Census Woes

The U.S. Census Bureau is having a hard time filling the more than one million temporary worker positions to conduct the decennial head count begining this month and could last through June.

The Census Bureau has said they’re looking for people who are willing to work in their own neighborhoods as they know the area, people, and lifestyles better than a newcommer to the area would.

While the recession has hit the job market hard, very hard, there still isn’t a huge surge for people wanting to temporarily work for the Census Bureau. The pay isn’t bad and varies by location which is in line with the cost of living in the area hired for. Workers in Lexington Kentucky for example will earn $13.75 while workers doing the same job in Tacoma Washington will be paid $17.50 per hour. Still, in Ankorage Alaska workers would be paid $25 per hour.

One of the forseen problems with this Census will be that so many people have been forced to move due to lack of jobs or forclosures and it will be hard to find these individuals and families. This is actually the reason so many workers will need to be hired. An estimated 48 million households will require a follow up by census workers.

While Government officials call the census work a boost to the economy, thinking it will increase spending, many of the nations unemployed are not jumping at the opportunity to work because they aren’t looking for temporary work. They are looking for a more stable income and just can’t wrap their heads around working for 2-6 weeks.

Applicants for census worker positions will all be fingerprinted as part of a criminal background check and those with serious or violent crime convictions won’t be hired. They haven’t yet drawn a line in the sand however as to what flavor of criminal would be hired.

To apply for a census position, enter Census and your city and state below.

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