U.S. Census Bureau seeks workers in area counties

Call (330) 639-2870 to make an appointment to take a test to become a census worker.

Staff Report

YOUNGSTOWN — The U.S. Census Bureau is looking for a few hundred temporary part- and full-time workers in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties to help with the 2010 Census.

“Mahoning County is an area where we need quite a few people out of,” said Clyde Kemp, local Census office manager for the Canton office.

The agency is trying to recruit more than 720 people to take a test to be census workers.

As of earlier this week, 297 had signed up, Kemp said.

The number needed is based on each county’s population as of the 2000 census.

Of those who take the tests, those picked for jobs will be determined based on test scores, but the bureau expects to hire hundreds of people to work in the three counties.

For Columbiana County, the agency hopes 315 people take the test. About 92 people, or roughly 29 percent of that number, have signed up.

About 80 percent, or 504 people of the 633 needed, have signed up for the test to work in Trumbull County.

“There are no educational requirements,” Kemp said. “You don’t need any special skills.”

The work is both full and part time, and pay ranges from $12.50 per hour to $15.50 per hour.

Workers must call (330) 639-2870 to make an appointment to take the test. Test locations will be in the counties where the workers will be assigned.

“We try to have people working as close to the area where they live as possible,” the manager said.

Jobs include people who verify locations and addresses for homes, people who collect information from residents, and supervisors.

Five days, or 40 hours, of paid training is provided for workers before the jobs start. Mileage of 58.5 cents per mile to the training location also will be paid.

Kemp said that some of the positions will be filled in late February with most hiring done in March.

A list of job descriptions and practice tests is available at www.census.gov.