TRIAD – The once-in-a-decade census couldn’t come at a better time for people seeking work across the region and state.

Job service counselors hope hiring for the 2010 census during the first part of this year will help budge unemployment rates that have been at or near historic highs since the early part of 2009.

Jobless rates in the High Point area remained generally unchanged from November to December, according to ESC figures released Friday. High Point’s jobless rate bucked the state trend and declined slightly from 11 percent in November to 10.8 percent last month, the ESC reports.

Davidson County’s rate went in the opposite direction, increasing from 13 percent in November to 13.4 percent in December. Guilford County’s rate ticked up slightly from 11 percent to 11.2 percent, while Randolph County’s level remained unchanged at 11.4 percent, according to ESC figures.

Statewide, unemployment rates increased in 86 of 100 counties. A sobering reflection of the recession – jobless rates in 73 counties were at 10 percent or higher in December, the ESC reports.

The timing of the census job creation early this year will come during a normally slow period for hiring overall, said Ikel Williams, who started recently as new manager for the High Point ESC office.

“The census can offer a bigger boost to our numbers. Usually in the first quarter, companies are steadfast,” said Williams, who comes to the High Point job service office from his previous post as head of the ESC in Randolph County.

Initial hiring for the census in North Carolina began in December, said Larry Parker, a public affairs representative with the ESC in Raleigh.

Some benefits from census hiring could show up in certain counties when the next set of local job market numbers is released for January, Parker said.

The census will hire approximately 24,000 workers statewide, according to the office of Gov. Beverly Perdue. Census jobs will extend until June or July, the governor’s office reports.

pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528