Five Hundred More Needed To Reach target Goals

More than 500 northeastern Pennsylvanians still have a chance to apply to the Scranton office of the US Census for the first phase now hiring and getting underway.

“Anyone interested must act quickly,” according to Charlie Spano, Assistant Manager for Recruiting in the Scranton office. “We are actually hiring now for the first operation which will begin in less than a month. Supervisors have been hired and some crew leaders.” Between 900 and 1,000 people will ultimately be hired to fulfill the first operation, Spano said.

Anyone interested in applying for the qualifying exam may call the Scranton office directly at 570-903-6021. People taking a test need to bring either a valid US passport or both a driver’s license and social security card. Full information is available on the website at www.census.gov or by calling the office.

The Census is mandated by the US Constitution and its results are used to redistrict Congressional seats and provide policy makers with the information necessary to distribute billions of dollars in federal aid.

The first census operation is updating housing addresses so residential questionnaires can be sent to the correct addresses. That effort will last 12 weeks and pay between $11-14 per hour for up to 40 hours per week. Enumerators or people called “listers” will go into neighborhoods wearing credentials and verifying housing addresses.

“Individuals hired will also get mileage reimbursement-currently 55 cents per mile-as field employees.” Spano added. Hours are flexible and may include evenings and weekends.

“Time in training will also be paid,” Spano said, adding, “We need people across the northern tier, in Pike and Wayne counties and in the Columbia, Montour, Northumberland area.”