Census Bureau to close in Seattle

The Seattle office is one of six regional offices the U.S. Census Bureau is closing in a cost-cutting measure, the agency announced Tuesday.

None of approximately 7,200 field workers nationwide who collect vital statistics on individual households and the economy will lose their jobs, said Robert Groves, the Census Bureau director.

But about 330 employees — mostly supervisors, including six regional directors — will be affected. Some will work from their homes, others will relocate, and some are expected to retire, Groves said. By the time all six offices close at the end of 2012, the Census Bureau will trim 115 to 130 positions from a work force of 15,000.

The cuts are expected to save $15 million to $18 million a year, the bulk of it in salaries and $3 million in rent.

The other offices that will close are in Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit and Kansas City. The six remaining offices are in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia.