2000 Census will rely on thousands of door-knockers

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Faced with hiring half a million people when unemployment is at its lowest in 30 years, the Census Bureau in Washington, D.C., is sending out a loud scream for help.

In Las Vegas, the response from people seeking those temporary jobs has been "reasonably good," said Steve Zuelsdorf, assistant manager for recruiting for the Las Vegas office of the U.S. Census Bureau.

"We've tested 290 people and we eventually hope to test 900 for the 250 lister jobs," Zuelsdorf said, noting that the test for the $9.75-an-hour job includes math, map reading and general clerical questions.

"We will start hiring next month."

Across the country, bright yellow help-wanted posters stripped across city buses are appearing in major cities. Job notices are going up in and jobs centers and on college campuses.

Direct-mail inserts are landing in mailboxes. Billboards and newspaper, TV and radio ads will blanket the country by next year. Every ad trumpets a toll-free number (888) 325-7733.

Those who want a job as a census lister -- one who collects data on residential addresses -- must have access to a vehicle to canvas large areas.

And the information that is being gathered changes constantly, especially in Las Vegas where thousands of people move in and out of the state each month.

"We have found 20,000 addresses that are different from the list that was provided to us by the Census Bureau (regional office in Denver)," Tom Perrigo, senior statistical analyst for the city of Las Vegas Planning Department, said.

Because Las Vegas has the largest population of any city in the region, it has been designated the lead contact agency to convey information to the Census Bureau.

"There are a couple thousand addresses we have not confirmed," Perrigo said. "You can start to see the challenges that face us."

Under-counting by 6,000 households could cost Nevada $3 million every year -- or $30 million over the life of the Census.

During the last U.S. Census in 1990, about 29,000 people statewide were missed. That cost Nevada a total of $50 million in appropriations throughout the '90s.

City officials were to meet today with Census officials to provide them with more accurate maps and the known address changes.

This census could result in Nevada gaining one seat in the House of Representatives and $1 billion of the $180 billion in annual federal transportation, child care and education funding that is distributed nationwide based on census statistics.

The Census Bureau faces a monstrous task between now and the official census-taking day of April 1, 2000. It needs to hire 45,000 people in the next four months, another 34,000 by the end of the year and 380,000 more next year.

The exact number required in Clark County has not been determined. A previous estimate of 19,000 was erroneous, officials said.

The national unemployment rate was only 4.3 percent in December, making it tough to fill temporary jobs. The Census is counting on people wanting to earn extra money on nights and weekends.

And while there's a plethora of competition for employees in Las Vegas, so far Census Bureau officials here are optimistic they will be able to fill the need.

"The outlook for filling the positions is pretty good because there are a lot of retirees in Las Vegas who are limited to what they can earn because of Social Security (restrictions)," Zuelsdorf said. "They want to work just a little while, and this is perfect for them."

Cheryl Querry, an assistant chief of recruiting for the 2000 census, said: "We need to welcome part-timers with open arms, and we do."

The biggest push will come next year when the Census Bureau will need people to go door-to-door to reach those who do not return forms by mail.

Hourly wages depend on the going rate in various markets: from a high of $16 in New York City to a low of $7 in Jonesboro, Ark. Door-to-door counters will earn 15 percent more.

But census officials said they will have to add an extra 100,000 people if Congress or the courts do not allow "statistical sampling," a method that would estimate up to 10 percent of the population in each neighborhood.

Census officials said sampling is the only way to avoid missing people. Republicans in Congress are opposed because they say it is illegal, unconstitutional and that it could be manipulated. The issue is before the Supreme Court.

archive