After asking to be included in a mainly executive-branch survey that ranks the best places to work in the federal government, the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ oversight arm, snared the fourth-highest rating among 30 cabinet departments and independent agencies. [IMGCAP(1)]

The 2005 “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” survey, released Wednesday by the Partnership for Public Service and American University’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation, was based on the responses of 150,000 federal employees. The project, which will be featured in U.S. News & World Report, bases its rankings on overall employee satisfaction as well as on 10 categories, such as effective leadership, family-friendly culture, pay and benefits.

In compiling the rankings for the second time since 2003, the Partnership for Public Service and ISPPI hope to offer job seekers insight into the best opportunities for public service and to improve performance within federal agencies by creating a baseline for measuring employee commitment and engagement.

— John McArdle