ECONOMIC CENSUS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE ISLAND AREAS: GUAM
(formerly Economic Census of Outlying Areas)
PURPOSE
To provide periodic and comprehensive data on Guam`s economic activity and structure.
The United States Code, Title 13, requires this survey and provides for mandatory
responses. The Government of Guam assists with the census.
COVERAGE
All establishments engaged in construction, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, or
selected service activities. For 2002, 2,926
establishments were enumerated.
CONTENT
All establishments provide data on total sales, kind of business, legal form of
organization, employment, annual and first quarter payroll, and sources of sales. Since
1987, hotels and other lodging places have reported additional data on sources of receipts
and number of accommodations.
FREQUENCY
Every 5 years, currently for years ending in "2" and "7." Censuses
of manufactures, retail trade, wholesale trade, and some service industries began for
1958. The census of construction began for 1972. Reported data are for activities taking
place throughout the census year.
METHODS
A mail-out/mail-back census of employer establishments, supplemented by personal
enumeration of mail nonrespondents and non-employer establishments. To enumerate
establishments, Guam is divided into enumeration districts with each one assigned an
interviewer. Interviewers systematically canvass their districts. A register book is used
to screen out establishments that are not in scope of the economic census, not in
operation during the census year, or not a mail respondent. For each establishment
determined to be in scope of the censuses, enumerators fill out a questionnaire. Peddlers
and other itinerant vendors without established places of business are not canvassed.
A memorandum of understanding outlines the responsibilities of the Census Bureau and
the Government of Guam in conducting the censuses. The Bureau provides the necessary
funds, enumerating procedures, forms, manuals, and training. The Governor of Guam appoints
a project manager who is responsible for overseeing the census operation, hiring the
enumerators, and collecting the data. The Guam government provides input to the
questionnaire content and helps with publicity.
PRODUCTS
The Economic Census of Island Areas, Guam provides industry statistics at the major
group level, by legal form of organization, sales and receipts by size, and employment by
size. Statistics on selected industry groups are presented at the district level. Data are
also provided at the industry group and industry level when disclosure permits.
Non-employer construction, manufacturing, and wholesale establishment data are not
published.
USES
The Department of Interior uses data to assess economic policy for Guam. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency uses data to help in assessment of damages due to natural
disasters.
Local governments use census data to assess business activities within their
jurisdiction and to estimate the size and composition of industrial sectors. The
Government of Guam uses estimates to benchmark and weigh indexes of industrial production
and productivity. The private sector uses the data to forecast general economic
conditions.