WP: Federal Jobs Decline As Contractor Market Expands

[DeepModem Mom]

Federal Jobs Decline As Contractor Market Expands
Monday, August 28, 2006; Page D02

A closer look at July's employment data for the Washington area underscores a shift in the economy, with the number of jobs in the federal government shrinking and the number at companies that serve the government expanding.

The greatest increases in new jobs were in industries that most commonly hold contracts with the government, such as information technology and other professional services sectors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In July, the number of professional and business services jobs rose 4.5 percent from last July. Jobs in the financial industry increased 1.7 percent. Computer systems design and related services jobs were up 4.5 percent.

The number of federal government jobs, meanwhile, fell 0.6 percent, to 341,900....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700582.html