The economy has caused millions of individuals to lose their jobs as a result of companies cutting back on costs. While some have dedicated their newfound free time specifically to their career search, other individuals have decided to stay active by taking temporary jobs as a way to build upon their resume when the market does pick back up.

The U.S. Census Bureau is planning to hire more than 700,000 individuals for their 2010 statistics, according to the Washington Post. While most applicants are generally less educated and are simply looking for work, Census administrators are noticing a growing class of applicants in individuals with higher degrees who are simply looking to stay busy in between looking for a full-time position in the field of their choice.

"I'm still putting out applications for attorney positions," Susan Williams, whose census job is helping her pay down her student loans, told the news provider. "But right now, I like that it's a steady paycheck. It's nice to get out of the house and have something to do."

Workers will be asked to conduct brief interviews with various households to determine ethnicity, income and education attainment, among others categories.