Time flies, and what bigger sign of that than the upcoming Census of Population? Statistics Canada is ramping up for the census, which will be conducted in May 2026. They’re hiring around 32,000 people for various roles across the country, and work permit holders are eligible for many roles, including data collection and supervisory positions.
The census takes place once every five years, and involves counting the population and collecting information about the people, families and dwellings in the country. The information Statistics Canada gathers during this grand survey helps to shape policy and program design by giving them the information needed to plan for the population’s childcare, education, healthcare, public transportation and community needs.
The census involves collecting data about the age, sex and gender, language and household composition of Canadian families, along with a more detailed questionnaire on topics such as place of birth, ethnic or cultural origins, religion, mobility, education, labour, commuting, and housing.
Hiring for the Census is set to start in March, with recruiting for some positions running until July. Some of the roles will count towards Canadian Experience Class (CEC) work requirements. If you’re looking for some interesting work on a contract basis, why not get involved with the data collection for the census?
Are You Eligible to Apply?
There are some age and residency requirements in place for census jobs. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or in possession of a valid work permit
- Live in Canada and have a Canadian home address
- Have reached the age of majority in their current province or territory
For Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, the age of majority is 18. For other locations, it’s 19 years old.
What Sort of Census Jobs Are Opening?
There are two main job roles that Statistics Canada is recruiting for. They are:
ENUMERATOR ($25.87/H)
- Primary duties include collecting census information through door-to-door visits.
- Individuals applying for an enumerator role must be available to work at least 20 hours per week (determined by workload), with most work to be completed in the evening and on weekends.
- The employment period for enumerators runs from May to July 2026.
