2020 Census is right around the corner

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – As 2018 wraps up, most people are getting ready for 2019, however, one group is busy planning for 2020.

That is the year when the next U.S. Census will be conducted and Rose Simmons from the Census Bureau is already encouraging people to participate. Simmons stopped by the Muskingum County Commissioners to stress the importance of the census and encourage them to spread the word to Muskingum residents. Simmons said the data from the census is used to determine everything from school funding to public transport.

“There are so many things that we utilize in our daily lives and we just take for granted but we don’t realize that it’s all based upon census data,” said Simmons.

Simmons said $675 billion a year of federal funds are allocated based on census data, so it’s important that the information is correct. She also said that the census might not be until 2020, but they are already in need of workers to help get everything ready as well as during the actual census.

“Go online and apply for a census position,” said Simmons. “It’s a way to participate within the census and to be paid to do so. You can feel good about the public service that you’re providing, and be paid.”

Simmons said they are currently recruiting good employees and that more information about the different positions can be found online.