Social Sciences Library

Economic information will include such things as labor force information (employment and unemployment), business data, data on agriculture, and data on manufacturing industries in the area. The most important sources are the Economic Censuses which are conducted every 5 years (on the "2" and the "7" years, e.g. 2002 and 2007). These censuses will provide detailed information on businesses and services at the region, county, and major metropolitan area levels.

Print copies of the Economic Censuses are available in the Social Sciences Library Census Collection, 2nd Floor Paterno Library.

Other helpful sources (principally online):

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

• National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Census of Agriculture

• Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce

• Census Bureau Economic Programs

• Community Economic Development HotReport

• STAT-USA (for researchers with a Penn State Access Account)