WHY IS THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE SHRINKING -by Dianna Tafazoli

Federal Workforce

The federal workforce remains the largest employer in the country, yet it is shrinking. There are approximately 2,711,000 federal civilian employees absent a census. The Federal Government swells during a census because thousands of individuals are hired by the Department of Labor (DOL) to work  collecting census data.

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The federal workforce saw its greatest increase around the 80s and perhaps its biggest decline during the 90s. In recent time we know that the recession had something to do with the dwindling federal workforce.   Federal workers were scared out of their wits because they did not know if they should keep working or retire while they thought money was still in the coffers.   People were taking money out of banks, people were losing their homes and jobs were scarce. It was a scary time which gave way to the mass exodus of federal employees from the government.

It is perhaps the mass exodus that really drove down the numbers resembling the lowest level or decline in the workforce since 1966. Another reason for the decline could be that as older individuals leave the federal workforce, younger individuals are not flocking to the federal service. The government must embark upon a major rebranding in order to leverage the interest of millenniums. The benefits in the federal service remain competitive and the salaries are also respectable for individuals new to the workforce and for those transitioning from military service and other industries. One of the major drawbacks in the federal service is the length of time it takes to bring a candidate on board.

The government lacks the IT infrastructure to keep pace with a world where automation is only new and current until the next big thing comes to the market.   The next big thing lasts for about 6 months at best.   Recruitment of the next generation of federal workers calls for going where they are – to anywhere there is a plug to power up.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

Dianna Tafazoli