Using Census Data A resource for Adult Education Programs

Agenda

Introductions Goals of the training Warm-up exercise The census universe What to know before you start Introduction to the American Fact

Finder Hands-on Exercises Wrap upUsing Census Data

Introduction

The name of your organization Past experience with Census data What do you want to use Census data

for?

Using Census Data

Goals of the Training

At the end of the training you should be able to:› Understand what ‘Census’ data includes› What you can do (what you can’t) with

Census data› Understand where to find the data you

need› Do some quick and easy analyses using

Census data

Using Census Data

Warm-up exercise

Questions to answer:› Has Brooklyn seen an influx or outflow of

residents as compared to NYS?› Is NYS more or less likely than Brooklyn to

need ESL services? Based on what data?› What is the poverty level of Brooklyn? Is it

higher or lower than of NYS?› What other interesting patterns do you

see?

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

The Census: Not just the Census Includes many surveys and datasets Each survey covers different topics The dataset you use is dependent on

the topic you want to study

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

The Decennial Census› The ‘Original’ census› Administered once every ten years› Surveys mailed Plus household visits from

Census staff› 2010 census only included the short form› The data is used for:

Apportionment and Redistricting Distribution of Federal funds Emergency management

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

The American Community Survey (ACS)› Large continuous survey› Samples 3.54 million residents per year› Covers social and economic characteristics› Provides estimates based on statistically

significant samples› Estimates done for very small geographic

areas

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

The Current Population Survey (CPS)› Monthly survey of 50,000 households› Done through interviews and supplemental

surveys› Focus on economic and employment-

related information› Provides the official statistics on

unemployment

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

Survey of Income and Program Participation› Longitudinal survey of households lasting

2.5 to 4 years, 3 interviews a year› Sample of 37,000 households› Covers work, income, assets, programs

and health insurance

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

Statistics about governments› Provides information about state and local

governments› Covers finance, employment, retirement

and organization data› Statistics on federal spending

Using Census Data

The Census Universe

Economic Census and surveys› Economic Census every 5 years› Supplemented by annual, quarterly and

monthly surveys› Covers the private sector› Data available for each localities and

industry codes (NAICS)

Using Census Data

Geographic divisions

Legal/Administrative› States› Counties› Minor civil divisions› Congressional districts› School districts› Incorporated places

Statistical› Census Tracts› Metropolitan/Micropolitan statistical areas› Census county subdivisions› Urban areas› Census designated places

Using Census Data

Using Census Data

What to know before you start

Not ‘who’ but ‘how many’ Not all data is available for every

locality The smaller your locality the more

likely data will be blank (surpressed) The newer your data the more likely

data will be blank (not available yet) Try to work across larger data sets

(across more years) as much as you canUsing Census Data

Accessing Census Data

Quick Status (www.census.gov) American Fact Finder (

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml

Data Reports Interactive data tools Data downloads through PUMS

Using Census Data

Exercise

Do a fact sheet for the five NYC counties

Using Census Data

The American Fact Finder

One Stop shopping for all census data (with few exceptions)

Interactive tool for generating reports and downloading data

Unless you are doing extensive research, all you will need is here

Using Census Data

Using Census Data

Exercises

Using the American Fact finder to do a comparative analysis of the foreign born population in the five NYC counties

Using Census Data

Exercises

Using the American Fact finder to determine where in Brooklyn would an ESL program make the most sense?› Note: use the Name tab, select Zip and

then search for Kings county, NY