Federal contractors are grappling with the transition to skills-based hiring as government education requirements for certain jobs hinder their efforts. Companies that rely on federal contracts have prescriptive requirements, such as four-year degrees and security clearances, that limit the talent pool. While the federal government advocates for skills and competency-based hiring for federal jobs, this mandate does not apply to federal contractors. The limitations are further complicated by a decline in four-year degree recipients and the inability of universities to keep up with emerging technologies.
Despite these challenges, many companies still hire for skills-based roles in key technical roles such as machine learning, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering. However, these skills-based employees cannot be used for federal IT contracts, limiting their contribution to government projects. Despite these obstacles, the industry is increasingly prioritizing skills and abilities over formal education, and many large organizations and some states are embracing this change to address IT skills shortages. However, this trend should slowly change over the next few years, so keep an eye out.
Notable Contract Opportunity: Palantir
Palantir Technologies has been awarded a contract worth up to $250 million through 2026 by the U.S. Army to better support the adoption and expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities to combatant commands, military, intelligence, and special forces. Since 2018, Palantir has worked with the Army to provide data integration, management, and AI model training to help these organizations establish a common operating picture. This expanded partnership is intended to further Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) efforts and enhance the innovation and advanced data applications delivered to the military. Palantir USG President Akash Jain emphasized the importance of evolving solution adoption to maintain the nation's competitive advantage in a variety of contexts.
Major Employers in the Clearing Industry: Booz Allen
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Cleared Opportunities
Textron Aviation is looking to address talent shortages and streamline HR, onboarding and technical training by converting a former warehouse space in Wichita into a centralized recruiting and training center. Scheduled to open in 2024, the 100,000-square-foot facility will consolidate various training operations in one location as Textron plans to hire approximately 2,000 employees in 2023 and a similar number in 2024. The focus on training underscores the company's commitment to developing a skilled workforce to meet growing needs.
