Although the Schuylkill County jobless rate continues to rise the U.S. Census Bureau is finding it difficult to hire people to work in the county at $14.25 per hour plus 50 cents per mile for travel expense.

At a meeting of the Schuylkill County 2010 Census Complete Committee held at the courthouse in Pottsville Tuesday it was disclosed the bureau seeks to hire 600 enumerators in the county and still has a long way to go.Twenty applicants took exams Tuesday at Boscov's store. People interested can obtain an application by calling a toll free number, 1-866-861-2010. The work is expected to last into June. People who now work full time also can apply because they can work evenings or on weekends. There also will be 20 assistance centers opened in the county, including Tamaqua and McAdoo. People will be hired to work in these offices to render help to any one who seeks it. The bureau is now recruiting crew leaders, assistant crew leaders and enumerators.The meeting was chaired by Charles Ross, executive director of the Schuylkill County Planning Commission, who was appointed by the county commissioners. Peter Pron, a recruiting assistant for the U.S. Census Bureau, addressed some 15 people present interested in conducting the census, which is an operation designated by U.S. Congress every 10 years to get an official count of the country's population.The importance of everyone be counted was emphasized by the speakers. Ross pointed out federal and state monies are given to counties based on population. He also pointed out Schuylkill County is in danger of becoming a fifth class county if its population falls below 145,000. It has been steadly dropping over the past decade and down to around 146,000 and 147,000.April 1 is called Census Day. Letters bearing questionnaires asking only 10 questions will go to every household. Households which do not return the questionnaire will be visited by an enumerator who will offer to help fill out the needed information and the committee hope they are welcomed and not rebuffed when they come to your door.Those chose to work for the census bureau will be asked to work 20 to 40 hours per week and be able to work when people are home. The tests include clerical, reading and number skills, interpreting information and evaluating alternatives and organizational skills.