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CENSUS: Local offices counting on local workers to count population
Local census offices in Western New York are counting on local residents to help count the local population.
Wayne Winert, local census office manager, said his company is willing to hire up to 1,500 temporary part-time workers in the area to go from home-to-home collecting data.
“The census is collected once every 10 years, and our goal is to count everyone,” Winert said.
He said the part-time workers are trained to go to homes and interview residents who did not fill out the federal government questionnaire the first time. This year, the form will be sent out March 17.
“If we don’t get a response the first time, we go back another six times for the most accurate count,” Winert said. “Our goal is to count everyone and do it again, like ... double-checking our work.”
Winert said the average seems to be about a 67 percent mail-back rate the first time the form is sent out by the government, but the goal is to increase the response.
“The biggest reason people don’t fill out the form is because people don’t understand the importance of the population,” Winert said.
So, what if you live in one town, but have an address to another?
“Not a problem,” Winert said. “We have something like a GPS system that tells of the exact location of a home, despite the address.”
One example of this is those who live in the Town of Pendleton. Some of those residents have a Lockport address, but will not be counted in the Lockport census.
Unfortunately, however, Winert said not many people from rural settings like eastern Niagara County sign up for the job.
“The best way to change this is by sending out recruiters or simply advertise how great the job is,” Winert said.
This year, he said, recruiter Tom Ceecula is working in Lockport to get as many people as possible to take the part-time job.
“Workers in Lockport will only be advised to stay in Lockport, but can check surrounding areas if needed,” Winert said about helping other rural towns.
Winert said “it’s a fairly easy process” that includes a written test.
“It’s a 28-question test that asks basic skills necessary for reporting information,” Winert said.
Some of those questions are based around alphabetizing and map directions.
Winert said they are doing all they can to ensure an accurate population count.
Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
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