The Report of Organization, formerly the Company Organization Survey, identified establishments of multi-unit firms, was used to update the Census Bureau's list of businesses, and provided key source data for County Business Patterns and other statistical series. This survey was taken primarily to assure full coverage and high quality of other statistical programs, and did not routinely provide data products for public use. The Report of Organization provided the only direct source of information on changes in multi-establishment company organization and industry classification at the establishment level.

In an Economic Census year (years ending in 2 and 7), only out-of-scope locations will be listed on the NC-99001(L) Report of Organization form in Item 5A. The following industries are out-of-scope:  

       o   NAICS 11 - Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting

           (Except NAICS 1151  and 1152).

       o   NAICS 482 - Rail transportation.

       o   Part of NAICS 491 - The U.S. Postal Service.

       o   NAICS 481111 - Certificated passenger air carriers.

       o   NAICS 6111 and 6113 - Schools: Elementary and secondary

            schools (NAICS   6111), colleges and universities (NAICS 6113).

       o   NAICS 81393 - Labor organizations.

       o   NAICS 81394 - Political organizations.

       o   NAICS 8131 - Religious organizations.

       o   NAICS 92 - Public administration.

        Locations with these classifications, or that are not physically

        located in the U.S., but pay U.S. wages to employees, will be

        included on the Report of Organization's Item 5A question, and

        will ask employment and payroll data.

Title 13, United States Code, Section 9, requires the Census Bureau to keep your information CONFIDENTIAL and to use your responses only to produce statistics.

The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify your business, organization or institution. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

The Report of Organization was a sampling of companies and their establishments with payroll, that are not exclusively agricultural.

Companies identified all establishments, reporting first quarter payroll, annual payroll, and number of employees during the pay period that included March 12. This included any locations that were sold, closed, newly opened, or acquired. Companies also indicated any large foreign equity positions and indicate controlling interests held by other domestic or foreign-owned organizations.

The Report of Organization was conducted annually with the Annual Survey of Manufactures, and has transitioned to the Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES), which began data collection in March 2024, for the 2023 survey year.

During the large Economic Census, which occurs in years ending in 2 and 7, companies report only on basic company affiliation and operations of establishments not within scope of the Economic Census. The data required for the establishments of the company will be collected on individual surveys.

The Report of Organization was a survey that included three kinds of organizations. The first consisted of large multi-establishment companies with 500 or more employees. The second and third consisted of small multi-establishment and single-establishment companies that were selected based on administrative data indicating a probable organizational change. Surveys included a pre-filled list of establishments previously identified as owned by the company. Space was provided for the company to report additional establishments.

The Census Bureau used the data to maintain up-to-date company affiliation, location, and operating information for establishments of multi-establishment companies. The survey results are integral to conducting, processing, and completing most Census Bureau economic data program operations, County Business Patterns reports, and responding to requests for a variety of special reports and reimbursable tabulations. These reports provide summary statistics by state, county, some ZIP Codes, and 8-digit NAICS, including number of establishments, payroll, and employment.