WASHINGTON, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it plans to conduct a test census in selected areas within Puerto Rico beginning February 2017. The Census Bureau will test new technologies, operations and procedures for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico.

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The test will take place in three municipios within the San Juan metro area. Approximately 123,000 housing units within Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto will participate in this test.

The Census Bureau selected these municipios because residents who live in these areas are likely to use a variety of response options including the Internet, mobile devices, paper questionnaires and telephone. Additionally, the Census Bureau will further test and refine the address canvass operation. 

Conducting this test will require hiring temporary census staff. The Census Bureau will begin recruiting in October 2016. More information will be available then on census.gov.

The Road to the 2020 Census

This test supports the goal of the 2020 Census, which is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. As 2020 Census operations move forward, the Census Bureau will continue to improve the use of mobile technology, administrative records, innovations from the geospatial industry and self-response via the internet. This test will provide insights and guide our planning to ensure an accurate census.

For more information, visit census.gov/2017censustests.

2017 Puerto Rico Census Test
Preparing for the 2020 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and cost-efficient methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico. Whether through the internet, telephone, traditional paper questionnaires, or in-person visits, the Census Bureau is committed to making the mandatory once-a-decade headcount quick, easy, and safe for all to participate. The 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test is conducted by the Census Bureau in preparation for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico. The test will allow the Census Bureau to employ new methods and refine processes under consideration for conducting the census in Puerto Rico in 2020.

The Purpose of the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test
The 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test will provide the Census Bureau an opportunity to test components of new technologies to ensure they work independently and together resulting in a seamless experience for Puerto Rico residents in 2020. The test will evaluate the effectiveness of address canvassing and integration of the data collection methods—primarily, the data collection geared toward self-response and nonresponse follow-up (the operation conducted to personally visit households that to do not respond to the census). The test will take place in three municipios within the San Juan metro area: Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto.

Goals

• Test the process of updating and validating Puerto Rico addresses with revised address structures. This process, known as address canvassing, will help the Census Bureau deliver a complete and accurate address list and spatial database for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico.
• Assess how internet self-response integrates with other methods of collecting responses, such as questionnaire mail back and household visit, to provide an accurate count for Puerto Rico.
• Test data collection modes (internet self-response, traditional paper questionnaires, and mobile devices used for nonresponse follow-up) in Spanish to ensure efficient and effective non-English, data collection operations.

Hiring Information
Starting in October 2016, the Census Bureau will begin recruiting for temporary full-time and part-time positions in support of the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test. Positions will be available in Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto from February through July 2017. More information will be available at that time.

For more information, visit census.gov.

PUERTO RICO
The Census Bureau will
conduct the 2017 Puerto Rico
Census Test in the municipios
of Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo
Alto. The test area includes
approximately 123,000
housing units.
Census Day is April 1, 2017.

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau

Public Information Office
301-763-3030 / pio@census.gov
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