Census Bureau looking to hire workers

The U.S. Census Bureau is gearing up for the 2010 Census, and is looking to hire between 800 and 1,500 people to help them gather local data.

"Right now we have 20 people in the Yuma local census office," said Rosie Cordova, Yuma LCO manager, adding they are going to need a lot more employees.

"Oh yes. We have started recruiting right now in targeted areas. We are going to start recruiting in all of the counties within the next two to three weeks. We estimate we need to hire between 800 and 1,000 people. It all depends on how many people return the census questionnaires (in the mail). It could be as high as 1,500 (needed employees) but we hope it doesn't get that high."

Cordova said the jobs will be paid positions. The pay will range from between $10.25 to $15.00 an hour. To apply, people will need to be at least 18 years old, and be U.S. citizens with a clean background.

"They have to be 18 and take a test. The test can be taken when they are 17, but by the time we hire them they have to be 18. There is also a background check that is done, so people with felonies may not qualify."

Cordova said the job is not boring.

"Working for the census is a very exciting job and is very interesting, and is not only for people who are unemployed. If they can work evenings or weekends we are OK with that."

For more information call 388-6540, 1-866-861-2010 or log onto 2010censusjobs.gov.

The 2010 census will be the 22nd that has been conducted since the founding of the United States. The first was held in 1790 under the direction of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.

"It is the law (to conduct a census every 10 years)," Cordova said. "It was our founding fathers who wrote it in... the U.S. Constitution."

The census includes citizens, noncitizen legal residents, noncitizen long-term visitors and illegal immigrants. The numbers calculated during the census are used to determine how many Congressional seats there are in each district, electoral votes and government program funding.

Cordova said there is a large amount of money up for grabs.

"We have more than $400 billion that will be allocated (across the nation) according to population. It is very important to get the right count. Communities, local governments, counties and a lot of other agencies get allocated money for community service programs according to the populations."

Cordova said people shouldn't worry about providing information to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"The information the Census Bureau has is very safe. Each of our employees is sworn to confidentiality for life. We cannot discuss things that are going on with the census or reveal any personal data to anyone, and no other government agency has access to that information, not even under the Patriot Act. No one can make us release this information."

Cordova said even the president of the United States can't access the information.

"We do have stories about presidents who have tried, because maybe they wanted to establish a residency in a safe neighborhood and wanted to access data on the neighbors. They were told the information couldn't be released to them."

According to Cordova, the data is protected for 72 years. After 72 years it is released and becomes public information for historical purposes.

The questionnaires will start being sent out on April 1.

Cordova said houses who don't return the census in the mail will be visited by census teams. If those residences do return them however, they will not be visited.

"We ask every resident to participate in the census, and when they receive the questionnaire to fill it out and send it back. It would help greatly, especially in these economic times. Every questionnaire that is not returned to us is very costly to the Census Bureau."

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Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmcdaniel@yumasun.com or 539-6849.