Counting the Unsung by Promoting Participation in the 2020 US Census: A Survey of Migrant Workers in Washington State

Participation in the United States Census is critical for determining congressional representation and federal funding, but in every census there are groups systematically undercounted due to socioeconomic and demographic factors. Migrants and refugees are a group particularly threatened by being undercounted, including Hispanic migrant workers living in more rural areas.

To gather information to promote migrant participation in the census, the Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees in Washington state conducted a systematic survey of 71 migrant workers in seven urban and suburban Washington communities. The results showed that while most participants had heard of the census, basic knowledge about the census was limited and people wanted more information.

A strong, coordinated outreach approach should be carried out to educate people in migrant communities about the census. This may involve one-on-one structured conversations, radio telenovelas, and community conversations organized by the trusted leaders.