Top Federal Government Jobs on the Rise

Federal agencies have seen robust growth over the past year, with 86,000 new federal government jobs added. While this shows there are plenty of jobs within the federal government, some are in higher demand than others.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government employs workers in about 350 occupations, though the fastest growing areas are mostly related to IT and math.

Keep reading to find out what the current top federal government jobs are, including their responsibilities, projected growth, and required level of education.

ALSO READ: 7 IT Roles to Help Your Big Data Capabilities

1. Statisticians

Statisticians use numerical data to find patterns that support an organization’s decision-making process. With information like national job and employment data, federal statisticians can help inform the decisions of policy makers.

Job responsibilities: Responsibilities for statisticians typically include:

Collecting internal data
Consolidating this information into a database
Applying formulas to analyze and interpret the data
Discovering and presenting useful trends and statistical findings

Projected growth: The BLS (which, coincidentally, happens to be a federal group of statisticians!) estimates a 23% growth in federal statistician jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: When applying for statistician jobs, candidates typically need a master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, data science, or other related fields.

2. Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of government healthcare providers (think public health departments, Medicare facilities, and VA clinics—they all need medical and health services managers). This role carries out government regulations both within their department and the entire facility.

Job responsibilities: Responsibilities for this role typically include:

Planning the organization’s overall goals
Overseeing facility finances and setting budgets
Ensuring the facility complies with all regulations

Projected growth: The BLS estimates an 18% growth in federal medical and health services manager jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: To become a medical and health services manager, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in developing, evaluating, and adjusting administrative services.

3. Management Analysts

Management analysts assess financial and other data, including revenue, expenditure, and employment reports. If you’ve ever been to the DDS and thought they were moving too slowly, this may be the position for you! Management analysts conduct research and gather relevant information to identify problems and propose recommendations to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Job responsibilities: Responsibilities for management analysts typically consist of:

Researching an organization’s problems
Interviewing personnel to gather relevant information
Compiling reports to present to their team

Projected growth: The BLS estimates an 18% growth in federal management analyst jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: As a management analyst candidate, individuals often need a bachelor’s degree along with prior experience in developing cost analyses of projects.

4. Data Scientists

Data scientists collect data using analytical, statistical, and programmable skills. With this information, data scientists can get a clear understanding of how specific government agencies are performing and develop smart solutions to business challenges.

Job responsibilities: Responsibilities for data scientists usually include:

Extracting usable data from valuable sources
Carrying out the preprocessing of structured and unstructured data
Developing prediction systems and machine learning algorithms
Analyzing large amounts of information to find patterns and solutions

Projected growth: The BLS estimates a 17% growth in federal data scientist jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: Candidates applying for data scientist jobs typically must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or other related fields, as well as experience with data visualization tools, software engineering, and data science tools.

5. Cybersecurity Analysts

Cybersecurity analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect government hardware, software, and networks from theft, loss, and unauthorized access. These cyber professionals are the front-line defense against cyber terrorist attacks, protecting sensitive government information ranging from social security numbers and election information all the way to big things like nuclear launch codes!

Job responsibilities: Responsibilities of a cybersecurity analyst consist of:

Monitoring and analyzing security systems
Incident response and management
Developing security plans and protocols
Overall assistance with the day-to-day operations of securing their organization’s various information systems

Projected growth: The BLS estimates a 14% growth in federal cybersecurity analyst jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: If you’re interested in cybersecurity analyst roles, you’ll most likely need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology, cybersecurity, or other related fields. You’ll also need prior experience as a security analyst or related position, and cybersecurity skills such as technical knowledge of cyber systems and an ability to implement security frameworks.

6. Computer and Information Research Scientists

Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing computing technologies. These professionals apply their computer science knowledge to research, create, and implement solutions to complex computer problems.

Job responsibilities: Typical responsibilities for this role include:

Analyzing problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software
Researching and experimenting with new technologies
Designing programs and algorithms
Consulting with users and technicians to determine the government’s computing needs

Projected growth: The BLS estimates a 13% growth in federal computer and information research scientist jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: As experts in the computer science field, computer and information research scientists are expected to have a master’s degree in computer science or related fields, plus prior experience in similar roles and relevant certifications.

7. Operations Research Analysts

Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help government agencies make informed decisions and solve problems. This role advises managers and other decision-makers on the appropriate course of action to create effective solutions.

Job responsibilities: As an operations research analyst, your responsibilities would consist of:

Gathering relevant data from various sources
Developing mathematical models and algorithms
Utilizing techniques to model complex systems
Working closely with department heads to understand the objectives and challenges of a given problem
Implementing recommended solutions

Projected growth: The BLS estimates a 13% growth in federal operations research analyst jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: To land a job as an operations research analyst, candidates need at least a bachelor’s degree (though some jobs do require a master’s degree) in fields such as operations research, business, mathematics, engineering, or computer science.

8. Logisticians

Logisticians analyze and coordinate government supply chains by overseeing activities related to purchasing, transportation, inventory, and warehousing. This role supports the production process of a government agency through every stage of a product’s life cycle. Remember Covid? A logistician helped roll out those vaccines!

Job responsibilities: Responsibilities for this position include:

Designing, acquiring, and distributing products
Allocating resources to specific operations
Communicating with clients to determine supply chain needs
Overseeing budget allocations

Projected growth: The BLS estimates a 9% growth in federal logistician jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: Candidates searching for logistician roles should have a bachelor’s degree in fields such as supply chain management, business administration, or industrial engineering. Prior experience, along with critical thinking and customer service skills, are also beneficial.

9. Aerospace Engineers

Ever dreamed of working for NASA? Shoot for the moon! Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. This role must evaluate designs to see that products meet engineering principles and test prototypes to ensure they function correctly.

Job responsibilities: The responsibilities of an aerospace engineer include:

Determining the safety of a product’s operations
Researching and analyzing information to develop designs and solve problems
Testing prototypes to determine if repairs or improvements are needed
Evaluating designs to ensure they meet customer satisfaction, engineering principles, and environmental regulations

Projected growth: The BLS estimates an 8% growth in federal aerospace engineer jobs from 2020-2030.

Level of education: To become an aerospace engineer, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field, and in some cases, certain levels of security clearance are required.

Ready to Expand Your Government Team?

Whew! That was a lot of information about emerging federal government roles. Now that you’ve learned more about the top federal government jobs and their responsibilities, what’s next?

If these roles sound right for you, check out our onsite job board to start the search for your next federal government position. Or maybe you’re looking to expand your government team by hiring the roles we’ve discussed—no problem!

Insight Global can help you with all your hiring needs. We can even staff other roles that weren’t talked about in this article! With over 20 years of experience, our expertise can land you the right candidate for any position you need filled. Contact our team today to get started.

Looking to Fill Federal Government Positions?

Reach out to Insight Global today. We can find you qualified candidates in as little as 48 hours! Questions? Call us toll-free: 855-485-8853