Despite the slowing economy, federal, state and local governments have added more than 50,000 jobs so far in 2008. Federal agencies are expected to fill another 555,000 vacancies over the next few years as droves of government workers reach retirement age.

Facing potential talent shortages in several key departments, including accounting, research and information technology, the government could prove to be the most fruitful source of opportunity for the nation’s growing number of jobseekers, according to employment experts at global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

A review of several government job sites by CGCI uncovered nearly 250,000 listings. Even assuming considerable repetition across the various sites, it is likely that well over 100,000 unique job opportunities are represented, according to Challenger. The official job site of the US government alone lists nearly 102,000 positions. Jobseekers are likely to find thousands of additional openings by seeking out the employment sites for individual states, counties and local agencies.

The number of openings listed online represents only a fraction of government jobs actually available. According to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, government agencies, including local, state and federal, had 441,000 openings in March.

"For the first time since the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the public sector is significantly expanding its employment opportunities," reports John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "It could not come at a better time for jobseekers, who often overlook government agencies as a potential employer.

"Job searches are beginning to lengthen in the private sector, as business conditions weaken and employers postpone expansion plans. Those who have been frustrated with longer job searches should be casting a wider net," advises Challenger. "That means looking for positions in other cities and looking in different industries, including government.

More Than Meets the Eye

"Many jobseekers’ perceptions of government employment may be skewed by the frontline jobs they are exposed to when visiting their state DMV or the local unemployment office, for example. However, these clerk and service representative positions account for just a fraction of the opportunities. Almost any job found in the private sector can be found in the public sector, from lawyers and engineers to human resource specialists and public relations professionals."

Since the housing market collapse and economic slowdown began last August, private sector employment has seen a net loss of 79,000 jobs. In the same period, government employment grew by 215,000 jobs, according to the BLS. The majority of growth occurred at the local level, where 172,000 new jobs were created.

"Despite current economic conditions, the number of open positions in government is expected to continue growing due to retirement projections for the upcoming years," Challenger says. "Some of the biggest job growth will be in areas that could be surprising to many jobseekers."

Overall, 58 percent of supervisory and 42 percent of non-supervisory federal workers will be eligible to retire by the end of 2010, according to a report by the Partnership for Public Service, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the way government works and inspiring a new generation to serve in the public sector.

The Partnership reported that on top of potential retirements, yearly attrition patterns could account for the loss of an additional 250,000 federal employees, through resignations and reasons other than retirement. The combination of projected actual retirements and other departures will result in a loss of about 550,000 employees by 2010, one-third of the full-time federal civilian workforce.

According to the Office of Personnel Management, financial management occupations within the government are expected to see the biggest exodus of workers: 17.9 percent of the total retirees. The acquisitions branch also is expected to take a large hit, with 17.6 percent of retirees leaving soon. Projections show that information technology jobs will lose 16.9 percent of workers to retirement.

To fill all those positions, federal agencies and universities are offering incentives, including tuition discounts, to students who commit to working in the public sector. Harvard University Law School introduced a tuition-waiver program earlier this year. Students who commit to serving in the public sector for five years will receive a tuition break of more than $41,000.

In addition to tuition assistance, many government agencies offer loan repayment programs to lure recent graduates to the federal sector. Additional benefits to working in government include two weeks of vacation time, ten paid holidays and 13 days of sick leave. Life insurance and health coverage are guaranteed as well.

Cutting the Red Tape

Despite the benefits, many shy away from applying due to an often lengthy and complex hiring process that can involve extensive background checks, security clearance procedures and other forms of bureaucratic red tape. Resumes typically require different information and formatting than what’s expected by private companies (requirements can be found at USAJobs.gov).

"The federal hiring process is longer, more rigid and more complex than what job hunters are accustomed to in the private sector. This could turn out to be the biggest obstacle keeping the government from reaching its hiring goals. If the government is serious about filling these positions, it may need to completely overhaul its hiring process to streamline it and make it easier for jobseekers to navigate," said Challenger.

Steps are already being taken to accomplish this, but much more will have to be done to make the government competitive with the private sector. The federal government’s Office of Personnel Management recently announced changes to standardize the employment process. By September 2008, templates will be used for job announcements to clarify information. OPM is also launching a program to simplify the application process for senior executives.

"These simplifications may not be enough to reel in recent college graduates and current workers with less-developed skill sets," contends Challenger. "In this diminishing economy, jobseekers want to spend more time hunting for jobs and less time filling out tedious applications.

"If the government wants to start competing with private-sector employers for the best and brightest, then it will have to start recruiting like one, and that means a much shorter time from the initial contact to job offer."

FederalJobs.net – This website offers links, resources and an overview of government employment, exams, how to apply to certain agencies, etc.

FedWorld.gov – This site, managed by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), offers a search of open federal jobs gathered from hundreds of government agencies. (703) 605-6000.

GovtJobs.com – Lists government job openings and links to other resources for municipal, city and county govt websites, state leagues and associations, statewide newspapers, etc.

PSE-net.com – Public Service Employees Network offers job listings, resources, information on how to find and apply for govt jobs, and links to state jobs. Topics include FAQs on federal jobs, sample exam questions, resume tips, etc.

SPB.ca.gov – Calif State Personnel Board, (916) 653-1705.

USAjobs.gov – The federal government’s official one-stop source for employment information. Jobseekers can search jobs, build and post a resume, download applications and other forms and, in many instances, apply online.