If you're one of the many looking for any work, the U.S. Census Bureau may have a job -- albeit a temporary one -- for you.

The bureau wants to hire more than 1,000 workers in Miami-Dade to help complete the 2010 population count.

It's taking applications right now, said Ralph de la Portilla, partnership specialist with the bureau's Atlanta Regional Center, which covers the Southeast.

At last week's South Miami commission meeting, de la Portilla said the bureau is testing candidates for temporary employment to help carry out the mandatory population tally.

The Census pays between $11.25 and $16.50 per hour for these positions. ``Most jobs are available for the spring and summer,'' he told commissioners. ``Your help is crucial.''

The federal government has undertaken a similar population accounting every 10 years since 1790.

Though most folks rarely think about it, information gathered by Census workers influences public and private life. It helps direct the flow of federal cash for roads and schools, for example.

``With billions of dollars for these projects at stake, an incomplete count can mean your city misses out,'' de la Portilla said.

South Miami Mayor Horace Feliu noted that filling out this year's questionnaire, the shortest in U.S. Census history, will be ``absolutely painless and quick.''

Even so, the bureau still expects a sizable group of people to neglect to fill out and send in their forms. That's where the many temporary workers it's planning to hire will help make a difference.

Veterans and U.S. citizens get first consideration for the jobs, de la Portilla said, adding the bureau will begin calling people in February to work on nonresponse follow-up. They will be reaching out to households that don't return their questionnaire by the ``Census Day'' deadline, April 1.

Vice Mayor Brian Beasley wanted to know if people can still apply. ``Is it too late?''

De la Portilla said the bureau is taking applications and making appointments for testing right now.

``During Census 2000, South Miami's final response rate was 71 percent, which is pretty good. The national average was 67 percent,'' he said, adding that the bureau hopes to get a 76 percent response this time.