With less than half a year to go until the 2020 Census, efforts are ramping up in Illinois and other states to ensure an accurate count. A vital part of that is getting enough "boots on the ground."
Thousands of local recruiting events are taking place this week across the country to hire an estimated 500,000 workers for the upcoming count.
Anita Banerji, director of the Democracy Initiative for Forefront, an association of nonprofits behind the "Illinois Count Me In 2020" program. said census jobs are a great opportunity for students, retirees and workers in the gig economy - and positions are available besides census-taker.
"Anywhere from partnership specialist positions, where you're helping various hard-to-count communities coordinate and organize," she said. "There are managerial roles; there are positions that are within the enumeration phase."
She said census-taking positions do require flexible schedules, a valid driver's license and access to a vehicle, as well as internet access and an email account. Hiring already is under way and will continue through next spring.
Illinois Count Me In 2020 is focusing efforts on outreach in hard-to-count communities, providing safe spaces for self-reporting purposes and educating for get-out-the-count efforts. Banerji said there's a lot riding on an accurate count.
"Illinois is at stake to potentially lose a second congressional seat," she said. "We've got millions of federal dollars on the line, and we need to provide for a better tomorrow. And the best way to do that is to have accurate data."
For the first time, the census will have an online survey option available. Illinois' population for 2018 was estimated at 12.7 million, and it's projected to slightly increase for 2020.
More information is online at 2020census.gov.
