1990 Census

Enhanced Oversight Should Strengthen Recruitment Program Gao ID: GGD-90-65 April 13, 1990

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Census Bureau's personnel recruitment efforts during its development of the 1989 urban address list.

GAO found that: (1) almost one-half of the Bureau's district offices were unable to meet their 1989 recruiting goals during precanvass; (2) staff shortages in some offices led to delays in completing the census, increased costs, and changes in the Bureau's staffing procedures; (3) the Bureau altered its goals and moved staff between offices to complete work because as many as six or eight applicants were needed for each position to ensure sufficient staff; (4) job applicants were less willing to accept short-term employment that required a high degree of public contact; and (5) limited recruiter training and planning contributed to the Bureau's recruitment problems. GAO also found that the Bureau made progress in developing a recruitment program, but additional recruiter training and recruiting planning was needed.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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