According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal government employs approximately 2 million civilian employees. Only fifteen percent of these jobs are in the nation's capitol making the majority of federal government jobs available in major cities across America. The federal government has three main branches to run the country: the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The executive branch employs ninety-seven percent of all federal workers.
Federal Job Opportunities in Safety Services
The following list provides the number of personnel who worked in the defense, security, justice, and veterans affairs departments in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and a brief description of the services provided by workers in these departments:
- Defense: 652,000 employees support the nation's security in the U.S. and around the world including civilians who provide payroll and public relations support.
- Homeland Security: 171,000 employees protect the public from terrorism and prevent potential natural disasters and attacks, administer immigration policies as well as oversee the Coast Guard.
- Justice: 108,000 employees administer guidance to state and local governments and other agencies that prevent and control crime and ensure public safety for domestic and foreign entities, enforce federal laws, prosecute federal court cases, and run federal prisons.
- Veterans Affairs: 280,000 workers run the veterans' hospital system, administer aid to U.S. veterans and their families, and oversee the national cemetery system.
Federal Government Employment in Social and Public Services Fields
The following list provides the number of personnel who worked in the education and health and human services departments in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and a brief description of the services provided by workers in these fields:
- Education: 4,000 employees collect and distribute data on schools, prohibit discrimination in education, and are responsible for dissemination of financial aid to students and schools.
- Health and Human Services: 64,000 employees research health and social science issues, regulate drug and food safety (not including meat and poultry), and administer social service programs including Medicare and Medicaid.
- Transportation: 55,000 workers administer policy for national transportation-related plans and fund the construction of highways and mass transit systems, and regulate transportation operations including aviation, railroad, and maritime.
Civilian Federal Jobs in Business and Commerce Fields
The following list provides the number of personnel who worked in the agriculture, commerce, labor, and treasury departments in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and a brief description of the services provided by workers in these fields:
- Agriculture: 82,000 workers provide food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, and the National School Lunch Program; manages and researches agricultural practices such as growing crops and conserving natural resources; mandates guidelines on meat and poultry safety.
- Commerce: 39,000 personnel provide services that include compiling economic statistics, conducting the census, overseeing and regulating trademarks and patents, encouraging international trade to help grow the U.S.'s economy, forecasting weather and charting oceans.
- Labor,: 16,000 employees enforce worker laws and safety, administer unemployment insurance, as well as collect and analyze economic data and regulate pension funds.
- Treasury: 88,000 employees handle the nation's currency including collecting federal income taxes, regulating financial institutions, administering the public debt, and printing currency.
Federal Employment Opportunities in Other Fields
The following list provides the number of personnel who worked in the remaining U.S. departments, energy, housing and urban development, interior, and state, in 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and a brief description of the services provided by workers in these varied federal departments:
- Energy: 15,000 employees manage and coordinate the U.S.'s use and distribution of energy, plan future energy needs, and oversee the production and disposal of nuclear weapons.
- Housing and Urban Development: 9,000 employees administer funding for public housing projects, insure and finance mortgages, and enforce laws regarding equal housing.
- Interior: 67,000 employees manage lands owned by the federal government, which includes national parks, promote natural resources conservation, and run hydroelectric power systems.
- State: 15,000 employees monitor and represent the nation's interests and oversee the U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide, and issue passports.
Federal Job Openings Outlook
With aging workers retiring, the upcoming years will provide thousands of federal job openings from attrition alone. Other federal government workers will change jobs, moving up the career ladder or changing fields of employment entirely. With the right education and skill set, a federal job is within reach for dedicated job searchers.
Also see, Careers With the Best Job Stability for 2010.
Peggy Hazelwood - Peggy Hazelwood+ is a word nerd who has worked as a reporter, proofreader, technical editor, freelance copy editor, and freelance writer ...
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