Uncle Sam Wants You!

Posted on Sep 21st 2009, 01:30 am, under Career Advice

In this time of economic uncertainty, lay-offs are common, jobs are scarce, and the unemployment rate has reached record highs. However, the picture isn't one of complete gloom and doom. There's one really big employer that's in need of thousands of workers right now: the federal government. 

Forbes Magazine and the Partnership for Public Service report that the federal government plans to hire around 273,000 people over the next three years for vital, "mission critical" jobs. In other words, these positions will definitely be filled. The jobs are located all over the country, from Washington to Oregon, and even abroad, in Japan. Here are the top five sectors in need of workers:

1. Medical and public health

By 2012, the government is aiming to fill around 54,000 positions with skilled medical staff, such as doctors, medical technicians, nurses, pharmacists, and occupational therapists. The Department of Veterans Affairs will be the biggest employer in this sector. It will require around 25,000 nurses and 8500 doctors to address the needs of returning US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

2. Security and protection

Coming a close second to medical services, this sector will require around 52,000 personnel within the next three years, from airport security, to police and corrections officers. The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security will be the most active employers here. Sample job listing: security specialist, US Army Installation Management Command, Japan, with a potential salary of up to $118,000.

3. Compliance and enforcement

A field that's also related to security, job openings here will include those for criminal investigators, immigration officers, and border patrol agents. Once again, Homeland Security will be the biggest job provider, with a projected employment target of 23,000 by 2012. Sample job: Criminal research specialist, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Washington, D.C., with a salary of up to $113,050.

4. Legal

This is another fast-growing sector. The government will need around 23,000 new lawyers, paralegals, visa examiners, and the like within the next three years. A sample opening: supervisory attorney-adviser at the SEC, Washington, with a paycheck that goes up to $202,970.

5. Administration and program management

Human resources, management, telecommunications, program analysis, and equal employment opportunity - this particular sector covers these diverse sub-fields. Around 17,000 new positions are waiting to be filled. Sample job listing: program analyst, Equal Opportunity Commission, Miami, and a potential salary of $110,350.