By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

The Marion Post Office has two open positions. Postmaster Lori Kelsey said the office is in the process of hiring a rural carrier.

She has posted a part-time position of post office clerk on usps.com.

Kelsey said she is not sure if people in Marion County know the job openings exist.

While there were between 20 and 40 phone-in inquiries about the rural carrier position, only three people applied.

Kelsey said she might have to repost the opening online if the three applicants do not meet qualifications.

Kelsey believes part of the discrepancy between Marion County unemployment, about 4.6 percent of the workforce according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and applicants is the online-only application process; jobs are only posted on usps.com as a part of U.S. Postal Service’s attempt to go paperless.

Jobs are advertised on local boards.

Kelsey said she tries to post jobs at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores and that this procedure will continue.

She also encourages anyone to go online to look for jobs.

Although the post office is not offering full-time positions, some part-time openings come with vacation.

The clerk position starts at $12.30 an hour. She said there are also open positions at the Hillsboro, Cedar Point, and Florence post offices.

Kelsey also mentioned she began working for the postal service in a “foot-in-the-door” position in 1985.