Careers in homeland security have been increasing in popularity over the past several years. The Department of Homeland Security was established in 2001 and has since become one of the largest federal agencies in the U.S., reaching just over 183,000 employees in 2006. Careers within the Department of Homeland Security are many and varied, ranging from attorneys to chemists to intelligence operations specialists. Required training varies according to job title, but all positions require the passing of a thorough background check. Employment in most of these occupations is expected to grow faster than average by 2016.