Economic Census of U.S. Virgin Islands

PURPOSE

The Economic Census’s main goal is to provide periodic comprehensive data on the Virgin Islands’ economic activity and structure. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this census and makes responding mandatory. The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands assists with the census.

COVERAGE

The census covers the following sectors as defined in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS):

21 Mining
22 Utilities
23 Construction
31-33 Manufacturing
42- Wholesale Trade
44-45 Retail Trade
48-49 Transportation and Warehousing
51 Information
52 Finance and Insurance
53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
54 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
55 Management of Companies and Enterprises
56 Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services
61 Educational Services
62 Health Care and Social Assistance
71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
72 Accommodation and Food Services
81 Other Services (except Public Administration)

This scope is equivalent to that of the stateside economic census. The 2002 Economic Census was the first census conducted based on NAICS; prior censuses used the Standard Industrial Classification System.

Census forms are mailed to all establishments within the scope of the census that have annual payroll.

CONTENT

All establishments are required to provide data on total sales, receipts or revenue, kind of business, legal form of organization, employment, annual and first quarter payroll, and class of customer. Hotels, and other lodging places report additional data on sources of receipts and number of accommodations. Data are presented at the 3 to 5 digit NAICS level of detail depending on disclosure protection requirements. Data are also provided at the total island and town levels of geography.

For 2012, the Census Bureau has added questions to aid in the calculation of the Gross Island Product estimates, which is the equivalent of the Gross Domestic Product.

FREQUENCY

The Economic Census is conducted every 5 years, currently for years ending in "2" and "7." Censuses of manufactures, retail trade, wholesale trade, and some service industries began in 1958. The census of construction began in 1972. Reported data are for activity taking place throughout the census year.

METHODS

The census is conducted using the mailout/mail-back methodology. A Memorandum of Agreement between the Census Bureau and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government outlines the conditions under which the census is conducted. The U.S. Virgin Islands Government provides input to the census content and helps with publicity.

PRODUCTS

Census products summarize U.S. Virgin Islands' data by kind of business for the combined St. Thomas and St. John Island totals, St. Croix Island totals, and totals by town. Tabulations include the number of establishments, sales, receipts or revenue, annual payroll, first quarter payroll, employment, fringe benefits, capital expenditures, depreciation charges, and other variables. Tabulations also summarize basic information by industry and geographic area, by sales size category, by employment size category, by legal form of organization, and other dimensions. All of these tabulations are available through American FactFinder.

USES

The Bureau of Economic Analysis will use the data from the Economic Census to calculate the Gross Island Product for 2012.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Government uses census data to benchmark and weight indexes of industrial production and productivity. Local governments use census data to assess business activities within their jurisdiction and to estimate the size and composition of economic sectors. The private sector uses the data to forecast general economic conditions.