Hundreds of jobs are up for grabs as the campaign begins to recruit staff to deliver next year’s Census.
More than 35,000 people are being recruited nationally in the countdown to Census Day on March 27 next year and around 250 jobs will be on offer in the Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend areas.
The 2011 Census is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to put on record key information about the entire population of England and Wales as it’ll be asking the same questions of every household on the same day.
The Census is designed and managed by the Office of National Statistics. The jobs on offer are all fixed-term contracts and they run from January to November next year. They range from 15 hours-a-week part-time jobs to full-time work.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Ali Thomas, said “It’s great that local people have the opportunity to play such an important part in getting residents to participate in the 2011 Census.
We can’t emphasis enough how important completing the Census form and returning it is. Government funding is based on data from these forms and the job opportunities on offer, allow local people to help shape their community for the future.”
Sharon Brace, Area Manager, said: “Particular experience or academic qualifications aren’t mandatory – training will be provided. All you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to be out there meeting people and contributing to your community.”
Ms Brace said 2011 Census was aiming to recruit people from all walks of life to help ensure local communities were well served by teams of census co-ordinators and collectors.
“We want people on the ground who are representative of the area and we are encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, ages, abilities and lifestyles who can help us reach as many parts of the community as possible. The hours are reasonably flexible and it’s a great opportunity for local people to make a huge contribution to their communities and to help gather vital information about issues such as population, health, disability, housing, employment, transport and ethnicity which is used to plan local and national services – and to earn some extra cash in the process.
She added: “People should be reassured that the information gathered on individuals in the census is entirely confidential cannot be shared with government departments or any other organisation.”
To find out more about Census jobs go to www.censusjobs.co.uk and to find out more about the census itself go to www.census.gov.uk
