The U.S. Census Bureau is currently taking applications to hire temporary, part-time census takers in Bell County for the upcoming 2020 Census.

Census takers are critical for their communities during the 2020 Census to go door to door to collect responses from households who have not responded online, by phone or by mail.

If you are a local resident and are looking to earn extra cash, there are many open positions that have not been filled. The Census Bureau makes every effort to hire locally so census takers are familiar with the neighborhoods they are assigned to work.

To apply, go online to www.2020census.gov/jobs You must have an active email address to complete the online application.

According to Diana Anderson, Partnership Specialist with the Census Bureau, the census taker pay is very competitive at $14.00 an hour, “This is a great opportunity for people who need flexible hours and a weekly paycheck. The positions also offer paid training and paid mileage,” she said. “Whether you’re looking to earn some extra cash, pay down your student loan debt, or pay off holiday spending, our part-time positions are a great way to do that.”

Anyone age 18 and older, such as high school students or recent high school graduates, college students, veterans, retirees, military spouses, seasonal workers and people who are bilingual are highly encouraged to apply. People who already have jobs and want to earn extra income evenings and weekends are also encouraged to apply. The selection process begins this month, with paid training occurring in March and April. After paid training, most positions work between May and early July. For those who may have already applied prior to the new year, you are encouraged to go online to check the status of your application.

“Our goal is to reach interested applicants right now and get them into the applicant pool to be considered for these critical jobs,” said Mike Hamilton, local Recruiting Assistant with the Census Bureau. “The hiring process occurs in stages. We encourage everyone who is interested to apply now before selections begin in late January and February. Most census taker jobs will begin training and work this spring.”

Recruiting events have been held at the Bell County Public Library, the Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency and other locations in the county. Additional events are planned for the upcoming weeks.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the population be conducted every 10 years. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and inform how state, local and federal lawmakers will allocate billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities every year for the next 10 years.

For more information about the 2020 Census, visit the Census Bureau website at www.2020census.gov.