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Security, medical jobs are abundant

Federal Feedback by Kevin Wilkinson

Date published: 7/15/2007

DO YOU KNOW someone interested in working for the federal government? If you do, I highly recommend that they read the Partnership for Public Service's new report "Where the Jobs Are."

This 100-plus-page study outlines the federal government's most critical hiring needs for the next two years, which are estimated to be about 193,000 new jobs. These jobs cover all occupational fields nationwide and are deemed the most "mission-critical" to advance the interests and welfare of the American people.

The Partnership for Public Service based its report on a strategic recruitment survey of 34 federal departments, agencies and organizations. The entities surveyed employ about 99 percent of all full-time permanent federal workers.

Five professional fields make up about 80 percent of these mission-critical new hires:

Security, protection, compliance and enforcement (62,863 new hires)

Medical and public health (35,350)

Accounting, budget and business (21,248)

Engineering and science (17,477)

Program management/analysis and administration (14,305).

As you can imagine, the huge need for security and enforcement positions is linked to expanded customs, border security and immigration activities by the Department of Homeland Security.

Information Technology specialists also are in high demand. The report estimates that federal agencies plan to hire more than 11,000 IT professionals through 2009.

Other specific jobs that will be in high demand include air traffic controllers, Foreign Service officers and patent examiners.

The Partnership reports that the federal demand for secretaries, administrative assistants and clerks continues to decline.

Keep in mind, "Where The Jobs Are" is about immediate hiring needs for the next two years.

When looking at the federal government as a potential long-term employer, job seekers should keep in mind the coming "retirement wave." Almost 60 percent of current federal employees are older than 45, and the Office of Personnel Management estimates that more than 500,000 workers will retire in the next five years.

The government's current hiring needs and the looming retirement wave create a very favorable environment for potential federal workers.

If you are interested in federal employment, "Where The Jobs Are" can help you find a job. It has an appendix on "Key Steps to Finding a Federal Job" with five basic tips to help. In addition, it has another useful appendix on "Top Ten Reasons to Choose a Federal Job."

To download the report, visit the Partnership for Public Service's Web site at makingthedifference.org.

Kevin Wilkinson of Spotsylvania County is a veteran federal employee. Write him c/o Federal Feedback, The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401. Or e-mail
Email: kwlknsn@yahoo.com.

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Date published: 7/15/2007