Using census data
Boasting the highest response rate ever, the 2016 Census reveals tons of information about our country that’s not just interesting but useful. Here are some smart ideas for taking advantage of everything this info has to offer:
Market research. Thinking of starting your own business? Nobody got far as an entrepreneur without knowing their market and prospective customers. Take advantage of the free data Statistics Canada offers to learn about who you can tailor your idea towards. Find out everything—from your customers’ ages to income levels, which can help when determining your product line.
Search for the perfect neighbourhood. If you’re moving, you can speed up your hunt by doing research on potential neighbourhoods you’re interested in. Census data can help you find out what income it takes to live in an area, overall housing affordability, what languages neighbours speak, how many kids are in the area and much more. Make your voice heard on transportation. Census data can tell you about commute times, mode of transportation and demographics for a given neighbourhood or city, information that you can use to create positive change. For example, you can advocate for a new bus route, more bike lanes or designated carpool lanes on busier streets. Find a career. Go one step further by cross-checking your commute findings with other information the census can offer. Find out which cities have the most people working in your occupation and give an idea of how much you can expect to earn. Go into your interview confident you’ve found the right place and that you’ve done your homework when it comes time to negotiate. Learn more about your community. Take a closer look into your neighbourhood and the people around you to find interesting insights and facts you didn’t know. Census data can be used to tell your community’s story, which can be useful for community activism and starting projects that will benefit your family and those around you. Source: News Canada and www.statcan.gc.ca/census.