Report says computer systems could hamper Census hiring

December 2, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. | Updated December 2, 2019 at 2:50 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this undated image provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, shows census geographers at census headquarters in Suitland, Md., using the Block Assessment, Research and Classification Application (BARC) to help get an accurate population count next year. Census employees are taking images captured from satellites and planes to verify addresses in rural communities and compare them to previous maps from 2010. (U.S. Census Bureau via AP)
In this undated image provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, shows census geographers at census headquarters in Suitland, Md., using the Block Assessment, Research and Classification Application (BARC) to help get an accurate population count next year. Census employees are taking images captured from satellites and planes to verify addresses in rural communities and compare them to previous maps from 2010. (U.S. Census Bureau via AP)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A report says the Census Bureau's ability to recruit and hire hundreds of thousands of workers in time for next spring's head count could be hampered by under performing computer systems.

A report released last week by the Office of Inspector General says a payroll system and an employment check system failed two phases of a test last July. Because of inadequate infrastructure or software inefficiencies, they were unable to perform at the scale needed to support peak recruiting for the 2020 Census.

Solutions have been in the works, but the report questions whether there's time to test them before next month, when the Census Bureau starts hiring up to 500,000 temporary workers in the federal government's largest peacetime operation.

The report recommends the bureau come up with a contingency plan.

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