2020 Census having trouble finding workers

Union County Census coordinator Ruth Ball is having trouble handing out $18-per-hour jobs and doesn’t understand why.

She needs 150 workers to perform the Census in Union County and is still 82 shy of that number.

The jobs actually pay from $14 to $18 per hour, plus 58 cents per mile travel expense. Census workers can work as much or little as they want up to 40 hours a week and the job will last through the end of next year.

She said it would be a good job for almost anyone who wants to make some money and the census work can usually be adjusted to work with other job schedules.

“Most of the people who have applied are either retired or already working one job,” she said. Few are unemployed.

While there are two types of jobs, most of the positions for one of the two have been filled. That is people who map new streets and addresses.

The slots still to be filled are those who will follow up on addresses where the occupants have not returned their census forms. They will usually work in groups of two and only work in Union County.

Basic job qualifications are:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a valid Social Security number.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have a valid email address.
• Complete an application and answer assessment questions. (Some assessment questions are available in Spanish. However, an English proficiency test may also be required.)
• Be registered with the Selective Service System or have a qualifying exemption, if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959.
• Pass a Census-performed criminal background check and a review of criminal records, including fingerprinting.
• Commit to completing training.
• Be available to work flexible hours, which can include days, evenings, and/or weekends.

But, in reality, “If you haven’t committed a felony you probably can work,” she said.

Most of the jobs do require employees to have access to a vehicle and a valid driver’s license, and have access to a computer with internet and an email account (to complete training).

A job fair for potential census employees was held at the Union County Library Thursday and Ball said she will have another one at the library Thursday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again Jan. 9 from 10 to 2.

The census itself will be simple this time, with only about 10 questions to answer. Whether the responder is a citizen of the United States will not be among the questions.

Ball said that for each person who is not reported in the census the state loses $2,000 in funding a year. If the population drops, as it has in the past, a state can lose representation in the U. S. Congress and potentially even more funding.

For more information, go to 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020.