Census will create 24,000 temporary jobs in N.C.

“The 2010 decennial census outreach effort in North Carolina is unprecedented,” Nancy Potok, deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Commerce Department, said in a statement. "The census form will be the shortest and easiest in history – 10 questions that will take only 10 minutes to complete, available in 59 different languages so that no one is left out.

"In North Carolina, we have also tripled the scope of our partnership program," Potok said. "By working with local community organizations and groups, we will empower North Carolinians to help ensure that everyone is counted."

The census will take place beginning April 1, 2010. It is administered by the federal government but requires support at the state and local level.

Gov. Beverly Perdue signed an executive order Wednesday that creates the North Carolina Complete Count Committee to coordinate census activities at the state level.

“More than $400 billion in federal funds will be distributed each year based on the census count, so a complete count is critical to North Carolina,” Perdue said in a statement. “I urge everyone to fill out and mail back their census forms. It’s easy, it’s important and it’s secure.”

Based on recent estimates, the state will receive about $14,000 in federal funds per person counted over the next 10 years. In addition, census data is the basis for the state demographer’s projections, which are used to determine the distribution of state funds to counties and municipalities.

The census will also determine whether North Carolina will receive an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. North Carolina received a 13th congressional district after the 2000 Census by a margin of about 800 people over Utah.

The Census Bureau will begin hiring North Carolina workers in January. Some jobs will begin as early as January, while most will begin in February and March and will extend until June or July.