The U.S. Census Bureau plans to hire up to 1,000 people to help conduct the 2010 census across North Dakota, but is in dire need of applicants, one Census official said.
The shortage of census worker applicants is significant in several North Dakota counties, including Cass, said Jodi Leidholm, the Census office manager in Bismarck.
As of Wednesday, Leidholm said Cass County is at 17 percent of the census office's applicant goal. Other area counties with low applicant interest are Richland, 24 percent; Stutsman, 16 percent; and Traill, 20 percent.
"We need to have over 3,600 in our applicant pool" by early April before the hiring process begins, Leidholm said. Applicants need to be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and must pass a general competency test and a security check, she said.
One of the first census jobs consists of address canvassing, which has workers check home addresses and updating maps for the actual census, Leidholm said. Those hired for address canvassing will start this spring.
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Leidholm said pay for census field jobs were recently increased to stay competitive. Census field employees' pay ranges from $14 to $17, plus mileage, she said.
An accurate census count is needed in the state because it affects the amount of federal dollars distributed, Leidholm said.
For more information
For more information or to apply for a 2010 census job, call (866) 861-2010.
- Online: www.census.gov
Readers can reach Forum reporter Benny Polacca at (701) 241-5504
