The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring but – in Enumclaw, at least – too few people are responding.

The Census Bureau will deliver a questionnaire to every household in King County this spring and is looking for people to conduct in-person, follow-up interviews.

The temporary, part-time positions include paid training and reimbursement for approved travel expenses. The positions offer flexible hours and workers will generally stay in their own communities.

Applicants must be 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number. All must pass a background check and take a test of basic skills. In most cases, workers will be required to have a drivers license and provide their own transportation. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Census takers earn $17.50 per hour.

The information gleaned from the census is used for planning community improvements, for transportation planning, education services and emergency preparedness. The population information determines each community’s representation in government and is used to figure how hundreds of billions of dollars of federal money gets allocated.

For information about census jobs or to take a practice employment test, visit www.2010censusjobs.gov. To schedule an appointment to take the employment test, call 1-866-861-2010.