We use InfoUSA. We have previously used Claritas. We have been happy with InfoUSA, but it does suffer from some of the weaknesses you mention – public sector employment is problematic due to duplication (agency organization creates a problem) and the branch vs. headquarters problem inherent in all employer databases. You do need to plan on spending considerable time reviewing the employers to check for any obvious errors or duplicates (e.g., different business names but same address). We have never used Dun & Bradstreet so I can’t comment on their dataset.
Bill Schaefer, Transportation Planning Manager
Madison Area Transportation Planning Board - An MPO
121 S. Pinckney St., #400
Madison, WI 53703
PH: (608) 266-9115
FAX: (608) 261-9967
Email: wschaefer@cityofmadison.com
www.MadisonAreaMPO.org
From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Reardon , Tim
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 2:15 PM
To: 'ctpp-news@chrispy.net'
Subject: [CTPP] Proprietary Employer Data -- Comments on the various providers?
I have managed to assemble some funding to acquire employer data for our 164-municipality transportation modeling region in Eastern MA, and I am wondering if any of you have comments on the accuracy and utility of the various proprietary employer data sources currently available. I have been in conversations with two major providers (InfoGroup and Dun & Bradstreet) and have received sample files for certain zip codes, but it is hard to assess the accuracy or completeness of either sample.
I’m wondering if anybody can offer insight on working with such data, and whether you have suggestions on choosing a vendor. We will be using it primarily to determine employment by sector at very fine geographies (250m or 1km grid cells) for land use planning and analysis. Some concerns we have already identified include: branch vs. headquarters employment, public sector employment, “paper companies” and verification, and the accuracy of the goecoded location that accompanies each record.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Feel free to reply off-list if concerned about publicly trumpeting or bashing somebody’s product.
Thanks,
Tim Reardon
___________________________________________
Timothy G. Reardon -- Senior Regional Planner
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
60 Temple Place | Boston, MA 02111
617-451-2770 x2011
Say it with a map! Find data and bring it alive at www.MetroBostonDataCommon.org!
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