The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a half-day workshop at West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics on June 9 to explore 2010 Census information and to demonstrate how businesses and others can access census information.

The event will take place in Room 141-B, College of Business and Economics, on WVU’s downtown campus, from 1-4:30 p.m.

The census provides detailed socio-economic and demographic data that policy makers, businesses and planners often rely on when making critical decisions. However, unlike previous decennial censuses, the 2010 census used the short-form questionnaire only, not the long-form.

The short-form collects basic information such as age, sex, race and place of residence. The long-form collects more detailed information such as education, income, place of work and occupation. Consequently, some data products typically available from previous censuses will be missing from the 2010 census. It is important that data users understand the ramifications of this change.

“The decennial census will only provide basic demographic data,” said Christiadi, a demographer with the College’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research who goes by one name. “People need to start looking at other data sources, primarily the American Community Survey, to fill in what’s missing from the decennial census.”

The workshop will cover topics such as:

• What types of Census 2010 data products will be available, when and how can they be obtained?
• What types of data products will not be available from this census, and how can a replacement be obtained?
• Will the same Work-Commute and County-to-County Migration tables as from previous censuses be available?
• How and to what extent can tables be customized for individual regions?
• What should be done if a user believes that the Census 2010 provides incorrect counts for a certain region?

There is no charge to participate in the workshop, but space is limited. Register online by June 3 at www.be.wvu.edu/bber/2010censusworkshop.htm. For more information: (304) 293-1801 or Christiadi@mail.wvu.edu.

—WVU—

5/16/11

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CONTACT: Dr. Christiadi
(304) 293-1801
christiadi @ mail.wvu.edu