U.S. Census Bureau looking to recruit workers for 2020 survey

AUSTIN, Texas - The U.S. Census Bureau is making a final push to recruit workers who can help survey communities in 2020. 

Local politicians have expressed concern that Texans have gone undercounted in the past, leaving behind millions of dollars in federal funding. 

Getting an accurate count of people in Austin and Travis County for the 2020 Census could impact funding for federal programs and grants. 

“They can plan the roads and the highways, they can plan the hospitals, so all the services you can imagine, somewhere in the background, there's Census data,” said Dr. Steven Dillingham, director of the U.S. Census Bureau.  

More than $675 billion in federal funding to programs across the U.S. are based on Census data. If even one percent of Texans go uncounted, the state could lose out on $300 million per year and additional congressional seats. 

RELATED: 2020 Census to be printed without citizenship question

“The Constitution actually requires that one of the purposes is for apportionment, so, when they look at the data, they decide whether any of the congressional seats need to be changed based on population,” Dillingham said.  

Dillingham said that's why it's so important to recruit the right number of workers to help conduct the survey. 

“We're prepared to put about a half-million people into the neighborhoods to collect the information if it's not self-reported,” he said.  

This week, Dillingham is meeting with students at universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, to find people to fill those positions. He expects part-time workers will make about $20 per hour in the Austin area. 

RELATED: City, county officials prepare for 2020 US Census

“There's just great opportunities for people to get out and get experience performing a civic responsibility,” said Dillingham.  

Texas is one of five states that chose not to set up a Complete Count Committee for 2020. That's a statewide organization that works with counties and cities to make sure everyone is counted.

However, Dillingham said state agencies in Texas are participating in a roundtable, which is essentially the same thing. 

RELATED: FOX 7 Discussion: Census redistricting

To make the process easier, there are two new self-reporting methods available in 2020 that were tested in Rhode Island in 2018.   

“We have these challenges every ten years and, one of the good things is we now have two new tools to collect the data. You can now answer the Census on paper, the traditional way, or you can do it on the internet, or you could do it by phone,” said Dillingham. 

To sign up to help with the survey, visit here.