The District is looking for a few hundred good men and women.
In a $9 billion government of 34,600 workers — including the school system’s 12,000 employees — the District is constantly struggling to fill vacancies. According to the Office of Personnel, the number today stands at 740.
The second annual D.C. government job fair, slated for Friday at the Hilton Washington in Dupont Circle, gives District residents an opportunity to meet with recruiters from 75 city agencies, including the departments of health, public works and transportation, and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Roughly 7,000 job seekers are expected.
Government staffing vacancies generally hover between 600 and 1,000 at any given time, said Michael Rupert, spokesman for the personnel office. Information technology, social work and health-related jobs are critical.
“But jobs at all levels need to be filled,” Rupert said.
The District is targeting ethnic minorities in its most recent recruiting effort, hence the job fair’s theme, “Diverse Faces — One D.C. Government.” The event is co-sponsored by the Office on Latino Affairs and the Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs.
The diversity of applicants and new hires has historically not met the demographics of the city, Rupert said.
“A lot of access to government services are hindered because of a staff that is not culturally and linguistically equipped to deal with the constituents,” said K.P. Santivong, community development coordinator with the Asian and Pacific Islander affairs office.
