The first person in the nation to be counted in the 2020 U.S. Census will be in Toksook Bay in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. On January 21, 2020, the coastal community will launch the national effort to count every person in the U.S. The rest of the nation will begin its count in mid-March; the unique weather and transportation issues of rural Alaska make the three-month head start necessary.
The census data is mainly used to ensure proper government representation and the distribution of federal funds. Each person counted in a community can translate into thousands of dollars for that community in the decade to come.
The U.S. Census Bureau wants to hire locals in each rural community to go door-to-door, counting the population. These positions start at $28 per hour; supervisors will be paid even more. To apply for a census position online, visit 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020). You can also contact the Y-K Delta Job Center at 907-543-2210.
