Computer, Life Science Skills Lead in Demand

The estimated that the government employs more than 200,000 scientists and engineers. By occupational group, the largest is computer and mathematical scientists, about 42,000, followed by life scientists, about 35,000, electrical, electronic and computer engineers, about 27,000, physical scientists, about 23,000 and social scientists, about 22,000. Various types of engineering, such as civil, mechanical and aerospace engineers, make up most of the rest. By primary work activity, the top activities are development, research, natural resources operations, and data collection, processing and management. By agency, the largest employers are Defense, with about 93,000, followed by Agriculture, about 20,000, Interior, about 15,000, and HHS, Commerce and NASA, about 11,000 each. It added that the demand for such skills is expected to increase faster than the demand for workers in the workforce as a whole.

 

Back | Published: September 8, 2010