3,850 Census Field Support Officers

GET READY! Applications for the recruitment of 3,850 Census Field Support Officers (formerly known as Enumerators) will open on 23 November 2026. This is a temporary eight-week contract from 5 April to 28 May 2027. You will work 18 hours per week. You can earn over €3000 plus an allowance for the duration of the contract. This is unique and rewarding work and a chance to be part of census history with the first online census in 2027.

The closing date is Friday 4 December at 2pm.However, early application is advised as this competition will close when 12,000 applications are reached.

About Census 2027

Ireland’s next Census will take place between 5 April and 9 May 2027. This will be the first time that people will have the choice to complete their form online. There will be five weeks in which to complete the form, up to 9 May 2027. 

The census is carried out every five years in Ireland. Census data is essential to help plan for the services that we need in our local communities including schools, healthcare, transport and much more.Apply Early 

Be Ready to Apply Early

While the closing date for the Census Field Support Officer competition is Friday 4 December at 2pm, this competition will close when 12,000 applications have been received. Apply early to make sure that you don’t miss out.

The Census Field Support Officer

A job that counts!

The Census Field Support Officer (previously known as Census Enumerator) is a key member of the Census 2027 field staff team. As a Census Field Support Officer, you will work in or near your local area. Between 5 April and 9 May, you will be calling to homes to let people know about Census 2027 and to offer help and support. After 9 May, you will follow up with the homes in your area which have not completed a census form.

You may be required to engage with local groups in your area to help them to understand the census and what they need to do to complete their census forms, along with other census field staff.

You should be physically fit as you will be responsible for between 450-850 homes. In some cases, you may be required to make repeat visits to homes to ensure that the householder is aware of and supported to take part in the census.

A mobile phone will be provided with a census field app to show you the map of your area and the list of homes to visit. You will record your visits and other details on the mobile phone app. If a household completes their census online, it will automatically be removed from your visit list.

You will report to a Census Field Supervisor who will manage a team of census field support officers. Training will be provided and there will be regular contact and support to help you in your role.

Census 2027 will take place between 5 April and 9 May 2027. For the first time, people will be able to choose between completing their census form online or on paper. There will be a five-week period (5 April to 9 May) to complete census forms, rather than one census night. Some 3,850 Census Field Support Officers will work on Census 2027 in every part of Ireland. The Census Field Support Officer job is 18 hours per week (mainly evenings and weekends) and is an eight-week contract from 5 April to 28 May. The rate of pay for the full duration will be over €3,000 plus an allowance. Candidates must be over 18 years of age.

Applications for the Census 2027 Field Support Officer will open on census.ie on 23 November 2026. The closing date is Friday 4 December at 2pm.However, early application is advised as this competition will close when 12,000 applications are reached. Applications will be shortlisted, and shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview.

The Census Field Staff team are organised as follows:

6 Census Liaison Officers

46 Census Regional Supervisors

466 Census Field Supervisors

3,850 Census Field Support Officers

Is the Census Field Support Officer the job for me?

The following questions may help you to decide whether the role of Census 2027 Field Support Officer would suit you.

Dealing with the Public

Are you:

• A sociable person who is happy meeting and engaging with people from all walks of life?
• Confident knocking on doors of homes not knowing who may answer or what reaction you may receive?
• Comfortable working independently?
• Composed in dealing with people who are uncooperative?
• Equipped to deal with queries that may challenge your knowledge of the census?

Personal Skills

• Are you proficient in map reading, and comfortable using services such as Google Maps, locating and finding your way around towns, cities and the countryside?
• Do you have good IT and smartphone skills? Becoming familiar with a smartphone app, as well as dealing with calls, video calls, texts, internet access and GPS/Maps are essential.
• Are you able to work independently all the time or most of the time?
• Are you motivated to persevere in the face of potential setbacks?

Personal Organisation

• Are you organised and methodical especially in managing your work on your device and on paper?
• Can you work within a critical and challenging deadline?

Specific requirements of the Field Support Officer 

• Are you available to work 18 hours per week?
• Are you happy working outdoors in all weathers?
• Are you available to work different days and hours – mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends – to ensure you meet your targets?
• Are you comfortable around common household pets such as dogs?
• Are you comfortable with your Field Supervisor visiting you in your own home?
• Are you physically fit? (This is important as you may be required to visit dwellings in your area a number of times, carrying census forms and other materials)
• Do you have sufficient space to store census materials securely in your home?
• Do you have a good command of English, written and spoken?
• Do you have a current, clean, full driving licence and full-time use of a car (necessary in rural areas only)?
• If you live in or near a Gaeltacht area, can you speak Irish?

Eligible candidates must be a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, Switzerland, a non-EEA citizen with a stamp 4 or stamp 5 permission or a non-EEA student with a stamp 2 visa.

You can check in and find more information on this HERE

REMEMBER: Applications for the Census 2027 Field Support Officer will open on census.ie on 23 November 2026 so go to the official website on that date to APPLY as the competition will close when 12,000 applications are reached. 

The closing date is Friday 4 December at 2pm.