Census needs workers now in area

March 31, 2010

Want to help your community get its full slice of a $400 billion pie? The 2010 Census needs to hire employees immediately in many areas, but time is running short.

“We prefer to hire people in your neighborhood to interview area residents rather than people unfamiliar with the location,” said Barbara Thompson, a recruiting manager at the local Census office in Scottsdale. “We need more residents right away in north Scottsdale and nearby towns such as Carefree and Cave Creek.”

The count will determine distribution of roughly $400 billion nationwide each year for a decade, she said. “Census workers perform a crucial civic duty by assuring each area gets all the government funding it’s entitled to,” Thompson said. “In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever to get your fair share.”

Statistics compiled from the count also enable businesses and governments to do sound planning.

Census takers will work in their community counting residents who don’t mail back a 2010 Census questionnaire. Positions with flexible hours are open for Census takers and their supervisors, Thompson said. “With the official count day of April 1 passing, we need to get everyone on board for our follow up,” she said. Recruitment areas include Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Mountain, Rio Verde, and most of Scottsdale, Thompson said. Employment will peak this spring, she said, so interested residents should call 480-214-2060 as soon as possible to schedule an application and test.

Applicants complete forms and take a 30-minute Census test at a nearby location. For more information and to download a practice test, log on to www.2010censusjobs.gov.

To apply, you must be 18, maintain your permanent residence in the area and be eligible to work in the United States.