Job Vacancies

Careers and Internships with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Posted on by Dennis Damp

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is primarily responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats. They manage federal programs related to migratory birds, endangered species, interjurisdictional fish and marine mammals, and inland sport fisheries.

They are a division of the Department of the Interior and employ 8,160 specialists and offers more than 70 careers to choose from. Positions are available in every state and U.S. territory.

USFWS FUNCTIONS

If you enjoy working outdoors and with wildlife there are many opportunities for you to explore. This Federal service performs the following functions:

  • Acquires, protects and manages unique ecosystems necessary to sustain fish and wildlife.
  • Operates a National Fish Hatchery System.
  • Protects fish and wildlife from dislocation or destruction of their habitats.
  • Provides financial and professional technical assistance to States to enhance their fish and wildlife resources.
  • Offers enforcement, management and professional technical assistance to other agencies.
  • Disseminates and enforces regulations for the protection of wildlife.
  • Conducts programs and provides professional technical assistance to other agencies for the proper use and protection of fish and wildlife habitat.
  • Educates the American public through high quality fish and wildlife-oriented experiences.
  • Communicates information essential for public awareness and understanding of the importance of fish and wildlife resources.

JOB AND INTERNSHIPS LISTINGS

Openings are available in law enforcement, administrative fields, budget analysts, IT, geographers, wildlife refuse managers, fish biologists, hydrologists, engineering maintenance, architects, surveyors, and various other occupations.

There are many jobs currently open nationwide and in the US Territories.

APPLYING FOR JOBS

When you identify a job announcement of interest, print out a copy and follow the detailed guidance provided. If you have questions there is a human resource specialist listed towards the end of the document that can answer your questions.

A federal application and resume is considerably different than the standard one page private sector resume. Submit all required forms and information listed in the job announcement and review the application process before submitting your application. A sample federal style resume is available for you to use as a template for your application.

SUMMARY

There are many reasons to consider federal employment. The average annual federal worker’s compensation, pay plus benefits, is $125,049 compared to just $70,081 for the private sector. Average salary exceeds $90,000 and new hires can receive student loan payoff assistance, relocation and cash incentives for hard-to-fill positions. The benefits and retirement packages are exceptional. A larger percentage of professionals and fewer service and clerical positions contribute to higher average salaries.

Is A Federal Job Right for You?

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Typically, over 10,000 job announcements are open to the public on a recurring basis and tens of thousands more for federal employees, the armed forces, students, individuals with disabilities, the Peace Corp and more. There are plenty of jobs to explore if you take the time to seek them out.

The federal government is essentially a central clearing house for jobs in a vast majority of occupations stateside and overseas. A one-stop resource where you can explore opportunities and apply for jobs of interest online.

Where They Are

The majority of jobs are in major metropolitan areas. However, you will find opportunities in most communities if you look for them. After leaving the military, I was accepted for a field specialist position with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Phillipsburg Airport in central Pennsylvania, a small town of about 5,000 at the time.  

I wasn’t the only federal employee in this area, there was a dozen or more FAA personnel in the flight service station plus a half dozen other specialists. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government that has offices and employees in most communities. Add to postal employee population, Social Security offices in the district, VA facilities, and others, the number of jobs ads up fast.

Start Your Search

To find a federal job after I was discharged from active duty in the 1970s, I had to visit the local federal building and review job announcements posted on the personnel office’s walls! There was no one to talk to, if you found a job of interest, you wrote your name, address, phone number, and the job announcement number on a request form and put it into a mail slot in the wall.

It often took weeks to receive the information packet and often times I received the job announcement after it closed. It took two years to find my first competitive service federal job through this archaic and frustrating process.

Today, with the internet, job hunting is much easier and streamlined. There are a number of ways to navigate through government job vacancy announcements. I prefer using the following service first.

Search by occupational title on www.federalpay.org. The advantage of using this site is its ease of use and the added information provided. Searched Job titles allow you to click on the Job Category description providing you with the following information: (This is the most comprehensive information available in one concise location.)

  • Pay rates for the occupation
  • Job description
  • Agencies that hire this occupation
  • Occupation pay distribution
  • Occupational pay trends

Apply Online

When you find a position of interest, click on APPLY NOW, it will take you to the job announcement and application process on OPM’s USAJOBS.GOV site. Follow the instructions to submit your application and resume.

Take These Steps When Applying

  • Print out the job announcement, many don’t do this. It has all of the information you need to apply including the HR specialist contact information. If you have questions, they can answer them for you.  
  • Read the announcement top to bottom, if you neglect to submit all required forms or required information your application could be rejected.
  • Review the federal application process to understand the differences between private and federal sector applications.
  • Prepare your federal resume using our detailed guidance offline first; spell, grammar check and take your time to show how you gained the required skills and meet the qualifications for the position.

Summary

Tens of thousands of high paying, secure, and benefit loaded federal jobs are available. After leaving the military, I applied for two jobs. One with the airlines and the other with the FAA. I was 25 at the time and my wife and I discussed the options. I decided to go with federal service because of their exceptional benefits and early retirement plan. It was a wise choice; the airline went bankrupt ten years later and I retired from federal service at age 55 with 35 years of service including my military time. Everyone has their unique reasons for accepting a job, I was looking for job security and retirement at an early age. Whatever your motivation, federal jobs are some of the most lucrative sought-after jobs in the world.

Computer Scientist – Positions Available Nationwide

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Computer scientists in the Federal service develop new and improved concepts, principles, and techniques that will advance the body of knowledge of computer science and adapt and apply advanced computer science methods and techniques to solve complex computer processing requirements.

This series includes professional positions which primarily involve the application of, or research into, computer science methods and techniques to store, manipulate, transform or present information by means of computer systems.

Duties of computer science positions may overlap with closely related series such as the Computer Engineering, Mathematics, and Administrative Work in the Information Technology Group. A position is included in the Computer Science Series when professional computer science knowledge is the paramount requirement for performing the duties of the position.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

The federal government employs close to 7,000 computer scientists of which several work overseas. The Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force employ 5,229 civilians followed by the Department of Defense with 329 and the Department of Health and Human Services with 259. Most cabinet level agencies including the Department of Transportation and a few large independent agencies such as NASA employ computer scientists.

There are currently 64 job announcements for computer scientists open in the Mathematics & Statistics Occupation Group. Several with multiple vacancies at locations nationwide and overseas. You will discover many opportunities in this field for you to explore.

OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION

Typical functions performed by Computer Scientists include development of software systems using a knowledge of techniques, procedures, and processes such as operating system theory, data structures, computer system architecture, Software engineering, and computer communications.

They also develop computer graphics systems using a knowledge of graphic display systems, general purpose graphics languages, and optimization techniques involving preprocessors graphical algorithms, memory management methods, and high-speed communication links and the development of high-speed computing systems and real time data acquisition systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.

The job announcement will outline the specific qualifications for each position of interest.

EDUCATION

If substituting education for experience at the GG-07 level, you must possess a bachelor’s degree in computer science or bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.

If substituting or combining education for experience, transcripts MUST be provided. Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

JOB VACANCY LISTINGS

The following link will take you to the GS 1550 Job Description that includes links to the current job announcements on USAJOBS.

Visit our jobs board to search for all other occupations by job title.

Don’t bypass an opportunity to apply for a federal job for fear of taking a civil service test. Discover which occupations have entrance exam requirements. Most exams have been waived over the years.

Each month we will feature a different occupation. Visit FederalJobs.net regularly to find information about federal jobs in your area.

Applying for Federal Jobs – Start NOW

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Currently the federal government has 12,417 job vacancies advertised that are open to the general public. Occupations range from entry level to professional and everything in between. If you are looking for a high paying, secure, and benefit loaded career, research the many options available nationwide.

GETTING STARTED

The federal government’s executive branch employs 2,191,000, add another 653,167 postal workers, those employed in the legislative, and judicial branches to find abundant opportunities for those willing to seek them out.   

Review occupations of interest to determine what is required to apply. The occupational descriptions summarize the basic skill sets, education and experience needed for each job title. Then, review the related federal qualification standards to determine the highest pay grade you can qualify for.

ENTRANCE EXAMS

Certain occupations such as foreign service officers, air traffic control, law enforcement, postal service, and others require an entrance exam, formerly called a Civil Service Test. However, approximately 80% of all federal government jobs are filled through a competitive examination of your background, work experience, and education; not through a written test. Review the list of occupations that require entrance exams and use the links provided for additional exam preparation guidance.  

Most job announcement require the job applicant to complete an occupational questionnaire that replaced the civil service exams of the past. They include multiple choice or Yes/No responses. Essay questions are used to support an applicants’ skills set and/or experience level. You must answer these questions to the best of your ability and include details of how you previously gained work-related experience or skills.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Once you find a position of interest thoroughly read the job announcement and download a copy for future reference.  Underline or highlight key requirements and ensure you submit ALL information, forms and required supporting documentation. If you neglect to provide key information your application will be rejected. Contact the human resource specialist listed towards the end of the job announcement if you have questions about the job and application process.

USAJOBS

The (USAJobs.gov) federal job search site is managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). They advertise the vast majority of federal job vacancies for internal and external recruitment. Each year several hundred thousand positions are filled through OPM’s efforts. Currently they have 59,916 vacancies advertised of which 12,417 are open to the general public.

You can easily search by job title, location, occupational title, agency or department. The advance search feature offers various filters to narrow your search.

APPLY FOR JOBS

Click APPLY in the top right corner of the first page of the job announcement. You must register with USAJOBS to continue the application and they will walk you through the process. The application will take time and you must include examples of how you met certain job requirements. The federal style resume is nothing like the private sector one page resume format. Use this resume example to better understand the level of detail needed to not only submit your resume but to improve your chances of being called for an interview.

I suggest writing your resume offline in Word or other word processor and then copy and paste it into the online USAJOBS application. This way you can take the time needed to compile the necessary details and spell check it before it goes for its first review.

SUMMARY

Many are taken aback by the amount of paperwork necessary to apply for a federal job. It can be a daunting task. However, the rewards of landing a life-long high-paying job offset the initial aggravation many times over. Don’t let this dissuade you from applying.

I was a federal manager for many years and hired technical and administrative staff for the FAA in my district. I can tell you from first-hand experience that many highly qualified candidates were passed over because they didn’t take the time to submit a complete application.

Don’t let this happen to you; if you don’t get the first job you apply for, refine your application, tailor it to the job announcement, and keep trying. It took me two years to land my first competitive service federal job.

Accounting Jobs – Adding Up Your Choices

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Accountants manage, allocate and monitor financial resources in compliance with laws, regulations and policies, to ensure these resources are efficiently applied to meet organizational goals and objectives. They research, analyze and process information related to accounting transactions/events to ensure completeness and accuracy of data and prepare, review and reconcile financial statements and other reports to meet reporting requirements and to support management decisions.

Accountants apply analysis, cost, forecasting and planning methods, techniques and technology tools sufficient to ensure reports, plans and strategies are consistent with official guidance, and support program goals and initiatives. They may also design, operate, maintain, inspect and improve accounting and related financial systems to extract data, produce reports, implement or review internal controls, resolve problems, improve efficiency and maintain data integrity.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

The federal government employs 13,283 in this occupation of which 79 work overseas. The DOD is the largest employer of this series with 2,893 accountants, the VA employs 909 and the Department of the Army employs 1,147 civilians in this category. This series is used in all cabinet level departments, most large agencies and many small agencies.

There are currently 730 job announcements for professional and administrative positions open in the accounting, finance, & budget area. Many with multiple vacancies at locations nationwide and overseas.

When you add up the multiple vacancies, you will discover many additional opportunities in this field for you to explore and at locations across the country. There are opportunities for both professional and

OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION

Accountants develop financial information systems in accordance with recognized accounting theory and practices as taught in academic institutions. They observe, interpret, or provide guidance on accounting principles and standards. Accountants in the federal government must meet Treasury Department and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) compilation and reporting requirements, as well as the specific financial information requirements established by legislation. Professional accounting work is creative, analytical, evaluative, or interpretive.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Requirements:

Degree: accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law. (The term “accounting” means “accounting and/or auditing” in this standard. Similarly, “accountant” should be interpreted, generally, as “accountant and/or auditor.”)

OR

A combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. The applicant’s background must also include one of the following:

  1. Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;
  2. A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or
  3. Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant’s education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

All federal jobs include comprehensive benefits and a generous retirement plan consisting of a fixed annuity, 401k and Social Security.

JOB VACANCY LISTINGS

The following link will take you to the GS 0510 Job Description that includes links to the current job announcements on USAJOBS.

Visit our jobs board to search for all other occupations by job title.

Don’t bypass an opportunity to apply for a federal job for fear of taking a civil service test. Discover which occupations have entrance exam requirements. Most exams have been waived over the years.

Each month we will feature a different occupation. Visit FederalJobs.net regularly to find information about federal jobs in your area.

Medical Records Technician Jobs

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Medical records technicians assemble, analyze, code, abstract, report, maintain, and extract medical records information. They organize and check medical records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulatory requirements. In most Federal medical centers today, the medical staffs, including medical records technicians, use automated records systems.

Specific duties of medical records technicians vary with the complexity and characteristics of the facility. Use of the latest treatment methods by health care professionals requires comprehensive medical records, in some cases with many diagnoses and treatments. The time and knowledge needed to analyze and code a record, increases in proportion to the patient’s length of stay and the complexity of the patient’s diagnosis and treatment.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Currently there are over 110 job vacancy announcements open. The Veterans Health Administration, Indian Health Services, the Bureau of Prisons and the military organizations are currently recruiting.

A number of these job announcements list multiple vacancies at various locations. For example, one of the announcements from the Department of the Air Force is hiring many for multiple locations; they will negotiate the location after you are selected for a vacancy. When you add up the multiple vacancies, you will discover many additional opportunities in this field for you to explore and at locations across the country.

EMPLOYING AGENCIES

Currently, the Veterans Health Administration is the largest employer with 3,046 followed by military organizations with 1,376, and 653 at Human Services.  You will also find positions available with the Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons, and others. The federal government employs 5,418 medical records technicians, 35 work overseas.

QUALIFICATIONS

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described in the job announcement. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience as described in the job announcement for the grade level advertised such as experience entering medical data into applications, data banks: Encoder Grouper Coding Compliance Editor (CCE) and the Composite Health Care System (CHCS).

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

JOB VACANCY LISTINGS

The following link will take you to the GS 0675 Job Description that includes links to the current job announcements on USAJOBS.

Visit our jobs board to search for all other occupations by job title.

To find vacancies in your area, locate job announcements of interest and review the required qualifications. If you have the experience, education and/or work experience specified, apply online.

Each month we will feature a different occupation. Visit FederalJobs.net regularly to find information about federal jobs in your area.

VA Careers and Jobs

Posted on by Dennis Damp

The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) employs workers in a broad spectrum of occupations and has thousands of jobs available now. Most are health care specialists, with many administrative and management personnel, to hundreds of support positions including cooks, electricians, store clerks, laundry workers, engineers, and mechanics to name a few.  

There are currently over 5,000 vacancy announcements, many with multiple positions, advertised nationwide for VA jobs of all types and in multiple occupational groups. The VA employs 427,196 across the country in all occupations. The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) is one of the largest federal employers, half work for the VA Health Administration as medical specialists of all types. They provide medical services to over 9 million Veterans!

The following map was excerpted from their website and shows vacant positions by location. There are often multiple locations and jobs in the designated areas. Click on the map for updated listings.  

The following articles include interviews with VA employees and provide insight into the VA and the occupations / opportunities available:

Many other federal departments hire medical specialist. Expand your search and explore all opportunities for the largest health care occupations:

The federal government is this country’s largest employer and advertises thousands of vacancies daily. Explore this lucrative job market for areas of interest. The pay and benefits are exceptional, and opportunities abound if you are willing to seek them out.  

Transportation Security Officer – Positions Now Available

Posted on by Dennis Damp

The Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Agency employs more than 50,000 transportation security officers (TSOs) at 440 airports nationwide. TSOs provide security and protect travelers across all transportation sectors. Their duties extend to securing high-profile events, important figures and/or anything that includes or impacts this nation’s transportation systems.

Currently, over 442 job vacancy announcements are posted online, many for multiple positions at airports across the county. The starting salary is $35,152 ($16.90 / hour). Salary is adjusted per locality pay area. Many locations are offering sign on bonuses of $1,000 or more and starting salary can be negotiated under certain conditions.  

Applicants must have a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) credential OR at least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician.  English language proficiency is also required.

TSO Duties

Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) provide security and protection of air travelers, airports and perform the following duties:

  • Operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft.
  • Performing searches and screening, which may include physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat-downs, search of property, etc.), conducting bag searches and lifting/carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50lbs.
  • Controlling terminal entry and exit points.
  • Interacting with the public, giving directions and responding to inquiries.
  • Maintaining focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment which includes noise from alarms, machinery and people, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life threatening or mass destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.
  • Engaging in continuous development of critical thinking skills, necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats, by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches.  This may include application of risk-based security screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.
  • Retaining and implementing knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, and is open to change and adapts to new information or unexpected obstacles. write necessary correspondence and narrative reports of contacts.

The following link will take you to the GS 1802 Occupational Description that includes links to the current job announcements on USAJOBS.

TSOs are encountered at transportations hubs nationwide. Explore the opportunities and visit www.federaljobs.net regularly for new recruiting initiatives.

Contact Representatives/Collection Representatives

Posted on by Dennis Damp

Federal high paying job opportunities are available for those who know how to apply and tap this lucrative job market. Jobs are available at thousands of locations stateside and overseas with excellent career advancement opportunities?

This article features positions that perform or supervise inspection or technical support work in assuring compliance with or enforcement of Federal law, regulations, or other mandatory guidelines. We help those seeking federal employment explore occupations and navigate the application process. Plus, we link you to current job vacancies and provide resume/application guidance, including sample federal style resumes.

Compliance Inspection and Support Careers (GS-1802)

Positions included in this series are intended to perform inspection or technical support work in assuring compliance with or enforcement of Federal law. The work falls primarily in inspections where determinations are based on visual or other specific inspection techniques and are made based on relatively clear-cut considerations such as the presence or absence of required documents or the obvious physical condition of an item or premises. The second area involves support to inspections or investigations such as searching for, gathering, screening, and providing factual information or explanations related to the subject of an inspection or investigation or to the compliance program itself.

There are currently over 474 vacancy announcements, many with multiple positions, advertised nationwide in this occupational group. The federal government employs 55,129 in this occupation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the largest employer with 52,278, most are Transportation Security Officers located at every major airport in the country and US Territories. The Department of Transportation employs 181, and there are small numbers employed in this group at other large cabinet level agencies.

Typical Job Titles:

  • Transportation Security Officer (TSO)
  • Aviation Safety Technician
  • Employee Benefit Plan Assistant
  • Law Enforcement Communications Assistant
  • Forensic Laboratory Technician Evidence
  • Mine Safety and Health Assistant
  • Safety and Health Clerk
  • Wage Hour Technician

A number of these job announcements list multiple vacancies at various locations. For example, one of the announcements from (DHS) advertises positions at three locations. When you add up the multiple vacancies, you will discover many additional opportunities in this field for you to explore and at locations across the country.

If you are looking for a challenging position in this field explore these opportunities. The following link will take you to the GS 0360 Occupational Description that includes links to the current job announcements on USAJOBS.

Visit our jobs board to search for all other occupations by job title.

To find vacancies in your area, locate job announcements of interest and review the required qualifications. If you have the experience, education and/or work experience specified, apply online. Each month we will feature a different occupation. Visit our website regularly to find information about federal jobs in your area.

Helpul Job Hunting Information:

Disclaimer: The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Older Workers Seek Federal Employment For Benefits & BLS Older Worker Trends

Posted on by Betty Boyd

The Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), in their article titled “Older Workers: Labor Force Trends and Career Options,”  indicates that approximately 40 percent of people 55 and older are either working or seeking work. This number is called the labor force participation rate. Labor force participation is the proportion of the population that is in the labor force.

The trend for the older worker has been increasing and is expected to continue its climb for at least the next ten years. Mitra Toossi and Elka Torpey, both economists at the BLS were interviewed for this article.

According to Mitra Toossi, “The labor force participation rate of the older labor force; 55-years-and-older, including the 65 to 74-year old’s have been increasing because people are living longer, healthier lives and they work more years to have income during their older ages. Also, most get their health insurance through work and having health insurance is a must for older workers. In addition, the Social Security age for retirement has increased and to take full advantage of the benefits you have to work longer years. Also, the whole structure of the benefits has changed from defined benefit to defined contribution, so when you work longer you pay more towards your retirement and to your 401 accounts.”

Additionally, Toossi cites, “By 2024, BLS projects that the labor force will grow to about 164 million people. That number includes about 41 million people who will be ages 55 and older—of whom about 13 million are expected to be ages 65 and older. The 164 million is the total number of the labor force in 2024 and not the 65+ labor force.”

Toossi relates “It is projected that the women’s labor force will be growing faster in the next ten years since women are primarily in occupations such as health services and educational services and these are projected to be increasing in the next decade.”

The referenced article indicates, “more than 42 percent of the workers were in management, professional and related occupations, and this was at a higher proportion than for all workers. Some other related fields for older workers, 55 and older make up at least one-third of occupations total employment in 2016.”

Another factor indicated in the article was self-employment. The BLS data specifies that the older worker age group had a higher self-employment rate than that of workers in younger groups. Elka Torpey states, “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of self-employed workers in all occupations will increase by 5.8 percent between 2014 and 2024. This compares with a projected 6.5 increase for all workers in all occupations over that time period.”

Other data the article denotes, “27 percent of workers ages 55 and older, and 18 percent of workers ages 25 to 54 were part-time (usually 1 to 34 hours per week) in 2016. For workers ages 65 and older, the rate of part-time employment is even higher: 40 percent.”

Older workers, for the foreseeable future,  will continue to have a significant impact on the economy. One of the major benefits of federal employment is early retirement, most can retire at age 55 with 30 years of service. Many federal retirees seek employment to remain active, earn additional funds for fun and necessity, and simply to stay involved in their respective fields.

The Federal  Retiree’s Job Center, located on FederalRetirement.net, lists many jobs for retirees. Private sector employers target federal retirees that are known for their exceptional skills and strong work ethic. Federal retirees may also reapply and return to federal employment under the rehired annuitant program.

Helpful Career Planning Tools

The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages