Number of Manufacturers

 

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1992 and 1997 Economic Census.

http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/econ97.html

 

The Economic Census is the major economic statistical program of the United States.  It measures almost all economic activity in the U.S. from the nation to the local level.  These data include only establishments with paid employees.

 

Updated every 5 years.

 

Definition:

Number of Manufacturers-- All manufacturing establishments with one or more paid employees. Manufacturing is defined as the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products.

 

Establishments in the manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and typically use power-driven machines and materials-handling equipment. Also included in the manufacturing sector are some establishments that make products by hand, like custom tailors and the makers of custom draperies; some establishments like bakeries and candy stores that make products on the premises may be included.

 

A new industry classification system called North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was implemented with the 1997 Economic Census. The 1992 Economic Census classified businesses according to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC).

 

NAICS replaced the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), which had been in use since the 1930s. More information on the NAICS classification system can be found at:

http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html

 

While most of the changes affecting the manufacturing sector were within the sector, this sector now excludes industries that were previously within the scope of manufacturing and includes others that were not in manufacturing. Prominent among the industries that are excluded from manufacturing are logging and portions of publishing. Prominent among the industries that are now included in manufacturing are bakeries, candy stores where candy is made on the premises,

custom tailors, makers of custom draperies, and tire retreading.

 

Another change resulting from the conversion to NAICS is that data for manufacturing auxiliary establishments are not included with the manufacturing data; these establishments are now classified in a particular NAICS industry based on the function of the auxiliary establishment.

 

More information:

·        about the Economic Census

·        about relationships between County Business Patterns and Economic Census data

·        about Nonemployer Statistics, covering businesses not included in the Economic Census