Frequently asked questions—2024 Census Test jobs

Individuals are being hired to collect census test data in the field. Field positions include both crew leader (supervisory) and enumerator (non-supervisory) roles. Most of the available census test jobs are enumerator positions.

Crew leaders lead and supervise an assistant and a team of enumerators. They are responsible for all the activities related to the collection of completed census test questionnaires in their assigned area.

Crew leader day-to-day duties also include

• training and supporting a team of enumerators
• monitoring progress and productivity
• following up with respondents by calling or visiting respondents to assist with completing a census test questionnaire
• receiving and shipping census test questionnaires and other census test documents.

Crew leaders work full time with most of the work completed in the evening and on weekends. Crew leaders will work from April to July 2024.

The primary responsibility of enumerators is to collect completed census test questionnaires from households.

The day-to-day duties of an enumerator vary depending on work location, but may involve

• capturing addresses and dropping off reminder cards inviting residents to complete their census test questionnaire online
• following up with respondents by calling or visiting them in person to complete a census test questionnaire
• shipping completed questionnaires.

Enumerators work part time, with most of the work completed in the evenings and on weekends. Enumerators will work from May to June 2024, on average between 20 to 40 hours per week.

Yes. Enumerator jobs involve going to respondent's homes in person. Households are required by law to complete a census test questionnaire. You will receive training and will have the support of your team and supervisors to complete this part of the job.

Approximately 200 people will be hired for the collection activities of the census test.

We are hiring in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

• Nova Scotia: in Halifax and the Annapolis Valley area (i.e., Berwick, Greenwood, Middleton and Bridgetown)
• Quebec: in Montréal and the Rimouski area
• Saskatchewan: in Saskatoon and the Saskatoon area (i.e., Biggar, Rosetown and Outlook).

To apply for a census test job, submit an application online starting January 16, 2024, to June 2024.

Call 1-833-830-3106 and leave a message with your full name, the city where you live, the information you would like to change and your phone number, so that a recruiter can call you back. Recruiters make preliminary calls using the information you provide on your application. If you simply want to add additional details to your application, you will have the chance to do so if you are contacted by a recruiter. People with access to TTY (for persons who have a hearing or speech impairment) should call 1-833-830-3109.

We need your email address to provide you with important information throughout the recruitment process.

All candidates must

• have reached the age of majority in their current province or territory of residence
  • provinces where the age of majority is 18: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan
  • provinces and territories where the age of majority is 19: British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Yukon
• live in a census test area
  • Nova Scotia: in Halifax and the Annapolis Valley area (i.e., Berwick, Greenwood, Middleton and Bridgetown)
  • Quebec: in Montréal and the Rimouski area
  • Saskatchewan: in Saskatoon and the Saskatoon area (i.e., Biggar, Rosetown and Outlook)
• be a Canadian citizen or be a permanent resident or be otherwise eligible to work in Canada
• have a Canadian home address
• be flexible and available to work from 20 to 40 hours per week, and be aware that the majority of the work is completed in the evening and on weekends
• be able to travel locally
• have reliable Internet and phone service
• have no previous census or census test experience (only in exceptional circumstances would candidates with experience be considered to work for the 2024 Census Test).
• successfully complete the census test hiring process.

In some areas, candidates must have a driver's licence and access to a vehicle.

Please note that crew leaders (supervisors) work full-time hours for the duration of census test collection and must be available to work 40 hours per week.

For the 2024 Census Test, Statistics Canada typically hires and trains candidates with no prior census or census test experience. This allows us to better evaluate our data collection and administrative training and procedures. Candidates with experience will not necessarily be excluded from the hiring process for the 2024 Census Test. However, only in exceptional circumstances would these candidates be considered to work for the 2024 Census Test (e.g., extreme shortage of candidates).

Statistics Canada cannot guarantee a specific number of hours per week for census test employment, because the workload varies by location. Applicants must be flexible and available to work from 20 to 40 hours per week and be aware that the majority of the work is completed in the evening and on weekends. Supervisors must be available to work approximately 40 hours per week and non-supervisors must be available to work approximately between 20 and 40 hours per week.

Yes, you are paid an hourly rate for time spent in mandatory training.

Statistics Canada is committed to ensuring an inclusive and diverse workforce. Any applicants who require accommodation measures are encouraged to self-identify at any stage of the hiring process. You may need to provide documentation from a medical professional with additional information on the specific accommodations required.

If you require new or additional accommodation measures at any point during the recruitment process, notify the recruiter.

To be hired, you must successfully complete the following steps:

• initial screening
• reference check
• interview (crew leaders only)
• security screening.

In areas with large numbers of applicants, only those who are selected will be contacted.

If you can't provide a work reference, consider other people who can attest to your work ethic and character—for example, members of a board that you serve on, a teacher you helped with a project, a supervisor or coordinator where you volunteer, a supervisor at an internship, or a family that you babysit for.

Please note that we cannot accept personal references.

No, you do not need to be bilingual to apply for a census test job. However, some census test work locations are designated bilingual. To work in a designated bilingual area, candidates must pass a language test in addition to the other assessment criteria of the hiring process.

Statistics Canada requires that employees hold the level of "reliability status," to work with the census test. A reliability status is required for those who need access to protected information. This check includes verifying personal data, employment history and references. It also involves declaring any criminal convictions for which a pardon has not been granted. The criminal record name check is completed via the Royal Canadian Mounted Police database, and a credit check is conducted by a licensed credit reporting agency. All security checks are performed by personnel security officers on behalf of Statistics Canada.

Note that your consent is required before a security screening can be completed.

In addition, census test employees are sworn to secrecy under the Statistics Act​ (opens in a new window). This oath remains in effect throughout their term of employment and for life after that term of employment ends. Possible penalties for revealing the personal information of respondents include a fine of up to $1,000, a jail term of up to six months or both.

No. Reliability status cannot be transferred to other government departments. It is valid only for the length of your employment with the 2024 Census Test.

As part of the security screening policy on file retention and disposal, the Departmental Security Office is required by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat to retain screening files for at least two years following an individual's departure from the federal public service to ensure that the individual has a reasonable opportunity to obtain access to the information in their file. When a request for access to the information has been received, the information will not be destroyed until such time as the individual has had the opportunity to exercise all of their rights under the Privacy Act​ (opens in a new window) or the Access to Information Act​ (opens in a new window).

No, we are unable to use any previous criminal record check, done either by the federal government or by a third party. Because of the high volume of security screenings that we will be processing for 2024 Census Test operations, we will be unable to confirm or transfer existing reliability statuses from other departments or agencies. If you already hold a valid government reliability status, you are still required to complete this specific 2024 Census Test security screening.

Please note that this reliability status will be issued for the length of your employment with the 2024 Census Test. It will not be transferable to other government departments or agencies.

Credit checks are mandatory for reliability status screening.

Credit checks are performed to determine an individual's reliability and trustworthiness. As well, credit checks are performed to assist in confirming an individual's name, place of residence, previous place of residence, current and previous place of employment, and other personal history information when there is difficulty obtaining this information through other means.

A person with a previous conviction for which a pardon has not been granted may still be eligible for a census test job depending on the severity of the crime, how long ago it took place, and what the individual's record and behaviour have been since the charge.

No. Only candidates being considered for employment are contacted.

You will be given a reference number at the end of the online application process. Please write it down for future reference.

While we will start the processing of applications in March, we strongly recommend submitting your application at your earliest convenience. Please note, only those candidates under consideration for employment will be contacted.

Yes, as long as you can commit to being flexible, are available to work from 20 to 40 hours per week, and understand that the majority of shifts are in the evening and on weekends. When completing your census test job application, you will have the opportunity to indicate your work availability.

Enumerators must be flexible, available to work from 20 to 40 hours per week, and understand that the majority of shifts are in the evening and on weekends. Enumerators must also be available to attend the paid training session.

Census test jobs are not based in a Statistics Canada office. They are primarily field data collection jobs and require employees to go door to door to obtain completed questionnaires.

Employees are paid for kilometres driven if it has been pre-approved by their supervisor and is necessary for completing their work assignment.

Gaining experience as an enumerator or crew leader for the 2024 Census Test can be valuable when applying for other positions with the Government of Canada. However, you must apply separately for these positions, which are advertised on canada.ca/jobs​ (opens in a new window).

All T4 Statement of Remuneration Paid slips and RL-1 Employment and Other Income slips (Quebec only) will be sent to you through Canada Post's Connect service in February 2025.

All records of employment (ROEs) will be available on the Service Canada website within five working days of your receiving your final payment. Employees can log in to their My Service Canada Account​ (opens in a new window) to print off their ROE.

Yes. Census test employee earnings are taxable and insurable for employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan purposes.

Employees must register online for a Canada Post account at canadapost.ca/connect​ (opens in a new window) if they do not already have one.

Once registered, employees will receive an email inviting them to access their pay statements through their secure Connect account, after they have received their first payment.