More than a dozen part-time and full-time jobs are up for grabs in Shropshire as the 2011 Census gears up for action.

The census takes place every 10 years with government officials counting population numbers and asking the public questions about things like housing, education, health care and transport.

The 2011 Census will take place on March 27 and it offers a wide range of job opportunities with contracts ranging from a couple of weeks to several months. There are currently 14 jobs on offer in Shropshire while across the West Midlands there are dozens more.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is running the census and the hope to recruit 35,000 people nationwide.

Jobs range from supervisors co-ordinating activity to roles encouraging people to complete questionnaires.

Statistics bosses say the roles on offer require flexible working hours, sometimes stretching till 8pm in the evening as well as the weekend.

Organisers have warned potential applicants the roles will be physically demanding and involve dealing with the public and working outside in all weathers.

A spokesman for the ONS said the census was important because it gave local authorities an accurate idea of how many people were living in certain areas.

The spokesman added: “The amount of money that councils have to spend on services for the next 10 years will be based on the number and type of people living in the local area.

“If everyone does not complete a census form the results won’t show complete information about local communities and a council might not get all the funding it needs.”

For more information on the census or the jobs visit www.censusjobs.co.uk