Working with Canadian Census Microdata Martine Grenier and

Working with Canadian Census Microdata Martine Grenier and Mokili Mbuluyo Census Operations Division, Statistics Canada December 2007 1

Overview q Introduction q General content of a Census microdata file q Census metadata q Production plan 2

Introduction q Census information has been made available in standard products (profiles, highlights…), custom tabulations and public use microdata files q Following 2001 consultations, the need to have access to census microdata files was required to do more in-depth analysis (ie. modeling, regressions. . ) q The census data is the most fundamental source of information regarding Canadian society. 3

1. Content of the Census microdata file A unique file: with links between the 4 universes Individuals Family Households Dwellings Microdata file 4

1. Content of the Census microdata file (cont…) q Sample size: § 100 % of the 2 B questionnaire (long form). § Represents 1/5 of the Canadian population. q Population includes: § Canadian citizens § Permanent residents § Non-permanent residents (refugees, students, work permits) q Population excluded: § Institutional residents (collective dwellings: hospitals, correctional centres) § Foreign residents (foreign visitors, diplomatic bodies) § Some Indian Reserves and Northen Communities q Content of Microdata file varies over census years 5

1. Content of the Census microdata file (Cont…) q Geography § Census Tract level for urban areas. A C. T. usually has a population of 2, 500 to 8, 000. § CSD level for rural areas q Variables § 2 B variables (from the questionnaire, long form) § Public derives (certified, complex and popular) Examples: Loinc (low income), Age, Sec. Grad (Schooling) 6

2. Census Metadata Reference tools provide information on every aspect of the census population. The 2001 Census metadata includes: q Codebooks q 2001 Census Dictionary q Census Handbook q 2001 Sampling and Weighting Census Technical Report q 2001 Census Quality Confidentiality q Geography Suppression Files (Excel) 7

2. Census Metadata (cont…) 1) Codebook q Unweighted - Confidential q Weighted - Public (Excel spreadsheet) q Variable List - Public (2001 Census) 8

2. Census Metadata (cont…) 2) Census Dictionnary q Provides definitions for all the concepts, variables and geographic terms of the 2001 Census. q Describes all census universes (individuals, families, households, dwellings) q Emphasizes major variable changes q List of new variables and terms 9

2. Census Metadata (cont…) 3) Census Handbook q Offers a complete overview of every phase of the census, from content determination to data dissemination with a focus on the changes that have occurred since last census. 10

2. Census Metadata 4) Geography Suppression Files (Excel) q Provide data quality indicators attached to each standard geographic area. 11

3. Production plan q Census 2001, June 2007 (done) q Census 1996, November 2007 (done) q Census 2006, end of summer 2008 q Census 1991, to be determined 12

Thank you! 13

Questions? -----------------------------Information : Census Client Services Microdata and Analytical unit e-mail: cen-microd-rec@statcan. ca 14