Census officials are seeking potential employees to work as part-time enumerators.
Census questionnaires are scheduled to be sent in mid-March. Enumerators employed by the federal government will go door to door within a month after questionnaires are mailed to survey those who didn't mail their questionnaires back.
At the local census office in Glens Falls, Manager George Demas said the job of enumerator can last as long as several months. Employees work 20 to 40 hours a week for about $13 an hour. He said much of the work is in the evenings and on weekends, which enables people who are already employed to also work as census takers.
"It's a nice deal while it lasts," he said.
Demas said someone seeking a census job must first take a 30-minute general-knowledge test. He said there are still thousands of openings left.
"We're hiring enumerators right now, as we speak, for seven counties, including Fulton and Hamilton," he said.
He said about 150 people will be needed to work in Fulton County.
Gloversville Mayor Dayton King is encouraging city residents who are out of work to seek employment with the Census Bureau.
He said he had planned a visit to the bureau but was unable to go because on the same day, the city experienced a large water main break. He hopes to visit the bureau soon, he said.
"I will try to reach out again and see if I can offer some more help," he said.
State Department of Labor Senior Economist Brion Acton said about 4,200 Fulton County residents are employed with the federal, state or local government. That's about 100 less than a year ago, he said.
"For the area, $12 or $13 an hour [as a census taker] is a pretty decent wage," he said. "In a down economy, any job is a good job."
Acton said taking a census job enables people who are unemployed to stay up to date with their job skills while they search for more permanent employment.
"The longer you're off work, the more your job skills atrophy," he said. "[The census jobs] help you stay current and give you experience. It's something to put on your resume."
Gloversville 2nd Ward Councilman John Castiglione said he hopes city residents pursue the jobs.
"I don't know if it will be much of a help to the local economy, but I think it could help families," he said. "With so many people out of work and looking for work, it could help."
According to the state Labor Department, the unemployment rate in Fulton County in December was 10.4 percent. In Montgomery County, the rate was 9.7 percent. In Hamilton County, the rate was 11.2 percent. The state's average unemployment rate for December was 9 percent.
Castiglione said even though the jobs are temporary and part time, that shouldn't stop people from trying to secure them.
He said he did not think the jobs would have a big effect on the local economy.
Fulton County Administrative Officer Jon Stead agreed.
"Certainly, it's important to have those jobs here in our community, but with them being so short term, it will have only a nominal impact on the job market and the economy," Stead said.
Stead said that at the county Board of Supervisors meeting at the county office building Thursday at 1 p.m., an official with the census is scheduled to speak to the board and answer questions about the type of jobs available.
Demas said anyone interested in applying for a census job can call 1-866-861-2010 to schedule a date to take the test. He said there are numerous times and locations, including during evenings and weekends, when a potential enumerator can take the test.
Demas said enumerators are important to the census process. He said the number of people counted in an area can determine that area's local, state and federal representation as well as the amount of state and federal funding the area receives.
"It's very important," he said. "The information is widely used. Four hundred billion dollars in federal funding to municipalities is decided based on the number of people counted."
Kayleigh Karutis covers Gloversville news. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.