Every ten years since 1790, our government hits the pavement and counts every soul in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. This creates a need for thousands of new jobs across America, Arkansas, and Benton and Washington Counties. In these tough economic times, I thought it my duty to give new jobs in Northwest Arkansas some exposure to help out my fellow Arkansans. The U.S. Census Bureau is looking for 125 people in both Washington and Benton Counties to be part-time census takers. The hours are flexible, pay is good, and the work is always close to home.
Why do we even have a national census?
The United States Constitution (Article 1, Section 2) requires that everyone in the U.S. be counted at least once every ten years. This number helps our government determine each state's Congressional representation as well as government funding on the State, County, and City levels. It also helps leaders in each community make decisions about infrastructure, taxes, and other local government issues.
How's the 2010 census work?
Every household in America gets a census questionnaire in March of 2010. If a household doesn't send it back, a second questionnaire is sent. If that one isn't sent back then the census worker calls or visits the lazy irresponsible busy citizens and fills out the census data for them. Census workers can always be identified by a census badge and bag. The 2010 census has done away with the ‘long-form' which was given to one in six households in previous censuses (cenci?) to find out more detailed socio-economic information. The long form has been replaced by the American Community Survey which is administered locally every year and aggregated nationally.
2010 Census Timeline: Key Dates
- Fall 2008 Recruitment begins for local census jobs for early census operations.
- Spring 2009 Census employees go door-to-door to update address list nationwide.
- Fall 2009 Recruitment begins for census takers needed for peak workload in 2010.
- February - March 2010 Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
- April 1, 2010 Census Day
- April - July 2010 Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
- December 2010 By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to President for apportionment.
- March 2011 By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.
Jobs are available to Washington and Benton County residents in Northwest Arkansas.
Below is a reprint of the recruiting article available from the 2010 U.S. Census Website:
The 2010 Census Offers Short-Term Jobs with Long-Term Results
The U.S. Census Bureau is already looking for job applicants to work for the 2010 Census. Peak hiring will be from February 2009 through the end of May 2010 for temporary assignments, most lasting 5 to 10 weeks. By working on this once-a-decade population headcount, residents have an opportunity to be a part of history. Conducted every decade since 1790, the constitutionally mandated census affects community funding and determines representation in Congress. "The jobs, which offer competitive wages and flexible schedules, also allow people to work in their neighborhoods and for their neighborhoods," said Marilia Matos, the Census Bureau's associate director for field operations. "We hire locally, and an accurate count means a fair distribution of money for schools, roads, neighborhood improvements and elderly care in your community." In 2009, the Census Bureau will hire about 100,000 people to help update the Census Bureau's address list. The workers will use GPS-equipped hand-held computers to verify, add and delete addresses, and they will be paid for training. By the end of the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau will have employed about 750,000 temporary workers in communities across the country. Employees will update the Census Bureau's address list, interview people who do not respond to the census by mail and perform other assignments vital to the national count. By 2010, there will be more than 310 million people living in an estimated 130 million households across the country and everyone must be counted in order to ensure seats are apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives and federal and state funding is distributed fairly. The U.S. population is more diverse than ever before, with people speaking a record number of languages. As a result, in many areas the Census Bureau will need to hire people who are bilingual. "If we do not obtain an accurate count in 2010, each person residing in the United States will be affected," Matos said. "Everyone deserves to have a voice and be counted, and by working for the 2010 Census, you will be directly involved with ensuring that happens." Most positions require U.S. citizenship, a driver's license and use of a vehicle, and each applicant will undergo a background check. A short-term job with long-term results, 2010 Census positions offer competitive wages and flexible schedules.
To apply for a census job, call toll free 1-866-861-2010. For more information on the
2010 Census, visit http://www.census.gov/2010census/.
To download a census employment application go here.
Contact:
Public Information Office
301-763-3691/763-3762 (fax)
301-457-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: pio@census.gov
This is a great opportunity for those that have recently been laid-off, downsized, or otherwise need a job to make some money from steady employment in the near term. I hope this helps some of you out there. I'll post any updates I get here or, if you have additional information, please leave a comment to help Northwest Arkansas residents get involved.
Click here:
Census 2010 Now Hiring in Benton and Washington Counties!
