750,000 New Census Jobs: A Blessing and a Curse
By Lisa Johnson Mandell, Posted Mar 11th 2010 @ 8:00AM
How could the creation of 750,000 new jobs with the Census Bureau be a bad thing? When those jobs are only temporary and part time, and they trick the powers that be into relaxing their efforts to solve the nation's unemployment problem. It's true that a little work is better than no work at all, but politicians could well slack off their job-creating duties when they see the lower unemployment rates and higher hiring rates those 2010 Census jobs could bring about in the month of April.
Here's the skinny: The Census Bureau is filling as many as 1.2 million positions, but some workers will do multiple duties. And, the vast majority of the new hires will work 19-hours a week for six weeks. Their jobs will be to go door-to-door, following up with those who failed to respond to the mailed out Census forms. The length of the jobs will depend on the number of non-responders, and the amount of time it takes to contact them.
Some experts predict that the 2010 Census hires could lower the unemployment rate .5 points, taking it from 9.7 to 9.2 in April and/or May. Politicians could point to those numbers and say, "Look! Our policies really are working! The problem is obviously solved," and then slack off, when they should be redoubling their efforts.
"This is in no way going to solve our unemployment situation. It's going to be a blip. A big blip, but it's going to be a blip," Wendy Button, chief of the decennial recruiting branch of the Census Bureau, told The Hill.com.
As of February, the Census Bureau had already hired 41,000 employees. Depending on their duties and location, a Census employee earns roughly from $11-22 per hour. Those interested in applying for a position can find out everything they need to know by clicking on 2010.Census.gov.
Carmen Montoya is one of those workers who easily passed the test given to potential employees, and is waiting to be called in to start. "Work is work, even it it's temporary and part time, and I'm grateful for it," she said. It's getting me out of the house and meeting people. And, since it's only part time, I still have plenty of time to devote to my real job search. I've been out of work for more than eight months now, and at this point, I'm just happy for anything that comes my way."
Next: Census Job Opportunties for 2010
- 36 Comments
Lisa Johnson Mandell
Lisa Johnson Mandell is an award-winning multi-media journalist and author of Career Comeback--Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want. Lisa discusses her AOL pieces each week on her radio show, Work It, Girl! on the Diva Toolbox Radio Network. Learn more on LisaJohnsonMandell.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bonzi said...
In our area of Hawaii no census 2010 were mailed out. They were left on your doorknob in a white plastic bag.
ReplyFor those folks who have a second home and are not hear that bag sits on the door knob inviting burglars to see that no one is living at that house. What was the reason for not mailing them out. It's a lot less for postage and paying $ 18.00 an hour for some individual to drop a plastic bag on your door knob.
jeff said...
Oh Brother! more bad news, this is the only thing that be made of this
Replygil said...
Go figure. A solution for unemployment. Taxpayer funded jobs. Swell.
Replyex-exec said...
there are many more people than hours... this 19 hour per week projection is a pipedream
Replygil said...
Ed, sometimes a few words says it best.
Replygil said...
I'm not sure what is worst. People out of work or jekyls trying to take advantage of them with schemes they put on these blogs.
ReplyJohn said...
What's total phony about this, is that the Obama administration will tout the next few months with the slight, ever so slight decrease in unemployment as proof the economic plans are working. It is total BS. Once the census is completed, those 750,000 will be unemployed again, oh and let me guess, AFTER the 2010 elections. They will be hoping to fool the voters that they have the right ideas. We are so @#$%^(*&.
Replygil said...
Unemployment wouldn't be so bad if we could choose who was out of work. Congress would have a 100% unemployment rate.
ReplyDennis said...
almost 15% unemployment rate in Michigan and not one lost government job lost. Imagine that, seems only fair that 15% of government jobs should be lost also.
gil said...
We could get by on half as many to take the census if they would learn to use their toes to count too.
ReplyTerry said...
Temporary jobs. Where are the green jobs?
Replygil said...
I lost my job 50 years ago (I never actually had one). I made a career out of milking every welfare program the government offered. Now, I'm just plain tuckered from standing in line for my checks. Thank goodness for the internet, I don't have to stand in line anymore. Free food, free medical, free education (didn't use that one), free spending money. I don't feel so bad because the money is borrowed from China and I won't live long enough to have to worry about paying it back. America, the land of the free. Everything is free for me. Go to www.bloodsucker.com for more information. Naturally, it's free.
Replygreens ass said...
the only thing that is gonna bring this country back is another world war..sad but true!turn iran and iraq to glass with nukes and work your way to russia..let the smartassed kids with guns go kill people that shoot back at them.that will keep them from doing it again here..too many sissy assed people in this country anymore.we will be buried with our outstreched hands helping more people that just want to kill us...what a sad sad way for this country to go down...
ReplyDennis said...
don't need a war, just piss off the idiot united nations enough to put sanctions on U.S.A. we cannot import or export anything, this will bring AMERICAN jobs back from china,japan, etc.
diane said...
Look I have worked for the census. Ya it sucks to work for the Gov. But hey I needed a job. I needed a job 10 years ago when Clinton was in office ya you guessed it , I worked for the census then also. The job lasts only a short time, especially if you are good at it. I was to work for 3 months last spring I worked 3 weeks. Was to work 1 month this month and worked 1 week. We as a team have worked ourselves out of a job . No reward for doing a good job. But truth they pay $15.00 an hour and .50 cent a mile. You meet nice people.But no it won't solve the unemployment problem. I guess the census comes around in time for the Dems to kinda look good but they don't . Be kind people our Gov sucks enough we should be on the same side.Blessings to all.
ReplyGermaine said...
Why does it bother you to work for governement? Governement is YOU !
Dana said...
No way would I work as a census worker. Too many outradged Americans out there. Someone is going to get shot!! It is none of the government's business on how many toliets I have:-)
Replymarie said...
Dana, the government doesn't care how many toilets you have, they just want to know how many people are living in your home to use your toilets. It's simply a head count....hmmm, that's funny, a head count. Would that be a head count(people)? or, head count(toilet)?
Richard said...
Also paid for with tax money we don't have.
ReplyDavid S. said...
Richard -- your tax money goes for many, many things. The census is the least outrageous of them. The census happens every ten years and under many Presidents. Get a life.