Fed Figures 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. Search & Filter Filter by Date Filter by Type Filter by Topic Clear Filters November 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 More July 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 More August 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... Read More December 21, 2021 Fed Figures: California Workforce – FY 2020 The federal government employed 159,077* workers in California at the end of fiscal 2020, representing about 8% of the total federal workforce. Only the District of Columbia and Virginia had more federal employees. In addition, more Californians work for federal agencies than for the entire University of California system, making the government one of the largest employers in the state. This profile focuses on full-time, nonseasonal, civilian federal employees in California, with the exception of those individuals who work in the legislative or judicial branches, the intelligence community or for the U.S. Postal Service. Read More
November 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 More
July 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 More
August 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... Read More
December 21, 2021 Fed Figures: California Workforce – FY 2020 The federal government employed 159,077* workers in California at the end of fiscal 2020, representing about 8% of the total federal workforce. Only the District of Columbia and Virginia had more federal employees. In addition, more Californians work for federal agencies than for the entire University of California system, making the government one of the largest employers in the state. This profile focuses on full-time, nonseasonal, civilian federal employees in California, with the exception of those individuals who work in the legislative or judicial branches, the intelligence community or for the U.S. Postal Service. Read More
