Federal Employees
Trends in Career and Noncareer Appointments in Selected Departments Gao ID: GGD-87-103FS August 7, 1987In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on career and noncareer appointments in five federal departments as of 1980, 1983, and 1987.
GAO reported on overall trends in the number of: (1) filled and vacant Executive Schedule positions; (2) Senior Executive Service (SES) career, noncareer, and limited-term appointees; (3) SES vacancies; and (4) Schedule C employees. GAO found that: (1) the employee trends varied in each of the five departments; (2) four of the five departments had more Schedule C employees and SES noncareer appointees in 1987 than in 1980; (3) three departments had fewer SES career appointees in 1987; and (4) central-type subunits, such as the offices of the Secretary and Under Secretary, tended to have more noncareer employees than other subunits in each department.