Five Ways the Census Can Shape the Future for 2020 Grads
By U.S. Census Bureau, Office of Communication
Posted on June 03, 2020, June 03, 2020

Graduates with cap and gown

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! From finding a job to continuing your education, here's how the 2020 Census can shape your future.

As you look ahead to what comes next, take a moment and make sure you've been counted in the 2020 Census. The results will help shape the next 10 years—and this is a big decade for you.

1. Continuing Your Education

Every year, Pell Grants make it possible for millions of students to continue their education beyond high school.

The federal government uses census data to help plan billions in funding for the Federal Pell Grant Program. These need-based grants help students pursue undergraduate degrees, teaching certifications, and certificates in fields such as cosmetology.

2. Finding a Job

Businesses rely on census data to make critical decisions throughout the year. And that data is more important than ever, shedding light on where to open new locations, what products to sell, and where to hire more workers. As you choose your career, census data can help with that too.

3. Getting to Work

Once you've got the job, you'll eventually have to commute to work. Census results can help you get there.

The data from the 2020 Census will help communities make transportation plans, including roads, bus routes, and subway lines. In fact, census results help federal lawmakers decide how to allocate billions of dollars for highway planning and construction, plus millions more for planning metropolitan transit.

4. Moving into a New Home

For many, starting a new chapter will mean eventually finding a new address. Wherever your new home is, that community has been shaped by the census. Community leaders use census results to plan for housing, clinics, fire departments, roads and schools, and more.

5. Planning for the Future

The results of the 2020 Census will impact the next 10 years. That means, whatever the next decade has in store for you, the Census could play a role. Starting a career. Starting a family. Even staying safe in the event of a disaster.

Census results will shape the future for businesses. They will inform planning and funding for hospitals, healthcare programs, and Head Start. And they will help communities stay prepared for emergencies, and whatever the future may hold.

It's not too late to respond to the 2020 Census. Click here to respond online.

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