General
The information gathered from a population and housing census, for example, number of people residing in a country, their distribution, their living conditions and other key data are critical for national development. Census data are essential for policy makers, entrepreneurs, private sector, civil society and faith-based organisations and the general public to make informed decisions.
The population and housing census is one of the most important sources of statistics for a country. In Jamaica, the Census is the primary source of reliable, basic data for small geographic areas.
Yes. All residents of Jamaica are legally required to complete the Census questionnaire, according to the Statistics Act. Section 3(1)(a) and (b) of the Statistics Act excludes census information from information that is given on a voluntary basis. A person who refuses to provide information during a census may be found guilty of a section 19(b) offence under the Statistics Act.
No. However names are needed to ensure that every person in each household is counted only once.
The Census questionnaires capture information on individuals who are usual residents of Jamaica and the housing stock islandwide. The information collected includes demographics, employment characteristics, education, health, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), crime, disability, transportation, religion, fertility etc.
Census takers are issued a photo identification card by the Census Office (Statistical Institute of Jamaica). The Census taker should present his or her ID card when introducing him or herself to you. You may verify that the person is a census taker, by contacting the Census Office’s hotline, STATIN or by checking the verification section of the 2022 Census website.
The data will be used by the Government, international development partners and other civic society groups to address social and economic issues in the country. The data are also available for use by the general public including students.
No incentive will be given for your participation in the Census. However, your participation is key in providing the data that will be used by the Government, international development partners and other civic society groups to address social and economic issues in communities.
You are required to answer questions that are applicable to you and your household.
Recruitment
March 2022
Approximately 8,000 persons will be recruited for the data collection phase.
Currently, applicants should be between the ages from 18 and 64 years old; however, given that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, the Institute will be guided by the Government’s Disaster Risk Management Act in regards to the upper age limit.
STATIN is mandated by law to ensure the security, confidentiality and integrity of all sensitive data captured on tablets. Census Takers and Supervisors are required to sign an Oath of Secrecy and a Declaration of Confidentiality. Tablets are configured to use native Android security services and our web-based services employ the use of encryption to ensure secure connectivity between the Tablets used by census takers and STATIN’s internal systems.
- Census Takers
- Census Supervisors
Majority of the persons will be recruited for the purposes of data collection; however, persons will also be recruited for the post of Head Quarter Users/Editor Coders and Data Entry
Applying to work in the Census is easy. All job advertisements will be posted on the Statistical Institute of Jamaica’s census website. Prospective applicants should use the url https://vacancies.statinja.gov.jm:8443/jobs.php to apply for ALL Census jobs.
Yes. All persons will be required to complete the application form online.
To ensure that the application process is completed in a timely manner only online applications will be accepted.
After online submission, the applicant will receive an automated response. After submitting the online application form:
- Shortlisted applicants will then complete a pre-employment assessment
- This is followed by an in-person screening training and assessment and final selection.
There is no need to check your application status, once the online form is completed applicants will receive an automated response and shortlisted applicants will be notified via email.
Once an application is submitted in response to a job that was advertised, the applicant will receive an automated response indicating that their application has been submitted.
There are multiple stages of the shortlisting. Once the applicant has passed each shortlisting phase, he/she will be notified via email.
No, persons who are employed can apply to work in the Census. The Census provides an opportunity for flexible work hours which includes days, evenings, and weekends.
Working in the 2022 Census provides an excellent opportunity to serve your country as well as earn extra income. To be eligible for a 2022 Census job the minimum qualification is a secondary-level education or experience in conducting surveys with STATIN. Applicants must also:
- Possess a NIS, TRN, valid Government issued ID
- Be 18 years or older and computer literate
- Pass a pre-employment assessment (test and screening)
- Participate in training sessions and pass the training assessment(s).
Training for the Census will be conducted for eight consecutive workdays. This is to ensure that all census workers are adequately trained and equipped prior to the start of the Census.
No. The last Census was conducted in 2011 and since then there have been a number of changes to the curriculum and the processes. Additionally, this is the first Census that will be conducted using tablet computers; therefore, all shortlisted applicants will be required to attend the training sessions.
Yes. The training will be conducted using a mixed modality approach; however, successful applicants must attend all the days of training.
The training will include a number of exciting and informative instructional aids, geared towards making the training sessions highly interactive, so you will enjoy it!
The training will be conducted using a mixed modality approach. Trainees will be able to participate either online or face to face.
Yes, all participants will receive a stipend.
Data collection for the Census will be conducted primarily on tablets.
No. However, persons are normally assigned in or around their usual place of residence.
Payment will be made based on the number of completed questionnaires. This means that for each completed questionnaire (household and individual), the Census Taker will receive a per questionnaire rate. The rate for each type of questionnaire is different and the payment is not automatic. All completed questionnaires will be subjected to quality and verification checks before payment is authorized.
The responsibilities of Census Takers and Supervisors will differ. A Census Taker will report to a Census Supervisor.
Some of responsibilities that each Census Taker will undertake are as follows:
- Carry out any instructions issued by the census officer, census area manager or by the census supervisor in connection with the taking of the census;
- List every building in the enumeration district to which he is assigned on the relevant census form;
- Visit personally, every inhabited or habitable dwelling in the enumeration district(s) to which he is assigned, and fill in accurately and faithfully census forms with respect to each dwelling.
Some of the responsibilities that each Census Supervisor will undertake are as follows:
(a) Assist the census area manager with the recruitment and testing of census takers where necessary;
(b) Assist in conducting training classes if required to do so;
(c) Assign or reassign census takers to the enumeration districts within the supervisor’s area;
A complete job description for each of the positions that will be available will be posted on the 2022 Census website and in the newspapers.
Yes. Census workers will be provided with the necessary PPE to carry out their duties.
Data Security
STATIN takes every precaution to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to any information captured during the Census. Our security systems involve a combination of data encryption and network security equipment, to protect unauthorized access to Census information. Any data that is transmitted to our web servers is encrypted and stored on STATIN’s secure internal network, and is made accessible only to authorized employees of STATIN.
STATIN is mandated by law to ensure the security, confidentiality and integrity of all sensitive data captured on tablets. Tablets are configured to use native Android security services and our web-based services employ the use of encryption to ensure secure connectivity between the Tablets used by census takers and STATIN’s internal systems.