FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2000
Decennial Media Relations CB00-CN.40
301-457-3691/301-457-3620 (fax)
301-457-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: 2000usa@census.gov
Census Bureau Announces 30 Percent of Housing Units
To Be Enumerated Have Already Cooperated
Census Bureau Deputy Director William G. Barron, Jr., today announced
that 30 percent of the roughly 42 million households which did not return
a census form before mid-April have already cooperated and been counted by
one of an army of 460,000 census takers during the second phase of Census
2000.
Speaking before the Committee on National Statistics meeting in
Washington, D.C. today, Barron said the Bureau is "very pleased with the
progress to date of the enumeration phase of the census." The Bureau has
scheduled an average of 10 weeks across the nation to complete the
non-response workload. Today's report reflected enumeration results
through Thursday, May 11, or the first week and one half of the 10-week
process.
"There remain significant challenges ahead in the next eight weeks, but
the census continues to be running very well and all operations are
meeting or exceeding our expectations," Barron said.
Yesterday, the investigative arm of Congress, the General Accounting
Office, reported that "...the decennial count is encouraging, with major
operations reportedly proceeding on schedule and generally performing as
planned. Particularly noteworthy is the 65 percent initial response rate,
which, in matching the response rate to the 1990 Census, surpassed
expectations."
In a separate statement, Bureau Director, Dr. Kenneth Prewitt, praised
the work of the career census professionals and the temporary staff of
almost 500,000 workers helping to make this census the most accurate
possible in their own communities across the nation. "Every day I am
impressed with the dedication and achievements of census workers who
deserve a great deal of credit for the continued good progress of Census
2000," Prewitt said.
Deputy Director Barron told the government and private sector
statisticians assembled in Washington that "Census 2000 looks more and
more like an operational success story."
The National Committee on Statistics is a private, professional group of
the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the
Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council which has been
monitoring and advising on Census 2000 during most of the last decade.
-X-
The Census Bureau needs the help of local residents to conduct Census
2000. Job opportunities include census taker positions in communities and
neighborhoods and office work. A large number of part-time positions are
available. For more information on census jobs in your area, call
toll-free 1-888-325-7733.
The Census Bureau guarantees that the answers given on census forms are
kept strictly confidential. Information collected in Census 2000 will
provide local area data needed for communities to receive federal program
funds and for private sector and community planning.
available free from Adobe.
