Unspecified number will garner positions with pay beginning at $11.50 per hour
Census Bureau seeks to recruit 200 in Alleghany County
By COBY LaRUE
Staff
The U.S. Census Bureau will be recruiting a number of field workers regionally, including an unspecified number in Alleghany County. Region-wide, a total of more than 1,000 people will be hired in the 29-county area in western North Carolina that is overseen by the Asheville office.
Tony Jones, media relations for the U.S. Census Bureau in Charlotte, said that the bureau will recruit 200 people for Census operations in Alleghany County, beginning with address canvassing in February and March and continuing with non-response follow-up operations late spring or early summer. “What we’re doing is hiring people to work in their local area,” said Jones. “People in Alleghany County will be hired to work in the areas around their homes.”
Jones said the only case where employees will be brought in from other counties would be if not enough workers can be found in the county. “We are facing recruiting challenges in Alleghany County,” said Jones. He noted that recruiting operations began in November 2008 and the Census Bureau has seen response levels that are below expectations.
As for the 200 people who will be recruited, an unspecified number of them actually will be appointed to paying positions. Some will be asked to be prepared if other workers opt to leave their jobs. “We understand these are not permanent positions and if someone gets another job offer and leaves, we will need people to come in to take those positions and complete the operation,” Jones said.
“Hiring will continue through 2010 for Census positions,” added Jones. “We will continue to need workers and to replace workers who leave positions until that time.”
Most of the people hired will be enumerators, who will go out into county and update address lists, interview respondents and record their responses on hand-held computers.
Those positions will begin in late February through early March and continue about eight to 12 weeks. Those hired will receive paid training from the Census Bureau.
“Address canvassing is the first operation,” Jones said. “Once that is completed, we will continue to recruit for future operations in late summer.
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