In a tight market, jobseekers need to keep up-to-date on the latest hiring trends and look for ways to play up the hot skills and abilities currently in demand.

Every week, one of the largest employers in the country, the federal government, offers free reports on internal hiring trends on its Web site, www.usa.gov. The site reports the top 50 federal occupations with the most openings in the last calendar month. A chart listing the occupations in greatest demand by the U.S. government is featured on Business & Economics, page 14.

When people think of the federal government, they typically think of the military, the post office or federal agencies in Washington, DC. The government has worksites across the country and a need for a variety of basic and advanced skill sets including: scientists, health care workers, psychologists, analysts, accountants, clerks and police officers, to name just a few. Over the next two years, federal agencies are scheduled to hire 21,248 accounting, budget and business related positions nationwide.

In Washington, there’s a push underway to promote public service and bring in a new generation of talented workers.  According to the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, federal agencies will hire about 60,000 student interns this year. There will be openings for students in every academic major at more than 100 federal agencies including the Departments of Treasury, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and even at the White House. By the way, college students who take full-time jobs with the federal government may be eligible for other perks such as assistance with student loan debts.

To learn more, visit www.usa.gov and simply click on an occupation title to see a list of current job announcements. During one recent visit, the federal government had 56 job openings in the Memphis area, a good number offering salaries that can pay upward of $100,000. Among the skills needed locally by federal agencies: management, administration, program directors, meat cutters, soil conservationists, nurses, and physicians and physical therapists.

The federal government, however, has its own lingo and terminology. Before you start building your resume, take a moment to visit the information page http://www.usajobs.gov/infocenter/.  Learn the ins and outs of how the federal government operates and read the question and answer section and glossary.  Over the last few decades, the federal government — an equal opportunity employer — has provided a    doorway into the middle class for thousands of African Americans.