|
|
Friday, February 12, 2010
|
|
Temporary census job could fill the void for the unemployed
Staff Writer If you need a temporary job, you may be in luck, thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring temporary workers to work either part or full time, with the majority of the work being done in May through mid-July, on its 2010 census.
|
|
|
|
John Vollmer prepared to take a U.S. Census Bureau employment test Thursday at the Brainerd Public Library. The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking temporary workers. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
|
|
|
|
|
Roberta Thorsvik, the local U.S. Census Bureau office manager in Duluth, said Thursday in a telephone interview that her office, which oversees Crow Wing County and 10 other counties in northeastern and east central Minnesota, will recruit more than 1,000 workers to work on the census.
Residents interested in applying for a census job in Brainerd have been doing so at the Brainerd Public Library, where tests are offered daily.
Thorsvik said the U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting workers nationwide to compile the census report, which is conducted every 10 years. The U.S. Census Bureau collects the data to assist the federal government in determining how it will distribute about $400 billion of funding to communities. Thorsvik said data from the census also is used to determine the number of seats in the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking:
Census takers, who will go door-to-door to help residents fill out the census forms. They will be paid $11.50 an hour.
Crew leaders, who will manage the census takers. They will be paid $13 per hour.
Field operation supervisors, who will manage the crew leaders. They will be paid $14.50 per hour.
Thorsvik said most of the workers hired will be census takers.
To be a census worker, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years of age, have a valid Social Security number and driver's license, have use of a vehicle and pass a background check. Census workers also have to pass a 30-minute written test that covers basic skills in areas such as math, reading and organization. The basic test includes 28 multiple choice questions.
Thorsvik said men born after Dec. 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service System.
Practice tests for the positions can be found on the census Web site at www.2010censusjobs.gov. Applying for the field operations position, a person also must take an hour-long test. Thorsvik said if a person fails a test, the person can retake it on a different day.
Those interested in applying for the federal census job can do so by calling (866) 861-2010, a nationwide automated number. Thorsvik said people punch in their ZIP code and then their call is routed to the Duluth office, where a person will answer and help the caller schedule the test. Thorsvik said in the Brainerd lakes area census tests are administered seven days a week - night and day - in Brainerd, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, Crosby and Garrison. Thorsvik said people can find out where the tests are administered when they make an appointment.
Thorsvik said census workers receive paid training as well as mileage reimbursement, can work flexible hours and may work in their own community. Thorsvik said people also will have the opportunity to work up to 40 hours.
George Ketchum, Baxter, was recruited as a census worker last spring. Ketchum, who is a recruiting assistant overseeing the testing at the Brainerd Public Library, said he wanted to work for the census because he wanted to give back to the community, have extra spending money and he has used the census information to help him in his research in genealogy.
When the census was done in 2000, Crow Wing County's response rate was 51 percent, Cass County was 41 percent and Mille Lacs County was 66 percent. Thorsvik said she'd like to see all households in the counties partake in the census. Thorsvik said the census questionnaire forms are much shorter for 2010 than they were in 2000, so it shouldn't take households much time to fill them out. There will be 10 questions for people to answer. The forms will be mailed out in mid March and people will be given a deadline to return the form.
"The ones who don't return them is why we have the workload we have," said Thorsvik.
Census workers then go to all the households that didn't return their forms to seek completion of the form. Census workers can be identified as having a black canvas bag and an ID badge.
"If you don't want a census worker visiting your home, fill out the form and send it in," Thorsvik said.
Thorsvik said all census employees have to take an oath for life to protect the confidentiality of their work. Thorsvik said by law workers cannot share any information with any organization or individuals. If they do the workers could face up to five years in jail and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
Thorsvik said workers also are hired to hand deliver the census forms to households with a P.O. Box mailing address. These forms will be delivered beginning March 1.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.
|
|
|
|
|
 Top Commented Articles
Over the last 7 days
Most Recent Comments
|
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
Loading...
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
