Feds to fill 273K positions by 2012 - DELETE

While hiring from private companies has hit a low, Federal agencies are expected to hire more than 273,000 employees to fill mission-critical jobs over the next three years. According to new projections released by the Partnership for Public Service (PPS), attorneys, paralegals, investigators, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, police officers, airport screeners, customs and border patrol agents and intelligence analysts top the Fed's list of "Most Wanted" employees.

The hiring bonanza, a 41 percent increase, will extend through the fall of 2012, says the PPS who based its findings on a survey of 35 federal agencies representing nearly 99 percent of the 1.9 million member federal workforce.

The surge in hiring is in part the result of the large number of baby-boomer federal workers who are reaching retirement age and also reflects the Obama administration's undertakings to repair the financial sector, fight two wars and do something about climate change.

"It has to win the war for talent in order to win the multiple wars it's fighting for the American people," says Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service

The Feds will need to fill 54, 114 positions in the medical and public health realm including, workers in dietician/nutrition, occupational and rehabilitation therapy, radiology, industrial hygiene and consumer safety fields.

Security and protection will need 52,077 workers in areas such as international relations, foreign affairs, security administration; and to fill positions including, transportation security officer, park ranger and correctional officer.

Another 31,276 jobs will come from the compliance and enforcement arena. These areas and positions include, inspectors, investigators (including criminal), customs and border patrol and protection, import specialist and customs inspection.

Jobs within the legal field will bring opportunity to another 23, 596 workers in positions such as contact representative, passport/visa examiners, and claims examiners and assistants. 17,287 jobs will be filled in the human resources, equal employment opportunity, management/program analysis, and telecommunications fields including a variety of clerical support jobs.

Writer: Walaika Haskins
Source: Partnership for Public Service

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