IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Census

Facts for Features

Labor Day 2012: Sept. 3

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff14.html
or
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb12ff-14_laborday.pdf
[full-text, 3 pages]

The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing “Labor Day” on one day or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.

Who Are We Celebrating?

155.2 million

Number of people 16 and older in the nation's labor force in June 2012.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf>

Employee Benefits

85.0%

Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2010.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010, derived from Table 8
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf>

Our Jobs

Americans worked in a variety of occupations in 2010. Here is a sampling:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B24124
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B24124&prodType=table>

26.3 million

Number of female workers 16 and older in management, business, science, and arts occupations in 2010. Among male workers, 16 and older, 23.7 million were employed in management, professional and related occupations.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table C24010 
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_C24010&prodType=table>

1.4%

Percentage increase in employment in the United States between December 2010 and December 2011. Employment increased in 266 of the 322 largest counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm>

5.3%

Percentage increase in Kern County, Calif., between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest increase in employment among the 322 largest counties. Harris County, Texas, had the highest level increase of 62,700 jobs.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm>

3.4%

Percentage decline in employment in Benton County, Wash., between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest percentage decrease among the nation's 322 largest counties.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm>

5.9 million

The number of people who worked from home in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B08128
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B08128&prodType=table>

Another Day, Another Dollar

$47,715 and $36,931

The 2010 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf>

Early, Lonely and Long — the Commute to Work

16.3 million

Number of commuters who left for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. in 2010. They represent 12.5 percent of all commuters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B0813
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B08132&prodType=table>

76.6%

Percentage of workers who drove alone to work in 2010. Another 9.7 percent carpooled and 4.9 percent took public transportation (excluding taxicabs).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table DP03
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_DP03&prodType=table>

25.3 minutes

The average time it took people in the nation to commute to work in 2010. Maryland and New York had the most time-consuming commutes, averaging 31.8 and 31.3 minutes, respectively.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table R0801
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_R0801.US01PRF&prodType=table>

3.2 million

Number of workers who faced extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B08012
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B08012&prodType=table>

For detailed information on the data force, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at <http://www.bls.gov/>

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION

Sectoral Activities Department

SECTORAL COUNTRY PROFILES
http://www.ilo.org/sector/Resources/country-profiles/lang--en/index.htm

Sectoral Country Profiles provide a succinct snapshot of the multidimensional and sectoral nature of decent work at the country-specific level by highlighting key indicators that describe the sector’s significance in the country’s labour market, as well as their overall contribution to economic growth and job creation. They are factual-oriented tools aimed at providing timely and relevant sector-specific information for a country’s three most relevant economic sectors. The three featured sectors in each country have been identified and selected according to their share in national employment.

Sectoral country profiles go deeper into the understanding of the labour market structure of the three main sectors by providing time series data on total or paid employment, hours of work and wages. Similarly, each profile contains information on sectors’ value added to GDP, the structure and size of establishments, data on production, output and revenues, shares and levels of foreign direct investment, and trade patterns, among other macro-economic supportive variables.

In addition to the description of each country’s three featured sectors, the sectoral profiles provide data depicting national trends in employment and value added to GDP for all economic activities. This time-series information, available since 2000 for each country, can be a useful tool for identifying important employment generating industries and those sectors with greater potential for future growth.

Sectoral Country Profiles are available for developed, developing and other emerging economies from different global regions.

1. Argentina
2. Brazil
3. Chile
4. Costa Rica
5. Indonesia
6. Japan
7. Mexico
8. Peru
9. Republic of Korea
10. Slovakia
11. Sri Lanka
12. Trinidad and Tobago

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Colombia
4. Czech Republic
5. France
6. Malaysia
7. New Zealand
8. Philippines
9. Singapore
10. South Africa
11. Thailand

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION

Sectoral Activities Department

ILO Handbook of good human resource practices in the teaching profession [August 2012]

http://www.ilo.org/sector/Resources/publications/WCMS_187793/lang--en/index.htm

or

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/publication/wcms_187793.pdf

[full-text, 332 pages]

Spanish

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/publication/wcms_187796.pdf

French

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---sector/documents/publication/wcms_187794.pdf

Drawing on international labour standards, standards related to teachers as well as examples of national practice, the Handbook provides guidance in such areas as recruitment, career development, terms of employment, professional roles and responsibilities, salaries, hours of work, health and safety, learning conditions, social security, social dialogue, and teacher education and training. It is available in English, French and Spanish.

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Towers Watson

Emerging Choices, Enduring Changes: Creating Service Delivery Success in an Era of New Opportunity
2012 HR Service Delivery and Technology Survey Executive Summary Report [23 August 2012]
http://towerswatson.com/united-states/research/7805
or
http://towerswatson.com/assets/pdf/7805/TWHRSD-Survey2012-NA(1).pdf
[full-text, 28 pages]

Table of Contents
About the Survey 2
Key Finding #1: The Structure “Push and Pull” 3
Key Finding #2: Shared Services Is Here to Stay 5
Key Finding #3: Keeping Pace With the Talent Imperative 6
Key Finding #4: Spending the Same or More (on More of the Same) 8
Form Follows Function: HR Structure and Shared Services 10
HRMS: Changes and Choices 13
Talent Management: A Mission-Critical Element 17
Our Take 21
Conclusion 23

Featured Figures
Figure 2. Structure and process —
Reasons for changing current HR structure 3
Figure 4. Structure and process —
Use of HR shared services 5
Figure 5. Top HR service delivery issues —
Top three frequency 7
Figure 6. HR technology spending in 2012 vs. 2011 8

This year’s HR Service Delivery Survey — our 15th annual — reveals the HRSD and technology plans, goals and progress of more than 600 participating companies across North America, Europe and the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region. The results show that HR has big plans to make structural changes, continue investing in technology and align the function with business goals.

All this change and transformation provides a wealth of opportunities to bring HR organizations greater flexibility and agility. Of course, change can also create rigorous challenges — from failing to establish good processes or adequately plan for implementation, to the pitfalls of inadequate governance. A critical key to successful transformation is to discern your organization’s most strategic needs and match them with the most agile service delivery solution available.

Key Survey Findings

·         - As new technology options have emerged for effectively and efficiently delivering HR services, organizations are putting HR structure changes on the table. More than four in 10 (44%) of all organizations we surveyed — dramatically more than last year’s 26% — indicate they will change their HR structure in 2012 or 2013.
 
Advances such as software-as-a-service (SaaS) have become impossible to ignore. Those companies maintaining the same HR structure as five, or even three, years ago risk missing opportunities to realize new efficiencies. Additionally, among organizations planning HR structure changes for the year ahead, improving operations is a major theme. A significant majority (64%) want to realize further efficiencies, while others are looking to capture synergies among processes and investments (54%), improve quality (51%) and reduce costs (46%).
 

·         - Shared services is emerging as the most valued (and most prevalent) practice for delivering HR services to the business, though outsourcing is gaining popularity for certain functions.
 
Organizations have come to realize there is no more accurate or effective solution than developing capabilities and resources in-house for many core services. Among large organizations, more than two-thirds (70%) operate in-house service centers, while 54% of midsize organizations do so. A significant majority (70%) of organizations making changes to their HR structure are focused on shared services as a primary initiative — and not one organization indicated a move away from shared services for 2012 or 2013.
 

·         - Talent and performance management remain the primary HR service delivery issue — although the full story is much more complex this year.
 
Because of a confluence of issues — including demographic shifts around the world, a shortage of critical-skill employees and changing business priorities — savvy organizations will focus on talent management for some time to come.
 
Three priorities vie for second place behind talent management, including streamlining business processes, gaining more involvement in strategic business issues and recruiting, which 22% of respondents indicate will be a priority for the year ahead. These issues hint that the pendulum may swing further in the business process direction next year, as change continues, and HR organizations and technologies keep evolving.
 

·         HR technology spending remains steady and strong, and investments are directed mostly toward growth rather than new functionality.
 
Beyond the core costs of owning and operating technology, not only is technology still seen as needed to play, but organizations also understand they need to make investments to remain current, expand capabilities and continue to improve operations. More than half of organizations (53%) report that their spending will remain the same as this year’s; close to one-third (31%) will increase or significantly increase this investment, and only 16% expect a reduced HR technology budget for the year ahead.  

·          

To learn more, download the full report.

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Towers Watson

Press Release 24 August 2012

Moderate Pay Raises on Tap for U.S. Workers, Towers Watson Survey Finds

Companies do not expect to fully fund annual bonuses

http://towerswatson.com/united-states/press/7856

NEW YORK, August 24, 2012 — As the global economy continues to waver, U.S. employers are projecting moderate pay raises for employees next year as part of an ongoing effort to closely manage costs. Additionally, similar to last year, U.S. employers do not expect to fully fund their annual bonuses for workers this year, according to new survey data from global professional services company Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW).

A survey of 857 U.S. companies conducted by Towers Watson Data Services found that companies are planning pay increases that will average 2.9% in 2013 for their salaried non-management employees. This represents a moderate increase from the average 2.8% raise salaried non-management employees are receiving this year and 2.7% they received in 2011. Similar raises for 2013 are planned for executives and non-exempt employees.

"Most U.S. companies continue to keep their salary budgets relatively tight, especially since they are having little difficulty attracting and retaining employees, in general, reflecting the soft labor market," said Laura Sejen, global practice leader for Rewards at Towers Watson. "At the same time, most organizations are having as much trouble attracting and retaining critical-skill employees as they did during the economic expansion from 2002 to 2007. With base pay remaining a top driver of attraction and retention for these employees, organizations will need to focus on allocating available resources toward rewarding top performers and employees with critical skills."

According to the survey, exempt workers who receive the highest performance ratings will be in store for an average salary increase of 4.7% this year, which is roughly 50% more than workers with average ratings will receive (3.2%). Workers with below-average performance ratings will receive average merit increases of 1.3%.

Employers expect to fund annual bonuses below target levels

A separate survey of 278 U.S. companies conducted by Towers Watson found that companies' average projected bonus funding for current-year performance is 93% of target, marking the second consecutive year that companies are unable to fully fund their annual bonuses for workers. U.S. companies funded annual bonuses in 2011 at 95% of target.

"Companies have been increasing performance expectations for individuals and the organization. Employees are feeling the stress of trying to meet these increasing demands, and many feel unsupported. Organizations that raise the performance bar without also increasing rewards to reflect these efforts are in danger of an erosion of employee engagement and performance," said Laurie Bienstock, North America Rewards leader at Towers Watson. "Companies will have to make up for these lower funding levels by doing a better job of differentiating rewards between top performers and underperformers."

About the Surveys

The Towers Watson Data Services Salary Budget Survey was conducted in June and July of 2012, and includes responses from 857 U.S. companies representing a cross section of industries. The Towers Watson Data Services Salary Budget Survey Report provides data on actual salary budget increase percentages for the past and current year, along with projected increases for next year. The Towers Watson U.S. Talent Management and Rewards Survey was conducted in May and June of 2012, and includes responses from 278 U.S. companies. Reports for both surveys will be released in September.

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

BLS: International Labor Comparisons

International Indexes of Consumer Prices, 18 countries and areas, 1998–2012 [2 August 2012]

http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_consumer_prices.htm

or

http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_consumer_prices.htm

[full-text, 10 pages]

or

Tables

http://www.bls.gov/ilc/intl_consumer_prices.xls

[spreadsheet]

Harmonized indexes of consumer prices (HICP) are an internationally comparable measure of consumer price inflation, which covers all households in each country and excludes owner-occupied housing costs. HICP measures conform, insofar as possible, to the conceptual basis of the European Union's Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices. For more information, see the section on Technical Notes.

In June 2012, HICP monthly percent change from the previous year increased in 13 of the 16 countries compared. Italy experienced the highest growth. Norway had no change. Switzerland and Japan were the only two to have declines.

For 2011, HICP increased in 15 of the 16 countries compared. The United Kingdom had the highest inflation followed by the United States. Japan had the lowest HICP.

In this report data for each country or area are presented as indexes and average annual growth rates from 1998 to 2012.

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Pension Systems in East and Southeast Asia: Promoting Fairness and Sustainability [August 2012]

http://www.adb.org/publications/pension-systems-east-and-southeast-asia-promoting-fairness-and-sustainability

or

http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/pub/2012/pension-systems-east-southeast-asia.pdf

[full-text, 164 pages]

Description

Population aging poses two major challenges for Asian policy makers: (i) sustaining rapid economic growth in the face of less favorable demographic conditions; and (ii) providing affordable, adequate, sustainable old-age income support for a large and growing elderly population. This book explores the second issue by examining the pension systems of eight countries in East and Southeast Asia: the People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. It also puts forward both country-specific and region-wide reforms to address two critical areas of pension reform, namely, fairness and sustainability.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The People’s Republic of China

Indonesia

The Republic of Korea

Malaysia

The Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Viet Nam

Policy Options for Promoting Fairness and Sustainability in East and Southeast Asian Pension Systems

References

Index

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Census

2012 CENSUS OF GOVERNMENTS [30 August 2012]
http://www.census.gov/govs/cog2012/

The Census of Governments identifies the scope and nature of the nation's state and local government sector; provides authoritative benchmark figures of public finance and public employment; classifies local government organizations, powers, and activities; and measures federal, state, and local fiscal relationships.

The data are available by:

• level of government (state, local, or state and local combined),
• type of government (state, county, city, township, special district, school district), and
• category of governmental activity (more about governmental activities).

Press Release 30 August 2012
There Are 89,004 Local Governments in the United States
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/governments/cb12-161.html

The U.S. Census Bureau today released preliminary counts of local governments as the first component of the 2012 Census of Governments.

In 2012, 89,004 local governments existed in the United States, down from 89,476 in the last census of governments conducted in 2007. Local governments included 3,031 counties (down from 3,033 in 2007), 19,522 municipalities (up from 19,492 in 2007), 16,364 townships (down from 16,519 in 2007), 37,203 special districts (down from 37,381 in 2007) and 12,884 independent school districts (down from 13,051 in 2007).

Conducted every five years (for years ending in "2" and "7"), the census of governments provides the only uniform source of statistics for all of the nation's state and local governments. These statistics allow for in-depth trend analysis of all individual governments and provide a complete, comprehensive and authoritative benchmark of state and local government activity.

The census of governments measures three components: organization, employment and finance. These components provide statistics on the number of governments that exist, the services they provide, the number of their employees and their financial activity. In addition to the information provided for states, cities, counties and townships, the census of governments also provides information on special districts and school districts.

Other Key Findings

Among the key findings in the 2012 Census of Governments preliminary counts:

• Illinois leads the nation with 6,968 local governments -- approximately 2,000 more
• Hawaii has 21 local governments, the fewest of any state.
• Texas remains first in the nation with the most independent school districts at 1,079. Closely behind is California, with 1,025 independent school districts.
• Seventeen states had more special districts compared with 2007, and 29 had fewer. Five states (including the District of Columbia) had no change.
• Ten states had fewer townships because of mergers and consolidations. Kansas decreased the most, moving from 1,353 in 2007 to 1,268 in 2012, a decrease of 85.

History of Special Districts and School Districts in the United States

Every five years since 1952, the Census Bureau has completed a comprehensive count of all local governments in the country. The most dramatic changes have been the decline in independent school districts and the notable increase in special districts. An interactive history of the counts of special districts and school districts from 1952 to 2012 can be accessed at http://www.census.gov/did/www/sahie/data/interactive/ 

Special districts are organized local entities other than county, municipal, township or school district governments that are authorized by state law to provide only one or a limited number of designated functions. Fire districts, water districts, library districts and transit authorities are examples of special districts.

School districts are created to provide elementary, secondary and/or higher education services and have sufficient administrative and fiscal autonomy to qualify as independent governments. They exclude school systems that are "dependent" on a county, municipal, township or state government.

Accessing the Information for the 2012 Census of Governments

The preliminary counts for the first component of the 2012 Census of Governments can be found on the Census Bureau's Governments Division website at http://www.census.gov/govs/go/. Final counts will be issued in September 2013. For more information on the Government Units Survey, which produces these counts, go to http://www.census.gov/govs/cog2012/.

The employment component of the 2012 Census of Governments, which began in March of 2012, collects information on the number of state and local government civilian employees and their payrolls. In October 2012, the finance component will collect information on revenues, expenditures, assets, debt and pensions. For more information on the 2012 Census of Governments and statistics about governments, go to http://www.census.gov/govs/cog2012/

-X-

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

India

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Statistical Year Book, India 2012

http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/statistical_year_book_2012/htm/index1.html

Message from Minister
Forward from Chief Statistician & Secretary
Forward from DG, Central Statistic Office
List of Officials
Right is Reserved

Selected Chapters  [Click on chapter below—or for complete listing use URL above]

1. INDIA, G-20 AND THE WORLD

2. AREA AND POPULATION

3. NATIONAL PRODUCT AND RELATED AGGREGATES

4. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

5. NATIONAL FINANCE

6. DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAX    

7. FIVE YEAR PLANS

13. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

14. INDUSTRY

15. MINING

29. EDUCATION

32. LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT

41. TRADE UNIONS

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