Federal Jobs: Hard Times Ahead
By Tom Shoop | Thursday, October 25, 2007 | 03:02 PM
By Tom Shoop | Thursday, October 25, 2007 | 03:02 PM
Some gloomy news from Forbes.com this week about future job growth in the American economy. People in manufacturing jobs can expect hard times ahead, along with computer programmers (blame that on outsourcing) , radio announcers and -- gulp -- journalists. But then Forbes adds this:
Worse off? Federal employees and their amazing benefits. Washington employs nearly 2 million people, not including the military, making it the country's largest employer. After Sept. 11, 2001, it expanded significantly due to homeland security needs. But those days may be coming to an end. By 2014, federal government jobs — excluding the Postal Service -- will only have increased by about 1.6 percent above 2004 levels due to the transfer of some jobs to state and local governments and the increased use of private contracting companies. Don't believe it? A report compiled by a House of Representatives panel earlier this year found that government spending on contracts rose by 103 percent between 2000 and 2005.
I guess civic-minded young people who are being told they should heed the call to public service better hope the long-anticipated federal retirement boom actually happens. Otherwise, there won't be any outlets for their civic energy.
Comments
As one of my peers told me back in 1981, "I really want to serve my country. I want to be a systems analyst for IBM." Private sector contract work was where the government action was back in 1981 and that statement still holds true today.
Johnnie Nichols | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 | 10:18 AMContractorts replacing Govt employees ... yep, I lived it and what a waste. Contractors performing GS-11/12/13 level work for $220K each per year!!! Or how about the guy that retires Friday and is a contractor on Monday ... same job responsibilies but costing taxpayers twice as much. It's insane. AT&L was looking into this last spring and hopefully some sanity returns. Then there will be more opportunity for the young and restless.
Art | Tuesday, October 30, 2007 | 08:34 AMNote to Mr. Pete:
Do YOUR Homework, the suplemental dental and vision is entirely at your cost. A "benefit" you could get if you were unemployed. The pension is nearly a joke, no discussion there. As far as TSP goes, I will concede that the matching is a good deal, but the program is basically a buy your own retirement plan. Just keep kidding yourself that you are getting a good deal, but don't try to convince me. I have been there, done that. As far as trying the private sector. I have and I am currently still there. Stock options, and adequate health, to include dental and vision for the entire family is the way to go.
KM | Sunday, October 28, 2007 | 07:10 PMNote to KM.. There is a supplementary Dental and Vision Program for Feds at very attractive prices. Yes the pension is 1% per year, but there is a matching 401k program, and you are paying the full social security tax..Do your homework first before commenting
Mr Pete | Friday, October 26, 2007 | 09:33 AMHey KM try the dreaded private sector if the 1% pension plus employer contributions to the TSP is not to your liking.
Stop Whinning | Friday, October 26, 2007 | 09:27 AMOnly the blind and complacent could have missed the catestrophic change of ratio between career feds and contractors. The targetted use of contractors and consultants where they actually contribute to government missions was crushed and replaced by greed driven, short-sighted policies to throw as many taxpayers dollars to the lowest bidder as often as possible. The policy should have been reconsidered when critical missions began to be jeopardized by the over-use of contractors. Aiming a little higher on the intelligence scale (always a mistake), the earlier warning sign should have been when proper oversight of so many contractors became impossible due to the force ratio of contractors to oversight staff and professional feds. The best first step to get out of a hole is to stop digging.
Don | Friday, October 26, 2007 | 07:35 AMWhat amazing benefits? Maybe they are refferring to the zero dental and vision coverage and the "amazing" 1 percent per year pension...
KM | Friday, October 26, 2007 | 03:47 AMABOUT THIS BLOG
Government Executive Editor Tom Shoop takes a look at news and events affecting the federal bureaucracy, from the perspective of a longtime observer of government.
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