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Census Bureau issues step-by-step guidance for submitting workforce development participant data
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Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau provides an instructional video and collection tool to help workforce-development providers enter and upload participant, program and provider data, warns not to email participant files, and explains resubmission and QA procedures.
A presenter for the U.S. Census Bureau walked viewers through how to fill out and submit the agency’s workforce development participant-data collection spreadsheet, including which spreadsheet tabs to use and how to upload files to the Census collection portal.
The guidance is intended to help awarding agencies link program participants with Census records and measure outcomes. The presenter said, “Thank you for taking the time to provide data on participants in your workforce development training program,” and explained that the video will show how to download the collection tool, enter provider and participant information, and submit the completed spreadsheet to the Census Bureau.
The collection tool has eight tabs; users will mainly use the providers, programs, participants and survey response tabs. The presenter instructed users that the program ID and participant ID fields will self-populate if left blank and that drop-down menus are available for selecting industry focus and delivery mode. ‘‘You do not have to fill out the program ID column,’’ the presenter said, noting the spreadsheet will generate those IDs from the information provided.
On data entry, the presenter advised entering as much information as possible so the Census Bureau can accurately link participants to census records. For job outcomes, users should enter job start dates and indicate whether a new job was in the program’s industry focus; wraparound services should be marked when known.
Before upload, users should review the QA tab for data entry issues and must not edit the data output tab, which the presenter said “is formatted to allow for smoother processing of the data once it gets to the Census Bureau.” To submit, log into the collection portal, click browse to select the file and then click upload; the portal will display “submitted” next to the filename if there are no errors.
The presenter warned that submissions are not saved in the portal and recommended keeping a local copy for reuse. A resubmission will overwrite a prior submission and cannot be done after the deadline. If a submitter needs to change data after the deadline, the presenter instructed them to contact their awarding agency and the Census Bureau at ces.evidence.groupcensus.gov and stressed: “Do not email any files with participant information to the Census Bureau.”
The video also explained options for organizations that use internal program databases: follow the bulk data upload specification sheet to export a compliant file rather than manually entering records into the spreadsheet.
For additional help, the presenter directed users to the FAQs at the top of the collection portal. The video concluded with a reminder to preserve participant privacy and to save copies of submitted files for future reporting.
