Congressional Aides

Members of Congress will continue to hire aides regularly; however, this is not a large employment field. The need for new workers will be steady but limited. Additionally, aides' positions are linked to the success of the Congressman or Congresswoman for whom they work. If their employer is voted out of office, aides also lose their jobs. And, despite the long hours and often low pay, these jobs are prestigious, making competition for them strong.

Few people make working as a congressional aide a lifelong career. Those with excellent educational backgrounds and who are comfortable using technologies should have the best chances for jobs. Social media and the Internet are making it easier for constituents to express their views quickly and to access press releases, information about current legislation, and the positions of their representatives. Advocacy groups will expand their use of the Internet, social media, cellphones, and the like, to gain more support and encourage voters to express their views via blogs, tweets, text messages, and e-mail. In the future, aides will work with a constituency much more knowledgeable about current legislation. Technology will also serve aides in their research of bills, their interaction with the media, and their gauging of public views.