SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Growth Rate of Cleared DoD Population and Jobs Posted on ClearanceJobs
DOD CLEARED CANDIDATES IN CIRCULATION
Active military (1.4M), NISP contractors (1M), National Guard, Reservists and DoD civilians are included in the numbers. Source: Performance.gov - FY2025 Q1
Eligible – In Access: Individuals who have a security clearance AND are currently using it to access classified information for their job.
Eligible – No Access: Individuals who have a security clearance but are not currently using it to access classified information. Due to retirement, unemployment, or employed in a non-cleared role.
END-TO-END PROCESSING TIMES
Average Processing Times for DOD/Industry Clearances
Secret
Top Secret
Secret
Top Secret
WHAT RECRUITERS ARE SAYING
Feedback on how the competitive security-cleared marketplace affects hiring.
We no longer place people on an Interim Clearance. We only look for candidates with an active Secret or higher.
We are having to pay higher bonuses to attract the candidates we must have - they're so rare.
With the marketplace being what it is, I can't wait for someone to get cleared. I have to know that they ARE cleared.
There are 70,000 more positions than there are people with clearances to fill them. Makes it difficult to compete.
I have to work twice as hard as I used to, to get the same amount of response. It becomes a numbers game.
2025: The Year Ahead
If you’re in the federal contracting world, you already know that uncertainty comes with the territory. But 2025? It’s shaping up to be a year of unprecedented change, which will set the tone for the future of our industry.
With job security in flux, cleared candidates are more active than ever in today’s fast-changing Federal and GovCon landscape. Job applications and views are seeing double-digit growth, clear evidence that security-cleared professionals are on the move - coming off the sidelines and into the job market.
With uncertainly in the market, candidate and employer are flocking to ClearanceJobs for the latest GovCon news and insights with site traffic increasing 25% YoY.
REFERENCES
ClearanceJobs collects stats and information from a variety of Federal sources. The most recent information that is publicly available will always be posted here.
Questions and answers related to U.S. Government security clearances, including those administered under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), have been compiled by ClearanceJobs on our Security Clearance FAQ page.
Insider Threat and Security Clearance Reform progress update issued by The Performance Accountability Council’s Program Management Office. The report tracks progress on mitigating the inherent risks and vulnerabilities posed by personnel with trusted access to government information, facilities, systems, and other personnel.
- FY23 Q4 Personnel Vetting Update - Security Clearance Reform
- FY22 Q3 Security Clearance, Suitability, and Credentialing Reform
- FY20 Q4 Security Clearance, Suitability, and Credentialing Reform
- FY19 Q4 Security Clearance, Suitability, and Credentialing Reform
- FY18 Q4 Security Clearance, Suitability, and Credentialing Reform
Annual Report on Security Clearance Determinations report issued by The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The report includes data on the number of cleared employees and contractors, as well as current security clearance processing times. 2019 is the most recent information publicly available.
- 2019 Annual Report on Security Clearance Determinations
- 2018 Annual Report on Security Clearance Determinations
The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) issues an annual report to the President on the status of the security classification programs in both Government and industry.
- 2022 Information Security Oversight Office Security Classification Update
- 2021 Information Security Oversight Office Security Classification Update
- 2020 Information Security Oversight Office Security Classification Update
- 2019 Information Security Oversight Office Security Classification Update
- 2018 Information Security Oversight Office Security Classification Update
Diversity in the Intelligence Community Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Demographic Reports - Statistics on Hiring and Retention of Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities in the United States Intelligence Community.