Increased migrant populations and more professionals in the work force than ever before are among the observations that the Bureau of Statistics has made from the preliminary findings of the 2022 census, which is currently in its penultimate stages as the Bureau conducts verifications and additional enumeration.
Chief Statistician Errol La Cruz
In an exclusive interview with this publication, Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez was asked about changes in population trends since the last census in 2012. While details from the 2022 census are still subject to change as the process of verification and enumeration is not complete, La Cruez did confirm that the census captured population increases.
This includes a general increase in population and specifically, increases in the migrant population, levels of education in the general population and number of professionals. In fact, the increase in professionals has complicated data collection, since such persons are often not at home and are thus more likely to be missed by enumerators. When it comes to the migrants, La Cruz noted that the migrant population increase correlates with the pattern of cross-border migration that has been observed over the years.
“There is an important clarification here. And I know a lot of the migrants are persons who are coming from Venezuela, but it’s not just them. We have migrants from all over the world, particularly the persons who have migrated back from Venezuela. A lot of them are re-migrants. Of course, we are still seeing that increase in migrant populations. And there are some regions, particularly the border regions, where you’re seeing an increase.”
An enumerator as they conducted the census
“I wouldn’t want to give too much information until we properly analyse. But we are seeing some changes in terms of the composition of families and the number of children that families are having. I don’t think this is a surprise to anyone. In previous years you had larger families. Now you’re having smaller families,” La Cruez said.
Covering all bases
La Cruez, meanwhile, explained why they are doing additional enumeration. He noted that during the first stage of the enumeration, there were persons the census would have missed. As such, they are seeking to cover them in the exercise.
“We’re now in the second stage, where we’re doing verification of the households who we were able to contact, who we would have been able to get information from. And we’re also going to be doing further enumeration, where we’re going back to those households where we were unable to meet the person, probably the head of the household.”
“The other process, the further enumeration, that’s where we’re trying to identify households and perhaps groups where we may have under covered, perhaps for different reasons. And we’re trying to reach these groups again. That process is multifaceted, just like verification is layered. And it involves… for instance yesterday we used text blasts, encouraging them if they believe they were not counted they can go on our website and submit their information,” he also said.
According to La Cruz, the Bureau will first of all verify whether the person was indeed not counted. If this is the case, then the Bureau will itself make contact with the person. In fact, the Chief Statistician appealed to persons who may not have been counted, to reach out to the Bureau of Statistics.
He explained that the Bureau is willing to schedule a visit with persons so they can be counted at a time convenient to them. The Chief Statistician further noted the importance of everyone being counted and assured that individual information is not released by the census. Rather, information as a collective is used by Government and private sector alike to make crucial decisions on development.
“Whatever information you supply to us, you can be rest assured that it is held strictly confidential. And whatever information you supply to us, it goes a long way to ensuring there is impactful development in your community. And it is used in aggregate form across Government, private sector industries, ordinary citizens, students, use census data on a daily basis. The 2012 census was done 10-plus years ago. Today, people are still using data from that census.”
“So, it is important that you contribute to the development of our community, neighbourhoods and country, by participating in the census. The information you gave, however mundane you think it might be, goes a long way to providing insight needed by policymakers that drive policies and investments. Schools, bridges, hospitals, roads, electricity, all of these things are informed by census data. Census data is a critical part of it,” La Cruez said.
The Bureau of Statistics can be contacted at telephone numbers 227-1155, 226-0982 and 227-0835. There is still time, as La Cruez explained that the verification and enumeration exercise may take well into August to complete. (G3)
