past. Lines 1,2,3,4,7,9, 10, and 11 are new. Only direct construction services should be reported in item 16A, all other related costs (survey, architect, engineering, and other professional services) should be reported in item 16B. See specifics on page 3 included in the online Portable Document Format (PDF) of the 2007 Economic Census, Construction Sector, Information Sheet.

Item 26D, (Franchise) only applies to the CC-23801, CC-23802, CC-23803, and CC-23804 report forms.

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