The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has directed federal agencies to make technology recruitment a key component of their fiscal year 2027 workforce plans. Guidance issued by OPM directs agencies to include dedicated hiring strategies for roles in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, software engineering, data science, digital services, and other technology fields in staffing plans due by Sept. 30.

Agencies are also expected to assess how the adoption of modern technologies will affect workforce needs and align hiring accordingly.

“In doing so, agencies should, where applicable, leverage the U.S. Tech Force program and its agency-specific extensions (such as NASA Force and War Force), through which OPM conducts pooled recruitment and rigorous technical assessment of software engineering, AI, data science, forward deployed engineers, cybersecurity, and technical product management talent and issues shared certificates of prequalified candidates from which agencies may select,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said in the guidance.

The guidance establishes government-wide hiring goals, including a target that at least 33% of new external hires be early-career workers such as recent graduates, interns, and Pathways participants. Agencies must also source at least 60% of competitive-service hires through shared hiring certificates and use validated technical assessments for all external candidates.

Additionally, OPM is encouraging agencies to place new technology and customer-facing roles outside the Washington, D.C., region where feasible to reduce costs, broaden access to talent, and strengthen community engagement.

Moreover, agencies will be required to submit quarterly progress reports tracking performance against these hiring targets.