How to apply
To find a location and take the employment test, call (866) 861-2010
Put in your zip code and follow the prompts
Bring two forms of ID to take your test
To take a practice test, go online to 2010.census.gov/2010 censusjobs and click “practice test” on Web page
HAMILTON — While community leaders have been plugging the 2010 Census as a key to securing federal dollars for local projects, Nelson Kimble Jr. sees it as a way to get more dollars to make ends meet while he is unemployed.
The Hamilton resident said he attended the recent local kickoff to the “Portrait of America” Road Tour for the census because his daughter attends the school, Richard Allen III Academy, where it was held. While he said he didn’t know much about it, he was interested in the 1,000 temporary jobs it promised, so he picked up a practice test.
To many residents, the census is a salvation for the unemployed, albeit temporary. With an unemployment rate above 10 percent in both Middletown and Hamilton, enthusiasm has been high for the eight-week jobs that promise up to 40 hours a week and can pay as much as $19 an hour, said Lee Bachelor, local manager for the census field operations.
“We are still going through the selection process to fill our needs,” he said. “And this might be for a short duration, but the experience will certainly give you a leg-up on your resume when you can show the work you were doing.”
Between jobs, Kimble said the morning calls from temp agencies offering work has fallen off significantly since Christmas. He’s hoping the census can help fill in the resume and money gap.
“The economy has been a real big factor,” Kimble said of his lack of a steady job. “I believe things are going to get better. I don’t want to say they’ll get worse, but it could do that too.”
While the jobs could help boost community morale in the short term, the census is part of a growing trend of temporary jobs flooding the employment market, said Stephen Lippmann, an assistant professor of sociology and gerontology at Miami University who specializes in employment issues.
“I do believe that the uncertainty with this type of employment ... relates to the psychological health of workers, and there are increased levels of stress because of the current economic problems because people can’t count on employment in the long term,” he said.
Local applicants sought to fill Census job openings
Some temporary work may be available for the unemployed as about 1,000 jobs are up for grabs through the 2010 Census.
At least half of the jobs will likely be filled by Butler County residents as the area makes up half of the Census’ Cincinnati suburban office, which is based in West Chester Twp., said Lee Bachelor, local manager of field operations.
“People feel more comfortable dealing with people in their neighborhood and Hamilton, Middletown and West Chester are a significant part of this two-county area we are hiring for,” he said.
During the 2010 Census kickoff events in Cincinnati and Middletown on Tuesday, Jan. 5, more people applied for jobs locally than in the metro city. About 115 people applied for jobs in Middletown versus 100 in Cincinnati and applications keep pouring in, Bachelor said.
Jeff Lowery, of Franklin, said he has full-time work but is applying for a job because his wife is unemployed and disabled, so they need the money.
“I don’t care what they would make me do, these jobs are better than working retail and better hours too,” he said.
Who should apply
The federal agency is in need of more applicants from neighborhoods where large numbers of minorities live, specifically Hispanic areas. Having more Spanish-speaking employees would help communication and ensure an accurate count, Bachelor said.
There are certain areas designated as “Census trackers,” where the agency is looking to hire people from those specific neighborhoods because of past under-counting. Some of those could be minority areas, said Donna Marsh, spokeswoman for the Census.
“We are trying to get as complete an account of the population in Ohio as possible. There is $400 billion at stake here that is distributed to every city, county and municipal government in this country, and that is all based on population,” said Carol Hector-Harris, U.S. Census Bureau spokeswoman.
Retirees and seniors are encouraged to apply as well as those who are unemployed or out of work, Marsh said.
About the jobs
The Census will gather a pool of about 6,000 applicants from Butler County the Cincinnati suburbs in Hamilton County to fill office jobs, such as recruiting and administrative assistants, as well as field operations workers, such as the enumerators who will count people who do not mail back their survey.
Workers will be paid for training and miles traveled if they are in the field. Pay grades range from $8.25 to $18 an hour depending on the job, Hector-Harris said.
Jobless residents may be able to keep their unemployment benefits depending on how much their gross earnings are, said Angela Terez of Ohio Job and Family Services. To check qualifications, visit unemployment.ohio.gov and click Workers Guide to UC. Information is available on page 15.
Applicants must complete a 28-question test to qualify for a Census position. Thirty minutes are allotted to complete the test and it includes arithmetic and map questions.
Question examples include putting five names in alphabetical order and comprehension of Census guidelines, such as what qualifies as a household and who is authorized to answer survey questions.
The higher your score, the better your chances are at being offered a position, Bachelor said.
Preference is given to military veterans, said Census spokeswoman Donna Marsh, with five extra points being added to test scores for military veterans and 10 extra points added for veterans who have a service-related disability. Applicants should bring their discharge papers and paperwork related to their disability to receive the veteran preference points.
The Census is gathering job candidates through the end of February, with training beginning in March and the Census collection commencing April 1. It could be several weeks before applicants are notified for selection, Bachelor said, so they are urged to be patient. It is possible that some will be called well into the counting process as the bureau fills voids left by people quitting or to beef up its ability to gather necessary data before its August deadline.
The test can be taken more than once to improve scores, though the questions will not be exactly the same.
Applicants are urged to take the practice test available online at 2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs, which Bachelor said is “surprisingly similar” to the real one.
Both part-time and full-time jobs up to 40 hours are available, Hector-Harris said. While the jobs will only last about eight weeks, she said she hopes the Census “offer the extra work a lot of people in this area might need.”
For more information on the Census and how to apply, call (866) 861-2010 or visit census.gov.
About the Author