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Feds to Hire 600,000 Employees by 2012

600,000 over three years. 273,000 deemed mission-critical. That’s how many people the Partnership for Public Service projects the federal government will need to hire by 2012 to fill growing needs as well as replacing a baby-boomer workforce set to retire. These numbers and other hiring projections are listed just in time for some Labor Day reading in the third edition of the Where the Jobs Are report issued on Thursday.

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That big number of 600,000 is the total hiring during the four years of Obama’s current term for all types of federal government positions including entry-level jobs. This is equivalent to nearly one-third of the current federal workforce.

For those worried that government is growing, Max Stier, Executive Director of the Partnership puts this number in historical context.

“It’s important to note that while there has been considerable growth in mission-critical jobs, the government is not growing significantly larger in historical terms. By the end of 2012, with all new ”http://college.monster.com/careers">entry-level job hires, our nation’s workforce will still be smaller than it was in 1967," said Stier.

This semi-annual report (the last one was in 2007) provides top-line hiring projections and insight on why the hiring needs will exist. Data was compiled from survey responses by 35 federal agencies, representing 99 percent of the federal workforce. The report was funded with support from Aon Consulting and Monster Government Solutions. (Full Disclosure: Monster Government Solutions & GovCentral are operated by Monster Worldwide)

Three factors that the report deems the primary larger driver of the projected hiring increase: national security, veterans support, and retirements.

One-third of the 1.9 million member civilian federal workforce is expected to retire or resign in the next five years. The Partnership expects over 240,000 federal employees to retire between 2008 and 2012. This means thousands of government job opportunities nationwide.

Maintaining its mission of securing the country, the Department of Homeland Security is projecting 65,730 openings, up 37 percent from the previous report.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, citing an increase in administering benefits, is looking to fill 48,159 jobs.

Which professional fields will be most in demand?