The government wants 47,000 people in Wisconsin to fill temporary jobs that pay $11 to $15 an hour. They will join a workforce of temps of the U.S. Census Bureau, counting people for the once-a-decade census.

Wisconsin's 47,000 jobs will be parceled out in eight regions; in the Madison region - southern and southwestern Wisconsin - the goal will be to fill 4,200 jobs that pay $13 an hour.

Most of the jobs are for "enumerators," and field operations. A job candidate must be a U.S. citizen, have a driver's license and use of a vehicle, and the ability to go door-to-door to interview residents. Bilingual applicants are encouraged, and all applicants must pass a background check, complete a basic skills test, be older than 18 and literate.

The Madison office is not yet open.

Most of the jobs will allow people to work in their own communities or neighborhoods at part-time, temporary jobs evenings and weekends, lasting two to six weeks, according to Stanley D. Moore, Chicago regional director.

In mid-March 2010, a questionnaire will be mailed to every address across the country in preparation for Census Day, April 1, 2010. The form will ask a few simple questions, including name, gender, age, race and whether the person owns or rents the home.

Households that don't respond will get a visit from one of the temporary government workers, the enumerators.

Job duties, according to the census bureau, include locating households, explaining the purpose of the census, conducting brief personal interviews with residents and recording responses on paper forms.

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