The impending 2010 Census means more than filling out forms and answering questions, it also means jobs paying $12-$14 an hour for an estimated 4,000 Nevadans.
Douglas County Census recruiter Mike Geissinger said the government is looking for census takers to work next year to gather information for the count required every 10 years in the U.S. Constitution.
"The Census Bureau will go from no employees in Nevada to 4,000," Geissinger said.
Census takers work 20-40 hours a week around their own neighborhoods. They get paid 58.5 cents a mile.
As a recruiter, Geissinger's job is to find people willing to take the 30-minute test.
"They need to have a huge labor pool, because they hire people for 2009 and it might be months before someone finds out they've been hired," he said. "People's lives change, so they need to have other people they can hire. There are so many people out there who could use the extra income."
Geissinger is a cabinetmaker by trade, who spotted a newspaper advertisement for a recruiter.
"My wife did it 10 years ago and she said we should go down and apply," he said. "Three weeks ago I got a call."
In addition to passing a test, census takers are required to be U.S. citizens, 18 years or older, possess a valid Social Security number and pass a background check.
Those workers who have to drive must have a valid drivers license.
Men who were born after Dec. 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service. Workers need to commit to 3 1/2 days training.
Anyone interested should call the Census Bureau at (866) 861-2010.
