Employment

Police and detectives held about 883,600 jobs nationally in 2008. About 79 percent were employed by local governments. State police agencies employed about 11 percent. Various federal agencies employ police and detectives. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 10 percent nationally over the 2008-2018 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Population growth is the main source of demand for police services.