A major census test begins recruiting workers as some warn about delays

A major census test begins recruiting workers as some warn about delays

Hansi Lo Wang

October 06, 2025 / 8:36 am

The next U.S. census isn't scheduled to be taken until 2030, but the federal government says help is wanted well before then in six states for the national head count's major field test.

Recruiting to hire about 1,500 door knockers and other temporary workers for the "2026 Census Test" starts Monday in parts of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas , the Census Bureau announced on its website. The agency says it received a temporary exemption from President Trump's freeze on hiring federal civilian workers.

The census test is supposed to help the bureau develop better ways of getting complete and accurate population counts and demo