Over the past 90 days, more than 45,000 new job ads have been posted online that include requirements for government security clearance, representing a 24% increase in ad volume versus the same 90-day period in 2010. More than 1,700 direct employers are currently advertising job openings that require potential candidates to obtain and maintain Confidential, Secret or Top Secret security clearance.  About 75% of these job ads were for Confidential clearance, the lowest level.

Source: WANTED Analytics

The most commonly advertised job titles including requirements for government security clearance are:

1. Systems Engineer
2. Software Engineer
3. Network Engineer
4. Program Manager
5. Engineer
6. Administrative Assistant
7. Electrical Engineer
8. Mechanical Engineer
9. Test Engineer
10. Technical Writer

From this list, you can see that Computer Programmers and Engineers are highly in-demand. In fact, demand for Computer and IT specialists that can obtain security clearance is up 17% versus the same 90-day period in 2010. The hiring demand for Engineers is up 45%. Other occupations that saw an increase in ad volume from last year include Management Analysts (up 23% from  2010), Intelligence Analysts (61% growth versus 2010) and Training and Development Specialists (83% year-over-year increase).

Not surprisingly, many of the jobs requiring security clearance are located in the Washington, DC metro area. 12,000 of the jobs are for positions located in the DC area. Baltimore and Seattle saw the second and third highest demand, with more than 1,000 new jobs ads placed online over the past 90 days.