Pew Research: Understanding the Federal Workforce

As discussions around government reform and efficiency intensify, recent data from Pew Research offers valuable insights into the federal workforce—its size, scope, and the public's perception of it. Here are the key takeaways:

1. How Many Federal Workers Are There?

The federal government employs over 3 million people, which includes approximately 600,000 U.S. Postal Service employees. Excluding the Postal Service, the workforce stands at around 2.4 million, making it the nation’s largest single employer. However, federal employees represent just 1.5% of the civilian workforce, a proportion that has remained consistent for over a decade.

2. Trends Over Time

The number of federal workers has grown slightly—about 1% annually since 2000. However, the Postal Service workforce has declined by a third since its 1999 peak.

3. Largest Employers by Department

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leads federal employment with 486,000 workers, primarily in healthcare roles. By contrast, the smallest Cabinet department, Education, employs just 4,245 people. Among independent agencies, the Social Security Administration employs over 59,000 people, surpassing several Cabinet departments combined.

4. Geographic Distribution

Despite Washington, D.C., being the seat of federal power, fewer than 20% of federal workers are based in the D.C. area. States like California and Texas have the largest contingents outside this region.

5. Workforce Demographics

Federal employees tend to be:

  • Older: 28% are 55+, compared to 24% of the general workforce.

  • More educated: Nearly one-third hold bachelor’s degrees, and 22% have advanced degrees.

  • More racially diverse in some areas: 18.6% are Black (vs. 12.8% of the civilian workforce), though fewer are Hispanic or Latino (10.5% vs. 19.5%).

6. Compensation and Occupations

Federal workers earn an average salary of $106,382, reflecting a workforce dominated by white-collar roles. Common positions include healthcare professionals (364,000 employees), administrative workers, and IT specialists.

7. Job Protections and Tenure

Most federal employees enjoy civil service protections that require just cause for dismissal. About 52% of federal workers have been in their roles for less than 10 years, with average tenure varying by agency.

8. Public Perception

Americans’ views on federal workers and agencies are mixed:

  • 49% prefer smaller government, while 48% support a larger one with more services.

  • 56% believe the government is "wasteful and inefficient," yet 53% think it should do more to solve problems.

  • Agencies like the National Park Service (76%) and NASA (67%) receive high approval, while others, like the IRS (38%), face more criticism.

9. Future Prospects

President Trump’s proposals for his second term aim to drastically reduce the federal workforce, abolish agencies, and revamp job protections. This vision contrasts sharply with President Biden’s recent rules safeguarding career civil servants.

Conclusion

The federal workforce plays a pivotal role in delivering services and shaping policies across the nation. Understanding its composition and challenges is key to informed debates about government efficiency and reform.