The following is from Stanford Social Innovation Review:
As of 2023, nearly 20 million people were employed by the government at the state and local level. State and local government employees play a significant role in supporting and uplifting their local communities by making a direct impact through the essential services they provide such as policing, engineering, maintenance, skilled trades, dispatch, and information technology. Despite playing a crucial role, government agencies across the United States are facing increased challenges.
In 2023, 114,500 government workers retired, with more departures imminent as the Gen X workforce—comprising 42 percent of government employees— eyes retirement. With only 8 percent of government employees under the age of 30, agencies need help to prepare for this impending generational shift and find an effective way to attract a younger workforce. Since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025, the federal workforce has undergone significant reductions. Estimates indicate that over 200,000 federal employees have left their positions through a combination of layoffs, terminations, and voluntary buyouts.
This generational imbalance is even impacting booming states like Colorado. While the state’s economy is ranked number 4 in the nation by US News and World Report, the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration reported a public sector vacancy rate of 23 percent via the Denver Post, with 7,500 state government positions open as of July 19, 2023. Gen Z has the power to help solve this problem and strengthen the government’s impact—but first, the public sector must bring them on board.
Gen Z Perceptions of Government
Gen Z currently comprises less than 2 percent of government employees nationwide with a 12 percent turnover rate, twice that of other age groups. Forty-four percent of recent graduates say they would not consider a government job, let alone pursue one. To change Gen Z’s perception of government, the public sector will need to revolutionize the role of government in people’s lives and nurture a next-gen workforce committed to outcomes and responsive services. That shift could be the key to unlocking Gen Z’s interest, especially because they already aspire to do meaningful work. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial survey, 39 percent of Gen Z respondents said they value a job that lets them make a difference in the world, and only 32 percent named money as their biggest career motivator.