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Census Bureau to Update Information on School Enrollment, Computer Use and Employment

There were 57 million students enrolled in schools -- from nursery through high school -- in 2001. To determine how much this total has changed since then, the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct a nationwide survey this month, part of the ongoing Current Population Survey (CPS).

The monthly CPS, which began in 1942 and is the largest and longest-running household survey in the country, will show how many students there are now. It gathers data on a host of other demographic topics, as well.

"The survey collects information on enrollment in formal schools and in business, vocational, technical and correspondence courses, as well as data on full-time and part-time status, and levels of education," said James Holmes, director of the Census Bureau's Atlanta regional office. "The statistics are used to track school enrollment trends and the social and economic characteristics of students, as well as relationships between educational attainment and labor force activity.

" This month, the survey will also collect information on where students and others access the Internet (at home, work, school or other facilities). The survey results will show how many Americans use the Internet and how many do not. Every month, Census Bureau field representatives also ask about the characteristics of the country's labor force.

Data are collected on employment, unemployment, hours of work, earnings, age, sex, race, marital status, educational attainment, occupation and industry. From these data come the monthly unemployment rate, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is scheduled to release next Nov. 7.

By law, the Census Bureau must keep strictly confidential all information that would identify survey respondents or their households. Local households selected for the nationwide sample receive a letter from Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. Some will be interviewed by telephone and others, in person.

The field representatives carry official identification cards. Sponsored by the BLS and the Census Bureau, the CPS will be conducted this year by the Census Bureau during the week of Oct. 19. At that time, nearly 2,000 Census Bureau field representatives will conduct interviews at about 78,000 households.

CPS - October 2003

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