CBO Ranked Third Best Small Agency in Federal "Best Places to Work" Survey

CBO is one of the best places to work in the federal government, according to a new survey of small and large federal agencies.

"In spite of the pressures we face daily with increasing legislative demands and turnaround times, in the end, it is the people, how we work together, and how we care about each other that define us," CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf told the agency's staff following the announcement. CBO was ranked third overall in the small agency category in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, announced today by the Partnership for Public Service and the American University Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation. "As I've said many times, CBO is truly a wonderful place to work and this recognition confirms what we already know," Elmendorf added.

The Best Places to Work rankings are the most comprehensive and authoritative rating and analysis of federal employees' satisfaction and commitment. Those rankings are compiled by the Partnership using data from biennial human capital surveys conducted by federal agencies. The surveys measure employees' perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions characterizing successful organizations are present in their agencies. Categories include employee skills/mission match, work/life balance, and effective leadership. This year, 212,000 federal employees responded to the survey. This was the first time CBO entered survey data in the rankings competition.

The substantial budgetary and economic challenges facing the nation, both short-term and long-term, and the major policy issues currently before the Congress have created a growing demand for CBO's analyses. The agency currently employs about 240 people, primarily economists and public policy analysts. About three-quarters of its professional staff hold advanced degrees, mostly in economics or public policy. The agency's contributions to government decision-making and its proximity to the Capitol offer employees a fascinating and challenging environment for professional and personal growth.

Details of the survey can be found at www.bestplacestowork.org.