Annual Head Office Survey (HEAD)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1997

Reference period of change - 2017

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2017, the industry classification is based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017.

Reference period of change - 2014

Reference year 2012 has been revised to reflect the important improvements Statistics Canada made to its methods and processes used to compile its annual economic statistics.

Reference period of change - 2013

Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a more efficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden on business respondents. The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses. These changes took effect when data for the reference year 2013 were released.

Target population - Beginning with reference year 2013, the data are classified by industry based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2012).

Reference period of change - 2010

Target population - Previously, this survey collected data only for the head offices of companies who reported operating revenues of more than 25 million dollars and were participants in the Unified Enterprise Survey (UES). Since this year, all head offices are in the target population.

Instrument design - There have been a significant number of changes to the questionnaire this year. They were implemented in order to follow the recommendations of the Questionnaire Design Research Centre (QDRC) as well as to respond to the needs of the respondents. In order to reduce response burden, useless questions were removed. As well, the content of the questionnaire was harmonized with that of other UES surveys and concepts related to the head office industry.

Data sources - For reference year 2010, the collection instrument for this survey changes from a paper questionnaire to an electronic one.

Error detection - The use of the electronic questionnaire now makes it possible to use soft edits during data collection.

The responsibility for the verification of the data has been transferred to a team of experts.

Imputation - Before, only two variables were imputed: the number of employees and related labour expenses. Now, all variables are imputed if necessary using the closest donor method.