Similar to election day work, Census work is an occasional side hustle opportunity that comes up every five years. The Census aims to provide a “snapshot” of Australia by capturing data from all Australians who are residing in Australia on Census night. The data is then used in a variety of ways. This includes determining electoral boundaries and informing decisions on things such as state funding and planning for housing, roads, healthcare services, schools, and transport.
As the Census is a significant event that involves the whole population of Australia, there’s a lot of work that goes into it to ensure it runs smoothly and that the data captured is accurate. To achieve this, the ABS employ a large number of temporary staff, so there are always lots of positions available all around Australia. During the last Census in 2021, the ABS reported that 35,000 staff were involved (which included 33,000 field workers). While the ABS is looking to a “digital-first” approach for 2026, paper materials will still be available, and there will still be a need for field workers and staff to fill other roles.
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| Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) ‘Participation in the 2021 Census: How People Completed [Image of a person using a laptop to access the Australian Census online form], Participation in the 2021 Census , accessed 18 September 2024 |
The good news is that you don’t need any previous experience to apply for many of the roles. Full training is also provided.
What types of jobs are available?
Some of the positions include Field Officers, Field Managers, and Data Capture Centre Staff.
Each role is quite different, with some roles involving mostly physical work, while other roles are more sedentary. The position descriptions are not yet available for the 2026 Census yet. However, you can have a look at the previous press releases for these roles to get an idea of what’s involved:
Field Officers: https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/20000-field-officer-jobs-available-nationwide-2021-census
Field Managers: https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2665-field-manager-roles-available-nationwide-2021-census
Data Capture Centre Staff: https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/200-data-capture-centre-jobs-dandenong-2021-census
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| Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) ‘Participation in the 2021 Census: COVID-19 [Image of a Census Field Worker standing near letterboxes, wearing a face mask and delivering Census materials], Participation in the 2021 Census , accessed 18 September 2024 |
What is the pay for a Census Worker?
In the 2021 Census, Field Workers were paid $24.50 per hour (this includes 25% casual loading), plus superannuation.
Positives:
– Paid Training
– For Field Officers, uniform and equipment are provided. This includes a hi-vis vest, lanyard, and satchel, which you get to keep one the census is over
– Flexible hours. Field Officer positions can be done on weekends and evenings, so it can be easy to fit in around other commitments
– The ABS is a government agency, which means that the pay and conditions are transparent, and you shouldn’t have any issues with being paid (and if you do, they usually sort it out quickly).
Challenges:
– Some of the residents you may encounter as a Field Worker. Many people are friendly, some are suspicious at first but are fine once you explain why you’re there. There is always a risk of encountering someone who is rude, aggressive or a safety risk. The ABS are conscious of this, and provide safety training, including instructions to follow if you feel your safety is at risk, and an app to send an alert if you’re in danger.
– Lots of walking. This may be a good thing, or a not-so-good thing if your area has lots of hills, houses spaced far apart, streets without footpaths etc
– Hazards on properties eg. aggressive dogs, steep driveways, yards with long grass, clutter etc.
– The positions are usually only short-term contracts
– If you’re interested in an office-based role, then the hours will probably not be as flexible as the Field Worker positions. This might make it difficult to fit in around your regular job and other commitments
Overall though, it’s a great way to earn extra money due to the paid training, flexible hours (for Field Worker roles), and the supportive environment.
How to Apply:
The next Census will next be delivered across Australia in early August 2026, and the ABS are currently inviting people to register their interest to join the temporary workforce. You can register on the ABS Careers website and they’ll get in touch once the recruitment process begins.
The ABS will be recruiting staff to work in the following areas:
- Data Entry & Processing
- Contact & Support Centre
- Warehouse Operations
- Field Operations
It’s likely that many of these roles will be short-term contracts that cover the period before and after Census night eg June/July – September.
As with election work, it’s a good idea to register early to make sure you don’t miss out.
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| Census data is used to plan roads, schools, healthcare services and more |
Overall, this is a great side hustle for a short-term cash boost. The flexibility makes it the perfect option for people who like to choose their own hours, or want to fit in extra work around a full-time job. It ‘s also a good job to add to your resume.