Chiquita Massey is looking for part-time work to bring in some extra cash when she retires from the Army later this year.
Julie Shirley hasn’t yet found a full-time job in her field.
Both of them – and thousands of others – are turning to the U.S. Census Bureau for temporary jobs this year. The bureau is recruiting part-time census takers for $13.50 an hour to help locate households and conduct interviews with residents.
Already, roughly 5,000 people have applied and taken the census exam in the 14-county Peoria area. About 300 already have been hired and an additional 1,200 to 1,300 will be hired, said John Timerman, the local census office manager.
“Generally, we’ve had pretty good results. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the unemployment rate,” Timerman said. “The rural areas are harder to recruit people.”
Massey of West Peoria tested on Tuesday at the city offices at Twin Towers in hopes of building her resume. “I’d like to find out how it works and understand the census better myself. It would be a good transition job.”
Nationwide, an estimated 1 million people will be hired. The census, which is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to occur every 10 years, will take place in mid-March, and surveys are due April 1.
The census serves as a funding tool for communities, as $400 billion a year is allocated to state and local governments.
“It’s better to try and be employed these days than not give it a try at all,” said Shirley of Chillicothe. “I thought this would be right up my alley. I can relate to people easily and it’s not out of my comfort zone.”
Former Peoria Heights Village Administrator Tom Horstmann characterized his experience in trying to get a census job as “an exercise in futility.”
He hoped to become a local census office manager and first applied in fall 2008. He took a management test in Rockford because tests weren’t yet being offered in Peoria. After hearing nothing, he contacted the Chicago census office in January 2009.
One month later, he was told officials were unable to find his materials or test. He filled out another application on Dec. 29 and learned his test score was 93 percent, but hasn’t heard anything since.
“Like I have said all along, this organization does not impress me one iota,” Horstmann said. “No wonder they have so much trouble collecting accurate numbers. And yes, accurate numbers are key to municipalities and their futures.”
The Census Bureau estimates that the community stands to lose up to $1,000 each year, for the next 10 years, for every person not counted in the census.
Testing will continue through April. Any related job responsibilities likely will end in late July or early August.
“Just because they took the test and they’re qualified doesn’t mean they still want the job. We have to keep the pool up. Once you hire them, they don’t always stick around either,” Timerman said. “It’s a constant flow of people.”
Timerman noted if anyone has taken the test and passed, not to fret if they haven’t yet received a call. “We will be hiring left and right. It starts off slow and boils really quick.”
Karen McDonald can be reached at [email protected].
Read the original article from Journal Star.
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