Census officials still looking for more county workers

    Chase County has one of the lowest number of Census worker applicants in the state.
    According to Nebraska State Data Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, only 10 counties have a lower percentage rate for meeting their goal for applicants.
    As of this week, Chase County stands at 39.6% of applicants officials hoped to have to complete the 2020 Census work.
    “This Chase County number hasn’t moved for two weeks,” said David Drozd, research coordinator with the data center.
    He said, at $17.50 an hour, the pay is “quite competitive.” Workers are also paid mileage for the part-time work that has flexible hours.
    Applications will be taken through February, with training in March. Field work will run April through June or July, he said.
    Census workers hired will go door-to-door interviewing households that don’t respond online or via the paper forms.
    “The 2020 count will not be as accurate as possible, and that has many ramifications,” without enough workers, Drozd added.
    The 10 counties that have lower applicant numbers than Chase County include Dawson, Sheridan, Saline, Sioux, Dawes, Dodge, Boyd, Wayne, Hooker and Cherry.
    The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that completing the questionnaire will take 10 minutes on average.
    Interested people can apply and find more information at 2020census.gov/jobs.