MANATEE — If you’re one of 12,550 people in Manatee County who are looking for a job, the U.S. Census Bureau is hiring.
The federal agency is expected to hire between 400 and 500 people in Manatee County for temporary part-time and full-time employment. Another 400 to 500 positions are expected to be filled in Sarasota County.
“We need to hire a lot of people,” said Ray Halsey, a U.S. Census Bureau recruiting assistant for Manatee County.
The agency will be hiring through May 2010 with the peak hiring period expected to be the spring of that year. However, Halsey said the agency is aggressively recruiting temporary employees from now until March.
“Right now there will be a big push to hire quite a few and get them trained,” he said.
As the government prepares to collect population numbers nationwide for the report that is released every 10 years, it will be hiring people to fill positions like census takers, crew leaders, crew leader assistants, recruiting assistants and census clerks.
Hourly wages will range from $9.75-$14.50.
In November, the county had 12,550 people or 8.2 percent of its workforce out of work. Sarasota County has an estimated 14,000 out of work.
While employment with the U.S. Census Bureau will be temporary, Halsey said work could last anywhere between five weeks to more than a year depending on the position and the employee’s performance.
“Employees put in at least 20 hours a week, they get paid weekly, they get paid for training, and they get mileage reimbursement,” Halsey said.
Sally Hill, spokeswoman for the Suncoast Workforce Board, said the organization was pleased to learn of the job opportunities that would be available in Manatee County.
“We’re excited that there are some jobs available,” Hill said. “These jobs will take some initiative though on the (part of the) job seeker.”
That includes a mandatory 30-minute, multiple choice test that will measure job applicants on knowledge, basic clerical tasks, reading, and number and organization skills.
In addition, job seekers are required to be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, provide valid identification and pass a background check.
“There’s a little bit of a process to go through but we’re glad to see the jobs than to not have it at all,” Hill said.
Halsey estimated the U.S. Census Bureau has filled about 30-50 positions in Manatee County so far.
“We’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg,” Halsey said.
For more information on temporary employment with the U.S. Census Bureau, call (866) 861-2010 or go to 2010censusjobs.gov.
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