2010 Census Jobs Promotion set for Shreveport area
Qualifying Testing Offered at on March 20 

Need a job? The 2010 Census hiring campaign hits high gear in the Shreveport area, with a mass testing session running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. Those scoring well enough on the tests will qualify for Census jobs with good weekly pay, mileage reimbursement and experience with America’s count of its population.

Interested applicants should come to Natchitoches Central High School, 6543 Highway 1 S. Bypass, Natchitoches, LA, 71457, on March 20.

No appointment is necessary to take the test, but the Census Bureau strongly recommends that individuals make an appointment by calling 866-861-2010. Bringing property identification to the testing sites is important. Either bring a birth certificate or a U.S. passport, or two other forms: a social security card, along with a current drivers license, state identification card or student photo identification card.

The U.S. Census Bureau is pushing to hire thousands of workers people to collect Census data in the Shreveport area.

 The Census seeks workers to conduct the Census in their own communities. The jobs are good for college students and stay-at-home parents. The work schedules are flexible and pay ranges from $8 to $24 an hour for job titles ranging from clerk to supervisor. The terms will last from May through July or longer.  The lack of adequate workers could mean an undercount that could cost the region valuable federal funding for needed social services, roads, schools and hospitals.

To prepare for the test, applicants can take the practice test on the Census Web site: http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/documents/Practice_Test.pdf.

“Everyone deserves to have a voice and be counted, and by working for the 2010 Census, you will be directly involved with ensuring that happens,” said U.S. Census Bureau Dallas Regional Director Gabriel Sanchez.

If you can’t come to the testing site, applicants are urged to call a toll free number, 1-866-861-2010, to schedule a time to take a qualifying aptitude test. For more information on hiring, visit the Census’ job site at http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/. For information on the 2010 Census in general, visit http://www.census.gov/2010census/.

Census workers began delivering questionnaires to rural areas the first week in March. Mailed forms should arrive in the third week of March. Residents are asked to fill out their forms and return them as soon as possible. Follow-up visits will begin in May.

The decennial Census determines congressional representation and the annual distribution of more than $400 billion in federal funds for local and regional services.  

Most positions require U.S. citizenship, a driver’s license and the use of a vehicle, and each applicant will undergo a background check.

Hiring has already started and will extend through spring 2010 for temporary assignments, most lasting eight weeks to a few months. The Dallas Regional Census Center is expected to hire about 111,000 workers to complete its task in its region, which includes Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.