Federal Government

The Federal Government is the nation's single largest employer. Its essential duties include defending the United States from foreign aggression and terrorism, representing U.S. interests abroad, enforcing laws and regulations, collecting income taxes, and administering domestic programs and agencies. In 2004, the Federal Government, excluding the Postal Service employed about 1.9 million civilian workers, or about 1.3 percent of the Nation’s workforce.

Due to the wide range of Federal jobs, working conditions are equally variable. While most Federal employees work in office buildings, hospitals, or laboratories, a large number also can be found at border crossings, airports, shipyards, military bases, construction sites, and national parks. Work environments vary from comfortable and relaxed to hazardous and stressful.

Even though the headquarters of most Federal departments and agencies are based in the Washington, D.C. area, only 1 out of 6 Federal employees worked in the vicinity of the Nation's Capital in 2004.

Types of Jobs Available

Professional, management, business, and financial occupations

Life, physical, and social science occupations

Lawyers, judges, law clerks and related workers

Computer specialists

Accountants and auditors

Office and administrative support occupations

Electronic equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers

Correctional officers and jailers, detectives and criminal investigators, and police officers