Census Offers Opportunity for the Unemployed

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/10227

It isn’t all bad news in the job market if you are willing to knock on doors and meet your neighbors. The U.S. Census Bureau has begun rolling out the 2010 Federal Census and needs to hire hundreds of thousands of workers all across the country. The U.S. Constitution mandates that every 10 years the population of the country needs to be counted and that means jobs. It is also a law that every person in the country needs to take part in the Census. The Bureau isn’t only seeking those looking for jobs, they are also looking for individuals who may have full time jobs, but could use part-time work on the side. A census worker will be expected to commit to 10 to 12 weeks and can work anywhere from 20 to 40 hours per week. The pay is $12.50 per hour and mileage compensation, although the Bureau tries to assign workers to their communities. Applicants are asked to fill out a 28-question test and will also need to submit to a background check. Information collected during the census helps determine the allocation of congressional seats as well as monitors population trends, and helps determine how best to distribute $300 billion in federal funds. More information on becoming a census worker can be found at census.gov.