Census 2000 workers are looking for a few good people.

Part-time jobs working for the Census office are available for area residents who can pass a basic skills test, said Census recruiting assistant Catherine Thompson.

But so far, few people have taken the opportunity to take the tests, she said.

&uot;We’re looking for 10,000 people (for a 13-county area),&uot; Thompson said. &uot;We have only 1,053.&uot;

She said about 600 applicants are needed for Adams County.

Not all will necessarily be hired, she said, but the census office needs a pool to draw from.

The tests include 28 questions on such things as clerical skills, reading and organizational skills, Thompson said. &uot;It’s not extremely hard,&uot; she said.

People can take the test as many times as they need to pass it.

Tests are offered in Adams County at the following times and locations:

— Employment Service office, 3 p.m. Tuesdays and 2 p.m. Thursdays

— Board of Supervisors meeting room, 5 p.m. Thursdays

— WIC building, Col. John Pitchford Parkway, 11 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

— Chamber of Commerce office on Commerce Street, 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.

Thompson said most of the available jobs will be part-time enumerator positions.

Those jobs will involve visiting individuals and families door-to-door to pick up Census forms. That task begins April 1, 2000.