Census Day on Sunday, March 21, is nearly upon us. It comes around once a decade and taking part in the census, a survey of people and households in every part of the country, is required by law.

Councillor Nick Worth, South Holland District Council deputy leader and portfolio holder for people, places and corporate, said: “The census only comes around once every ten years and is a hugely important resource for local councils, charities and other organisations to be able to make a real difference in their local area.

“The information it provides helps authorities to decide on how to best spend funding around their key services including education, transport and healthcare.

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Age structure. South Holland 2011 census. (44896180)

“To make sure these services are targeted where they are needed most, and that resources are used to the best benefit of residents, it is vital that everyone takes part in the census to give the clearest possible picture of South Holland’s villages, towns and district as a whole.”

Here’s a snapshot of what some of the results of the last census in 2011 showed in our area:

(Click on the photo gallery above to see images of the graphs).

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Coun Nick Worth, South Holland District Council deputy leader, explains why the census is so important.

• The median age of residents in South Holland was 45 years old.

• The population was 88,270, with 43,119 identified as males and 45,151 identified as females.

• The main occupation was as process plant and machine operatives with just over three times more men in that occupation than women.

• Nearly twice as many men held jobs as managers, directors or as senior officials than women.

• Where 34,793 responses said all people in the household over 16 had English as a main language, only 1,740 said nobody spoke English in the household.

• Out of the population, 263 identified as Welsh, 652 as Scottish, 114 as Northern Irish, 151 as Irish and five as Cornish. Other nationalities represented included Polish, Romanian, French, Italian, Australian, Chinese and African.

• 5,442 of us had no cars or vans in our household, 16,499 had one car or van and 1,145 had four or more cars.

• Out of 41,490 people aged 16-74 in employment the week before the census, 23,154 people (both male and female) worked 31 to 48 hours a week.

• Of 73,354 residents aged 16 and over 22,628 reported they had no qualifications with 11,586 having qualifications of Level 4 and above. 11,195 had Level 1.

Sources: www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/key_statistics

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that nationally South Holland (at 13%) and Boston (at 12%) had the highest share of workplace population holding passports from the EU accession countries.

Source: www.ons.gov.uk

Householders will receive a letter in the post for information on how to fill out the census, which can be done online or a paper questionnaire can be requested.

The census should be completed on Sunday, March 21, or as soon as possible after. If the census is not completed or false information is given then people could be fined up to £1,000.

More information can be found at www.census.gov.uk