Hiring & Workforce — 2026-03-18
Cleared Workforce Reaches 5.5 Million but Active Access Holds Flat
The eligible cleared workforce reached approximately 5.5M in early FY2026, up from 4.6M in FY2021. Active-access holders remain flat at 2.2-2.4M; over 3M cleared individuals hold eligibility but no position requiring access. This 'matching problem' represents the largest untapped cleared talent pool in national security, driven by military transitions and improved vetting pipeline throughput.
Analysis
The 3+ million cleared-but-not-in-access individuals represent a theoretical buffer against IC workforce losses, but matching problems and agency-specific polygraph requirements limit how quickly this pool can be activated for IC positions.
The 3+ million cleared-but-not-in-access individuals represent a theoretical buffer against IC workforce losses, but matching problems and agency-specific polygraph requirements limit how quickly this pool can be activated for IC positions.