Census Enumerator Demographic

Hi.

From people I've spoken to over the past few weeks, I learned that many enumerators that have been employed for the Census next Sunday, are retired civil servants i.e. Gardai, Nurses, Teachers. At least these are an example of the type of people I know of.

The specific occupation they held before isn't important. The point of focus I wish to get across is why weren't the unemployed i.e. Younger applicants who weren't within the age of retirement, hired for the job?

Nothing against the job, it's a very important job, but I just want to try and see why the jobs weren't given to the people who they would have been most beneficial for.

The opinion of any census enumerators themselves would be good. As well as perhaps people who applied who weren't successful.

I don't want this to turn into a poverty debate but rather an informative discussion of a current topic in the country.

Thanks for reading and please reply.

AnnyHallsal

I was offered the job and I was unemployed, in my late 20s. I turned it down as I'd accepted another.

Condatis

The money on offer was barely equivalent to unemployment benefit. So any unemployed person taking the job would not benefit and they would be unavailable for any full-time job offer that they might be offered.

The social welfare is too inflexible too easily people on benefit to take temporary jobs.

They have to jump through all kinds of hoops to have benefit restored, without a time lag, when the job finishes.

pow wow

It would be discriminatory to only employ those who are currently unemployed.

amen

retired civil servants i.e. Gardai, Nurses, Teachers

i know of one teacher mid 50's currently teaching full time position who is a census enumerator.

I wonder would the CSO give a breakdown of enumerators who are currently employed by another state agency?

Denerick

Any enumerators I've come across are in their 50s. A halfwit could do this job. Pisses me off really, yet again anyone under the age of 25 need not apply (Or preferable, emigrate)

28064212

Denerick wrote: »

Any enumerators I've come across are in their 50s. A halfwit could do this job. Pisses me off really, yet again anyone under the age of 25 need not apply (Or preferable, emigrate)

How many under-25s do you know that did apply? How many of those had full driving licences and were able to work evenings and weekends?

How many of that group didn't get the job?

Yeah that's an interesting point actually.

I'm not asking for specifics, but I wonder what the payment for Enumerating is compared to the Dole.

paky

i got turned down for this job, dont know why.

i burned my census form in protest when i got it in the mail

Daisy M

I applied for and got this job and I do not work besides. The job is not the piece of cake you may imagine there is a lot more to it than just handing out forms unfortunatly. I think the biggest requirement is personality you need someone who is calm and will not blow a fuse when pushed, you need patience and peserverance and a lot more besides.
I have to be honest and say if I was in the position of choosing people for this job I would always choose someone who had done it before and has proven themselves capable of been able to do it, there have been quiet a few dropouts as some people found the job tougher more demanding than they could ever have imagined. The thing is a lot more people went for these jobs this time around as there is more unemployment do you really believe that the previous enumerators (some who have done this job for 30yrs) should now be cast aside in favour of the unemployed? I think we have to remember that these people were happy to do this job when a lot of others would have turned their noses up at it and considered the earnings peanuts.
This is my first time doing this job I was suprised to get it as I thought the previous enumerator would get it, turns out she is working full time and didnt apply. There was 11 in my group 3 had carried it out before. As I am not claiming any welfare this will be money straight into my hand and I value every cent.

sarah-bear

I'm 23 years old, unemplyed since May last year and I got this job.

They were hiring people who they thought would be good for the job, without discriminating between employed or unemployed people.

It's part-time, temporary work which anybody could apply for.

evais

I was successful in getting an enumerator position. I am a 40 something year old mother who works 15 hours a week in a job which requires a lot of contact with the general public. I believe I was successful in getting this job because of my experience and confidence in dealing with people. Of the 11 in my group, we are all around my age, some part time employees, one retiree, 2 unemployed.
I absolutely believe that the jobs were given to the most suitable canditates. In terms of what we are paid, it is not enough for the aggro we have to deal with!:mad:

evais

paky wrote: »

i got turned down for this job, dont know why.

i burned my census form in protest when i got it in the mail

I think you need to grow up. You obviously weren't mature enough to handle this job if that's your reaction!

dan_d

Hope that made you feel WAY better PAk:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I know a retired air hostess, and an unemployed 28 year old who got the job.

I've no idea on what basis they chose though..

dan_d

dan_d wrote: »

I know a retired air hostess, and an unemployed 28 year old who got the job.

I mean that quote and the others show how diverse the people employed were.

Of course the unemployed were hired.

I just find it odd seeing so many older people marching around when the country is in up roar over a lack of jobs etc.

But the fact they're experienced does make sense.

paky

evais wrote: »

I think you need to grow up. You obviously weren't mature enough to handle this job if that's your reaction!

i think you need to get a life if u think thats advice

notsobusy

I'm in my mid 20's and was unemployed for a year before I got the job. I am delighted to have gotten the job.

It's very tough going and not as easy as everyone as making it out to be. I got told yesterday by 3 people that they heard the pay was fanstastic about 3/4k. I actually laughed when they told me this and made sure I put them straight!

Mrs OBumble

28064212 wrote: »

How many under-25s do you know that did apply? How many of those had full driving licences and were able to work evenings and weekends?

Not only do they need to be able to drive, they also need to provide their own vehicle, and have it insured for work purposes.

They also needed to be able to provide secure storage in their home.

snubbleste

According to the CSO, of the 4,866 part-time enumerator jobs:
15% of the jobs went to those signing-on
36.5% went to those with a job already
The rest seem to be "A lot of them are housewives and retired people."

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/just-15pc-of-census-posts-go-to-jobseekers-2608262.html

RATM

amen wrote: »

I wonder would the CSO give a breakdown of enumerators who are currently employed by another state agency?

AFAIK they would have to if you put in a Freedom of Information request and pay your €15- could be an interesting story- no doubt journalists would lap up an easy scoop like that one.

pow wow

I doubt they'd be able to disclose who else the enumerators work for under an FOI request?

Alkers

I'm 24, lost my job two years ago and am now back in college 'full time'. Applied for and got the census job. Of the people in my area/group, there is one other student younger than me, two or three a year or two older than me, maybe one retired and the remainder of the 15 would be 30s or 40s and most but not all have another job.

baldbear

snubbleste wrote: »

According to the CSO, of the 4,866 part-time enumerator jobs:
15% of the jobs went to those signing-on
36.5% went to those with a job already
The rest seem to be "A lot of them are housewives and retired people."

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/just-15pc-of-census-posts-go-to-jobseekers-2608262.html

Yeah i saw that. They couldn't discriminate in favour of unemployed people. I think thats a load of bollix tbh.

People who done the job before were always going to get the job ahead of a person on the dole who never had any experience. One in 7 who got the job were on the dole. A Very low figure.

seanknowsall

Hi I was out of work since December 2010 and applied for a census enumerator position and got it. Of course it helped that I did the census before in 2006 when may I add, it was nearly impossible to fill the positions due to near full employment in Ireland. So I knew going into the interview this time that I stood a very high chance of being selected. Can I just add also... in my group of enumerators... 12 in total, myself included, there are 5 housewives who dont work, myself and another guy in our late 20s both unemployed and the remaining 5 have casual part time jobs, nothing fancy and not with any other state agency. I think alot of people are jsut jumping on the whole bandwagon about unemployed people not getting the jobs. Lets be perfectly honest... did many unemployed under 30s apply... I think not. Also take Donegal for instance.... one of the highest unemployment rates in Ireland and yet they couldnt fill the enumerator positions full time round... also its a known fact that in working class/poorer areas of Dublin most of the enumerators are not from these areas because none of the locals could be bothered to apply!

pow wow

seanknowsall wrote: »

...also its a known fact that in working class/poorer areas of Dublin most of the enumerators are not from these areas because none of the locals could be bothered to apply!

It is? Most enumerators don't work in their own areas (some exceptions of course) so the enumerators are usually from 'outside', working class/poorer area or not. I haven't seen any stat releases on how working class or not the recruits are.

Mrs OBumble

seanknowsall wrote: »

, there are 5 housewives who dont work,

On behalf of homemakers everywhere, I'll assume that you meant to say "house-wives who are not currently in the paid workforce, except for the census".