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Help Wanted: Fed Govt. Needs 600K New Workers

270K new hires deemed critical to make up for retirement

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 3, 2009 11:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – The federal government must hire 600,000 people over the next 4 years to balance a wave of retirement and keep pace with President Obama’s ambitions, the Washington Post reports. Nearly half of those positions are considered absolutely essential for agencies to provide their services, a new report states, chiefly in the medical, security, law enforcement, legal, and administrative areas.

The administration “has to win the war for talent in order to win the multiple wars it's fighting for the American people," says the head of the think tank that conducted the study, noting fierce competition from the private sector. The study did not take into account factors like older employees delaying retirement or Congress refusing to fund a hiring spree. The Department of Homeland Security alone will need over 65,000 new hires.

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano examines seized bundles of marijuana. Homeland Security will need 65,000 new workers over the next few years.
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano examines seized bundles of marijuana. Homeland Security will need 65,000 new workers over the next few years.   (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, Pool)
Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, is pictured. His department will need 48,000 new hires over three years.
Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, is pictured. His department will need 48,000 new hires over three years.   (AP Photo/Brian Bohannon)
President Barack Obama makes statements in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
President Barack Obama makes statements in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Ucantusethatname
Sep 4, 2009 4:41 AM CDT
"The combined loss of 298,000 jobs in July was an improvement from July's revised drop of 360,000." The stimulus is working! The stimulus is working! Hiring 270K workers is a drop in the bucket compared with the millions out of work and the millions that will still be out of work during the next 4 years.
easterner
Sep 3, 2009 7:59 AM CDT
Sign Me up!!! I want their Health Care package.
Derni
Sep 3, 2009 7:45 AM CDT
This will helpput people to work

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