Need a job? The government is hiring.
The U.S. Census Bureau is looking to fill thousands of temporary positions as the decennial population count gets under way. The first census forms were delivered last week in a made-for-media dog sled trip to a small Alaskan village and should begin arriving to most American households in mid-March.
Wages can reach as high as $16 an hour locally, according to www.census.gov, for work that requires minimal experience. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, have a valid driver’s license and pass a competency test in order to be considered.
There are three local testing facilities. The Bryant Branch Library, 22100 Michigan Ave., and Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan, in Dearborn will offer testing periods every Wednesday in February. Additionally, the Henry Ford Centennial will offer tests every Saturday in February.
In Dearborn Heights, the Caroline Kennedy Library, 24590 George, and the Eton Senior Center, 4900 Pardee, will offer testing throughout February on Tuesdays and Mondays, respectively. The tests are available on a walk-in basis, however test takers who make reservations will receive first priority.
“These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work,” according to census.gov.
But interested job seekers would be well advised to apply quickly; local census officials say Dearborn has received a relatively large number of applicants.
“We’re one of the busiest test locations in the area,” said Census recruiter Saad Saad at the Bryant Branch Library on Wednesday.
Most locations usually only see four or five testers at a time, Saad said, while 24 testers packed into a room for the session he oversaw.
For more information call the Regional Census Office at (313) 749-1370 or drop by the Dearborn location at Michigan Avenue and Outer Drive in the Westborn Mall.