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A report published in April 2024 by Government Executive detailed how young Americans think federal jobs are beneficial, but they don’t want to do them.
Apparently new data from the Partnership for Public Service (PPS) found that most young people do believe that working for a local, state, and federal government can be a rewarding job with a positive impact, but very few have ever seriously considered following it as a career path. ” big gap to bridge for the federal government – in terms of perceptions of young people – is on hiring and potential participation of youth in the government workforce,” said PPS research manager Nadzeya Shutava. (TAKE A POLL: Is Faith Integral to Your Understanding of Ethics and Morality?)
PPS internship and higher education program manager Katy Hogan added that most college students don’t even know what a career in federal government involves. “I do think sometimes the story of what you can do in the federal government, specifically in the civil service, does not reach every student,” Hogan stated.
Young People Are Disconnected From Government
“One of my big surprises from this data was on communication because 69% is a very strong majority, and it really highlights that sentiment of disconnect between the young people in the country and the federal government,” Shutava continued.
She believes federal governments should use social media to engage young people and build trust within the hiring process. (TAKE A POLL: Is the Government Doing Enough to Address Unemployment?)
One government department that does this excellently is the National Parks Service. At the highest and most local levels of the NPS, young people are normalizing the brilliance of America’s National Parks by communicating on a level young people appreciate. The best of these is the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. (TAKE A POLL: Do You Feel Confident About the Current State of the Economy?)
“Please do not call our biologists if you find a snake in your house. What you really need is a certified realtor,” is just one example of how their young, female-led team is entertaining and informative. Hopefully, this trend tracks across all levels of government soon!
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