Technical Note: October Employment Report Will Show a Significant Decrease in Temporary Census Workers

The Census Bureau released an update today on 2020 Census Paid Temporary Workers

As of the September reference week, there were 246,801 decennial Census temporary workers. As of week of September 27 to October 3, there were 163,913 temp workers.

That is a decrease of 82,888 - with two more weeks of layoffs to go. 

This week is the BLS reference week, and it seems likely another 70,000 or so temporary workers were let go this week and last week (to be released in two weeks).

This means the October employment report will show a sharp decrease in temporary Census employment.

In August, the employment report showed a gain of 238,000 temporary 2020 Census workers, boosting the headline number.

In September, the employment report showed a decrease of 41,000 temporary 2020 Census workers, reducing the headline number.

My guess is the October employment report will show a decrease of around 150,000 temporary Census workers (maybe even more).