The data gathered from the U.S. census is used for so much more than just counting the number of individuals in the United States. In this blog series we will be exploring 50 ways the U.S. Census data is used and why you should care. Believe it or not, the results of the 2020 U.S. Census are going to affect nearly every part of your day to day life. Here's how:
Reasons 6-10: For this blog post we will be focusing on ways U.S. census data is used in the world of business. Here are 6-10 ways that data from the U.S. census is used to affect business around you.
6. Making Business Decisions: Businesses use data gathered from the U.S. to make a variety of decisions. This data influences nearly every business decision, from minute details all the way to the big stuff.
7. Understanding Consumer Needs: Data from the U.S. census helps businesses to understand who and where their target market is, and what their needs are. For example, an area with young families would benefit from businesses that deal with toys, baby supplies, entertainment, etc.
8. Understanding the Labor Supply: Once a business understands its target market, it needs to find adequate labor supply. Businesses use census data to understand where the best areas for their desired labor supply are located. A business that requires skilled, long-term labor is not going to want to set up in an area where the labor supply is mostly high schoolers. Likewise, a business whose work is low skill, high pace is not likely to do well in an area in which the main labor supply is skilled, mid-career, college graduates.
9. Developing “Intelligent” Maps for Government and Business: U.S. census data is used to create “intelligent” maps that the government and businesses can look at and in a glance know which areas people are living in, and pertinent information about the areas such as which areas are mostly young families, which ones mostly consist of retirees, which ones cater to young professionals, etc. Businesses can use these maps to find out more about their target audiences and where to find them.
10. Locating Factory Sites and Distribution Areas: Once a business has the necessary information about an area and its inhabitants, it can decide where best to locate factories and distribution areas. They use the data from the U.S. census to understand where their target labor supply is, along with the resources they need, to decide where to place their factories, and where their target market is to place their distribution centers.
Businesses use data from the U.S. census to make many of their business decisions. They use it to understand where and who their consumers and labor supply are, and where to place their factories and distribution sites. They take your presence, shown by the U.S. census data, into account. You help decide where business goes, so fill out the census and bring the businesses you want to your area! Shape your future, Complete the 2020 Census at 2020Census.gov.