Need a Job? The U.S. Is Hiring

The U.S. government wants to hire close to 10,000 San Diegans in the next few weeks.

In less than a month, the 2010 Census questionnaires will be in the mail to San Diego County residents. Because some of those questionnaires won't be returned, the U.S. Census is hiring field workers to go out into their own neighborhoods and count.

Census workers will check dorms, military barracks, hospitals, shelters and group homes to make sure everyone is counted correctly.

There are five local Census offices in the county. They include Eastlake, Downtown, Santee, San Marcos and Vista. Each office will hire approximately 2,000 people to fill temporary positions that could last through August.

While many clerical positions have already been filled, there are still thousands of openings. Positions include field staff, crew leaders, field operations supervisors and some clerical staff.

Workers are needed in the following neighborhoods: La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, University City, Coronado, City heights, Logan Heights, Shelltown, parts of Southeast San Diego and parts of the far eastern part of the county, according to the local Census office manager.

Applicants will be given a basic skills test and a background check. Field position salaries start at $16.50/hour.