Census workers short in Bennington, Windham

Posted Monday, October 28, 2019 7:57 pm

BENNINGTON — Half a year before census workers begin knocking on doors, there remains a shortage of local applicants for the job.

Some 150 people have applied to be enumerators or field supervisors in Bennington County — less than a third of the U.S. Census Bureau's target applicant pool of 475, said bureau spokeswoman Yara McSweeney. Neighboring Windham County has 200 applicants; its target is 728.

The local numbers reflect the statewide picture, where there are only 2,000 applicants but 9,000 sought. The bureau faced the same hiring challenge for its address canvassing operation that ran August to October.

McSweeney pointed to Vermont's low unemployment rate as a major reason for the lukewarm interest, coupled with people's not knowing that the work has flexible hours.

Workers will hand-deliver census forms and interview residents who don't voluntarily respond to the survey. They will visit homes when household members are around, which is typically at night or on weekends.

"This is actually kind of a civic duty that you'll get paid for," McSweeney said. "It's a perfect combination for some of those retired people that are interested in helping their communities."

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As of September, Vermont had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2.2 percent, according to preliminary data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The census enumeration work will begin in March or April and run until September 2020. The pay starts at $16.50 an hour in Vermont, and the Census Bureau will cover the cost of training and travel associated with the job.

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The exact number of local workers to be hired for the 2020 Census is still undetermined. It will depend on how many residents voluntarily respond to the census questionnaire by mail, phone or on the web once the survey here begins in March. (The census officially starts Jan. 21 in remote parts of Alaska.)

If the bureau doesn't find enough field workers in the area, it could bring in people from other parts of Vermont.

"We might have better luck in more populated areas like Burlington or Rutland," McSweeney said, but added that the bureau is hopeful it can get enough workers in Bennington and Windham counties.

Right now, the Census Bureau is also hiring a "partnership specialist" for Bennington and Windham counties. The job, which starts immediately, involves working with community leaders and organizations to ensure that people participate in the population count.

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The position is advertised as a temporary one that would be based in the person's home. More information can be found at census.gov/about/regions/new-york/jobs/vermont.html.

Last week, the bureau launched a national recruitment campaign as it seeks to hire 500,000 enumerators for the upcoming census. To apply, visit 2020census.gov/jobs.

The national census, which takes place every 10 years, aims to accurately count everyone living in the U.S. and its territories, including undocumented immigrants.

Census results are used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as how much money each state should get under various federal programs.

Contact Tiffany Tan at ttan@benningtonbanner.com, @tiffgtan on Twitter or 802-447-7567 ext. 122.