To obtain current organization and operating information on multi-establishment
firms in order to maintain the Business Register (BR). The United States Code,
Title 13, authorizes this survey and provides for mandatory responses. All companies with payroll, and their establishments, except companies engaged
exclusively in agricultural production. Companies identify establishments that have been sold, closed, continued,
started, and acquired; report first quarter and annual payroll, and employment
during the pay period that included March 12, for each establishment; indicate
any large foreign equity positions; and indicate controlling interests held
by other domestic or foreign-owned organizations. Data collection begins in late December of the reference year and responses
are due within 30 days. Reported data are for activities taking place during
the reference year. Data has been collected annually since 1974. Survey coverage
and content vary during the census-related 5-year program cycle. An annual mail-out/mail-back survey of some selected companies. Smaller companies
are selected where separate administrative data indicate a probable organizational
change, and by a probability sampling procedure. Both larger and smaller companies
are identified from those maintained on the Business Register.
Data is collected from the Report of Organization Survey, the Annual
Survey of Manufactures, and added to administrative records. For years ending in 2 and 7 (census years), companies report only on basic
company affiliation and operations of establishments not within scope of the
economic censuses. For non-census years, all multi-establishment companies with
250 or more employees report survey information. For non-census years, smaller
companies are divided into panels and may be selected to report information
for one of the years. Smaller companies may be selected because an operating
change is indicated or by a probability sampling procedure. Forms include a pre-printed list of establishments previously identified as
owned by the company and space for the company to report additional establishments.
Forms for single establishment companies collect information on each location
operated to determine if the companies actually have more than one establishment.
Reports submitted by electronic methods have grown to cover some 40 percent
of all surveyed establishments. This survey is taken primarily to assure full coverage and high quality of
other statistical programs, and does not routinely provide data products for
public use. Survey results are available to the Census Bureau about 8 months
after each reference year and are used throughout Census Bureau economic data
program operations, as a major source of information for County
Business Patterns reports, and as a resource in responding to requests
for a variety of special reports and reimbursable tabulations. The Bureau of the Census uses the data to maintain up-to-date company affiliation,
location, and operating information for establishments of multi-establishment
companies in the Business
Register (BR). This information allows full coverage of companies which
account for a disproportionately large share of business activity. The Business
Register is integral to conducting, processing, and completing most Census Bureau
surveys and censuses of U.S. business organizations. The Census Bureau uses the survey data and other information contained in the
BR (such as data for single-establishment companies) to produce annual County
Business Patterns reports. These reports provide summary statistics
by state, county, some ZIP Codes, and 6-digit NAICS, including number of establishments,
payroll, and employment. Provides the only direct source of information on changes in multi-establishment
company organization and industry classification at the establishment level. Annual
Survey of Manufacturers EXPLORE INFORMATION CONTINUE OVERVIEW
REPORT OF ORGANIZATION SURVEY
(also known as COMPANY ORGANIZATION SURVEY)PURPOSE
COVERAGE
CONTENT
FREQUENCY
METHODS
PRODUCTS
USES
SPECIAL FEATURES
RELATED PROGRAMS