Data analyses that shed light on key characteristics of the federal workforce.
To improve the way government works, we first need to understand it. In the Fed Figures series, we analyze workforce data to highlight characteristics and trends within one of our nation’s greatest assets—the federal civil service. Through these analyses, we can better understand the strengths of our government, and the challenges it may face now and in the future.
July 1, 2024
A Profile of the 2023 Federal Workforce
The federal government currently employs over 2 million people who deliver a wide range of essential services to the American public. These professionals play a crucial role in protecting our national security, promoting public health, driving economic development and more. Nonpartisan civil servants are hired based on merit to serve under other nonpartisan civil servants...
Read MoreNovember 15, 2023
How the Federal Workforce is Impacted During a Government Shutdown
Government shutdowns have a profound effect on our nation’s federal employees and the public—curtailing the ability of civil servants to do their jobs and provide crucial public benefits, conduct scientific research, manage the economy, address national security challenges and more. Shutdowns occur when Congress does not pass the necessary appropriations bills to fund agencies’ operations. During...
Read MoreJuly 25, 2023
Senior Executive Service: Trends over 25 years
Established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Senior Executive Service, or SES, is the executive branch’s corps of senior leaders serving in key positions just below agencies’ top political appointees. Members of the SES, most of whom are career civil servants, oversee significant federal programs and functions, and manage thousands of employees. They...
Read MoreAugust 2, 2022
Who is quitting and retiring: Important fiscal 2021 trends in the federal government
Attrition is an ongoing concern for our federal government. While some attrition is natural and can help infuse the federal workforce with new talent and ideas, turnover can also cause a loss of institutional knowledge and cost hiring managers both time and resources. Therefore, federal leaders need to monitor attrition and be proactive when possible...
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