The U.S. Census Bureau is still looking for people to work in Polk County for the 2010 Census. An estimated 1,000 additional workers will be hired in the next several weeks in Polk and Rutherford counties.
Census enumerators are expected to receive training this month and go out in the county once residents have had a chance to return their forms.
For more information visit http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs. You can also call the Census Bureau office in Gastonia at 704-691-6020 or in Asheville at 828-239-1240.
This week local residents received a letter from the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Robert M Groves. It indicated that their 2010 Census form will arrive next week.
Below are several frequently asked questions with answers about the 2010 Census. Information was gathered from the Census website and an interview with David Harris, Local Census Office Manager of the Gastonia office.
The Gastonia office manages the census for Polk, Rutherford, Cleveland, Lincoln and Gaston counties in North Carolina. The census in northern Spartanburg County is being handled from the Greenville office.
Harris emphasized that a savings of $15 to $17 million is achieved for each 1 percent improvement in forms returned by residents.
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Frequently Asked Census Questions
What is the census?
It is a detailed count of all residents of the United States. Limited information is collected for each household using a form with questions about each person in the residence. The census is a legal requirement stipulated in the Constitution of the United States. The participation of all residents in the 2010 Census is vital and required by law.
The census must cost a lot of money. What are the benefits?
There has been a lot of publicity about the need to show how many people there are in order to allocate federal funds, determine school requirements and set the number of congressmen. But the data is also used for the next ten years by public and commercial organizations to understand the population in an area. For example, retail chains use them to decide where to consider establishing a store. Economists will use them to look at the relationships between population and many other factors, such as employment. This years data will be compared to previous census data to determine trends over time.
How is the census information gathered?
The data will come from residents in the form of a questionnaire that they will be asked to fill out. Several Assistance Centers are being set up in the area. A list is provided below. At these locations, individuals may request a questionnaire in another language or braille.
Can we fill out the form on line?
No, this capability has not been implemented for the 2010 Census. However, many enhancements to the census process have been implemented. For example, every residence has been identified with GIS coordinates. Paper documents will be destroyed once entered to the electronic database, saving the previous expense to store the documents.
When will the questionnaire be mailed?
During the week of March 15, forms will go out to all physical mailing addresses.
What if there is no mailing address, such as people with post office boxes?
In rural areas without mail service, forms will be hand delivered. People with Post Office boxes should get a form from one of the Assistance Centers.
When do we have to return the form and what happens if I forget or lose it?
You are requested to return the form promptly. If it is not received, you will be sent another form. If still not received, an enumerator will follow up with you.
Does this mean strangers will be coming to our houses?
All census employees will wear photo identification and you should check their badge before working with a person on your questionnaire. It is not necessary to allow any census employee into your home. However, the best way to avoid a census taker coming to your home is to send your form in promptly.
What is on the questionnaire?
The form asks you to list the number of persons in the residence, whether the residence is owned or rented, and the phone number. For each person there are 6 questions such as the Name, age, sex, race, Hispanic origin. To avoid overlap, such as when people are moving, this data is to be as of a fixed date — April 1, 2010.
What about undocumented persons or someone who needs to stay anonymous?
They are included. It is important that we count everyone. The information gathered is completely confidential and will not be shared with any federal or other organization, such as the INS, the IRS or law enforcement. Also, each employee has signed a lifetime confidentiality agreement requiring that they not disclose any information. Even Census managers do not see the detailed data.
We are very private; we do not want our whole family seeing the information for each of us. How can we fill out the form?
Because of the type of information in this survey, the senior person in each household should be able to fill out the form without violating the privacy of the others.
Are you still hiring?
Yes, we need additional enumerators from the Polk County and Rutherford County areas. Within the next six weeks another 1,000 people will be hired. These positions will be for part-time work of up to 25 hours per week for eight weeks. These enumerators will be trained and enrolled as Federal employees. Census employees will be assigned to work near their homes.
How do I apply?
There is a website that includes more information, an application and a sample test. Call the Gastonia office at 704-691-6020 to schedule a time to submit your application and take the test. If you are in Spartanburg County, call the Greenville office at 864-335-6520.
When will the process be complete?
The data collection will be complete by the end of July. Official publication to the President will occur in December 2010. States and localities will receive the information by mid-2011.
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