Preparations for the 2020 Census are already underway with many temporary jobs available.
Continued population loss is a concern for many, thus kicking the campaign into heavy job recruitment and public participation.
Kyra Roby, a partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, visited Yazoo County officials this week about what they can do to encourage citizens to respond accurately to the Census. Funding and representation depend on correct population records.
“Census day is April 1, 2020, and preparations for the day is already underway,” Roby said. “The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.”
According to the last 2010 Census, a population of 28,065 was reported in Yazoo County. Predictions show a decrease in the local population.
Roby told the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors that an accurate Census will keep both federal funding, legislators and voting districts in place.
“If we don’t get a complete and accurate account of our population, our state would be at risk of losing a representative in the House of Representatives,” Roby said. “There will be $675 billion dollars in federal funds that will be allocated to states based on that state’s population. Those are funds that go to various social services programs, sch as Medicaid, Medicare, WIC, SNAP, school nutrition programs, money for roads, money for the elderly. This is money our state could lose out on just because people aren’t participating in the census.”
Roby said that a recent study by George Washington University showed that Mississippi received about $2,000 a person in federal assistance each year.
“If we are not counting, even a household of four, that’s $8,000 the next ten years that one household is missing out on,” Roby said. “We could miss out of millions of dollars of funds that are being allocated based just on the number of people you have in your state. We know that Mississippi is an undercounted population. Our job is to encourage you to encourage your constituents to participate in the census.”
Roby suggested a Complete Count Committee be formed with volunteers to develop outreach for participation.
Roby also said there are a number of temporary jobs available in this vital process.
The 2020 Census Jobs Web site allows applicants to apply for a range of positions, including recruiting assistants, office operations supervisors, clerks, census field supervisors and census takers. The positions will be located across 248 Area Census Offices nationwide and offer flexible work hours, including daytime, evenings and weekends.
Applicants will be placed in an applicant pool for 2020 Census field positions for positions they qualify for and will be contacted as work becomes available in their area. For more information, contact 1-855-JOB-2020. Applicants may also contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
