The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary census takers in South King County, in advance of its nonresponse followup operation for the 2020 Census.

The pay rate is $23 per hour and applications can be made online at 2020census.gov/jobs.

The primary purpose of the nonresponse followup operation is to count people in person at housing units who have not self-responded to the decennial census questionnaire, according to a Census Bureau media release. Census takers visit and enumerate those households. This operation requires more field workers than any other operation for the national population count which occurs every 10 years. Nonresponse followup is an integral part of the 2020 Census program that ensures a complete and accurate count.

The decennial count influences how more than $675 billion from more than 100 federal programs are distributed to states and localities each year.

For more information about 2020 census jobs, call 1-855-JOB-2020.

Kent meeting

In addition, the bureau has an upcoming 2020 Census information session at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Kent Regional Library, 212 Second Ave. N.

At the session, Census Bureau staff will be available to answer questions from members of the public about the 2020 Census and introduce them to how the census will be conducted in South King County this year. Recruiters also will be on-hand to speak to persons interested in applying for employment with the bureau.