U.S. Census Bureau - Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics

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Questions and Answers

What seems to be incorrect with the cross-state commute map?
How do I access OnTheMap data?
Whom should I contact if I have a question about geographic data sources or definitions?
What is a "Unit of Geography" in OnTheMap?
How are thermals generated?
What does "All Other Locations" in the shed reports mean?

Q. What seems to be incorrect with the cross-state commute map? (posted 07/02/2007)
A. There is nothing wrong, but... [PDF; File Size: 128KB]

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Q. How do I access OnTheMap data? (posted 06/21/2007)
A. Multi-year OnTheMap data are now available for public download from http://vrdc.ciser.cornell.edu/onthemap/doc/index.html

. Access to the data files can be obtained by registering with virtualrdc@cornell.edu. Login procedures will be provided after registration.

There are four types of data sets associated with OnTheMap data: origin-destination (OD) matrix, residence area characteristics (RAC), workplace area characteristics, and workforce indicators. Comprehensive documentation about the data files is available on the website. Three (3) implicates (independent draws from the synthesizing algorithm) of each OD and RAC file are available for the following states:

OnTheMap Version 2 (Years: 2002-2004)
Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

OnTheMap Version 1 (Years: 2002-2003)
Florida, Texas, and Washington

Users should be aware that these files can be quite large. Version 1 data will be withdrawn and replaced by Version 2 data as the latter become available without further notice. Maintenance releases will also be issued periodically in the future.

Users are encouraged to share their research findings and analytical insights for future versions of OnTheMap and synthetic data development in general at this listserv: lehd-onthemap@lists.census.gov. General questions about the LEHD program and LED partnership should be sent to CES.Local.Employment.Dynamics@census.gov, or visit http://lehd.did.census.gov for more information.

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Q. Whom should I contact if I have a question about geographic data sources or definitions? (posted 06/12/2007)
A. We make use of existing geographic data sources and definitions. In particular, the standard geographies are derived from the Census Bureau's TIGER files. Additional information about TIGER geography may be found at http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/index.html.

Employment and Training Administration provides the definitions of workforce and economic development resources, such as the definitions of Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Regions. LED collects the definitions of the Workforce Investment Boards from the partner states.

The following is a list of contacts for posing questions about the data sources or definitions.

Layer Name	Geographic Data Source or Definition	Contact

States	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
WIRED Regions	Employment and Training Administration	http://www.doleta.gov/wired/regions/
Workforce Investment Boards (WIB)	LEHD/LED	CES.Local.Employment.Dynamics@census.gov
US 109th Congressional Districts	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CBSA)	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Tribal Lands	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Counties	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
County Subdivisions	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Incorporated Places	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Zip Code Areas (ZCTA)	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Census Tracts	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Census Block Groups	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
Lakes and Rivers	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
US and Local Roads	Census Bureau TIGER files (2005–2^nd Ed.)	tiger@census.gov
OneStop Career Centers	Employment and Training Administration	http://www.doleta.gov/wired/regions/
Community Colleges	Employment and Training Administration	http://www.doleta.gov/wired/regions/

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Q. What is a "Unit of Geography" in OnTheMap? (posted 06/10/2007)
A. The "Unit of Geography" is a square mile.

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Q. How are thermals generated? (posted 06/10/2007)
A. The "Unit of Geography" is a square mile. The thermal generator works with quarter mile grids. It determines the number of workers (or jobs) in each grid cell and averages that number with the eight other cells that surround it spatially. The count is converted to workers per square mile.

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Q. What does "All Other Locations" in the shed reports mean? (posted 06/10/2007)
A. For a Labor Shed report it means all area in the 50 states plus DC except for the five counties (or cities/towns) shown above. For a Commute Shed report it means all area in the state of interest except for the five counties (or cities/towns) shown above. When more than one state is involved in the selection area, the answer for Labor Shed should be the same, while the answer for Commute Shed should be all area in the combined group of states except for the five counties (or cities/towns) shown.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies · Contact Us · Last Revised: June 24, 2008