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NEWSLETTER SIGN UPThe Barrow County Complete Count Committee is organizing to educate the community about the Census and the importance of completing the census paperwork next April. The 2010 form will be a shortened -- and easier to complete -- document. It is vital to the State of Georgia receiving the federal funding and representation in Washington D.C.
Some of life’s big events only happen once in a while. Many are eagerly anticipated – The Olympics, graduations, birthdays. Others – dental exams, renewing your driver’s license, cleaning out gutters – not as much.
But one big event that only comes around every 10 years brings with it an opportunity for thousands of people. It’s the United States Census, and it’s coming up soon.
To conduct the 2010 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau will hire hundreds of thousands of census takers. If that seems like a lot, consider that those census takers will count millions of people spread out over more than 2.4 billion acres.
The reasons people apply for these jobs are as varied as our population. First, census jobs pay well. Surveys have found the pay is consistently the top reason for taking a census job. The Census Bureau makes sure that its workers are paid well. They examine current wages across the nation, and set pay rates on a county-by-county basis, ensuring that census jobs are among the best paying part-time positions.
Then there’s the flexibility. As a census taker, you’ll work 20 to 40 hours per week for several weeks, largely on a schedule of your choosing. Adding to the flexibility is the fact that you’ll be working near home. Even if the area you cover extends a bit further from your neighborhood, the Census Bureau will cover authorized work expenses, such as mileage on your automobile.
If you’re ready to apply, the Census is primarily looking for US citizens, 18 years of age or older, with a valid Social Security number. In some cases, citizenship may be waived, such as when bilingual ability is required and no US citizens are available. Also, you will have to pass a background check and complete a written test of basic skills, such as reading, working with numbers, and interpreting information. Then you’re all set.
The decennial (every 10 years) census is an important source of information. Census data are used to determine representation in government and to help direct funding for projects such as roads and other community needs. So, it’s important to make sure that you and your community are accurately accounted for. The Census Bureau is counting on people just like you to help get the job done.
To contact the Census Bureau, call 1-866-861-2010 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov on the Internet.
