The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

In this report:

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. The Importance of the Census
3. Census Accuracy: The Undercount (and Overcount)
4. Census 2010: Key Operations and Milestones; How You Can Get Involved
   1. Overview of the census plan
   2. What you need to know
   3. How you can help
5. Additional Information
   1. Frequently asked questions
   2. Facts and figures
   3. Census history

Business

Businesses of all sizes and types rely on census data to reach decisions that allow them to operate more efficiently. The business community utilizes census data for marketing, hiring, and selecting site locations, as well as forecasting future demand for goods and services. In short, census data help businesses to make more knowledgeable decisions about the people they serve and thereby enhance overall economic performance and improve the standard of living in communities. Census data help businesses in the following ways:

• Site selection: Census data assist businesses in choosing where to locate new stores, banks, restaurants, and other retail or service enterprises. Bank lenders and insurance companies use census data to evaluate financial risks and investment planning. Builders and contractors are particularly interested in housing-related census data in order to select sites for new housing construction as well as rehabilitation projects.
• Understanding the local labor supply: A major concern to the business community is having an adequate supply of skilled workers. Census data provide this needed information so that businesses are able to determine whether a geographic area has the labor force skills necessary for a specific industry. Census data also are critical in helping administrators, personnel managers, and employees determine whether a firm is complying with federal regulations that promote fair employment practices.
• Understanding consumer needs: Businesses use census data to help them meet specific needs of the populations they are serving in each area. For example, in areas where large numbers of people primarily speak a language other than English at home, businesses can offer bilingual information about their services. In communities with high percentages of senior citizens, businesses can tailor their facilities and train their staff to assist people who may have more trouble hearing or getting around on their own.

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