It currently takes the federal government an average of 106 days to fill a vacant information technology position, a number that makes US Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent says makes her shudder.
To put that number in perspective, if a position became open on January 1 it would not be filled until April 16. And that number is, of course, just an average. Some positions, especially those that require special skills, can take much longer.
But changes are underway. Kent noted during her presentation at the recently-concluded Symantec Government Symposium that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is in the process of shortening that time. The agency recently issued a proposed rule that would give agency heads direct hiring authority for hard-to-fill IT positions. Kent also said the administration expects to issue guidance to help agencies standardize expectations for the IT workforce.
