Federal Jobs: Hard Times Ahead

Some gloomy news from Forbes.com this week about future job growth in the American economy. People in manufacturing jobs can expect hard times ahead, along with computer programmers (blame that on outsourcing) , radio announcers and -- gulp -- journalists. But then Forbes adds this:

Worse off? Federal employees and their amazing benefits. Washington employs nearly 2 million people, not including the military, making it the country's largest employer. After Sept. 11, 2001, it expanded significantly due to homeland security needs. But those days may be coming to an end. By 2014, federal government jobs â€" excluding the Postal Service -- will only have increased by about 1.6 percent above 2004 levels due to the transfer of some jobs to state and local governments and the increased use of private contracting companies. Don't believe it? A report compiled by a House of Representatives panel earlier this year found that government spending on contracts rose by 103 percent between 2000 and 2005.

I guess civic-minded young people who are being told they should heed the call to public service better hope the long-anticipated federal retirement boom actually happens. Otherwise, there won't be any outlets for their civic energy.