The United States government conducts a national census of its citizens every ten years. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people will be hired to assist in the data collection process. Almost anyone can work as a census taker if he meets a few basic requirements, passes a test, has transportation, and is available for 10 to 20 hours per week. For many people, becoming a census taker is a good way to earn money in the short term.
To work as a census taker, you must be a US citizen who can read, write, and speak the English language. You must be at least 18 years old, have a Social Security number and a valid driver’s license, and pass a background check as well as a basic skills test. If you meet these requirements and are hired, you will receive paid training for four days. After that, you’ll work as a census taker, either in a house-to-house or data-collection capacity, or even as a supervisor.
You might be able to work as a census taker even if you have a full-time job. Students, retirees, those who are unemployed, and those who have full-time jobs but want to supplement their income frequently apply for the position. The best way to apply to work as a census taker is to go to the US Census Bureau’s website. There are toll-free job numbers, contact information for your local census office, and information on job availability in your area.
Census workers are almost always assigned to the communities where they live by the US Census Bureau. The pay for the job will vary depending on where you live. Because there are typically more applicants than available positions, not everyone who applies for a job as a census taker will be hired. Being bilingual will help you stand out, especially if you speak Spanish fluently. Non-citizens with a legal work visa are occasionally hired as census workers if a specific language skill is required.
Other countries, like the United States, use censuses to collect data on their citizens. Australia and Canada, for example, conduct censuses every five years. In most other countries, censuses are held every ten years or there is no set pattern. The number of questions asked of citizens can be numerous or limited to a simple head count. The years in which different countries conduct censuses, as well as the availability of potential job opportunities, varies greatly.