Millennials in Government

As discussed in The Washington Post by Lisa Rein, a recent briefing by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta on the 2014 Employee Viewpoint Survey highlighted some of the unique trends emerging of federal workers aged 33 and younger.

This age group of "[employees] born after 1980 now make up 16 percent of the workforce, and according to a forthcoming survey of federal employees, 86 of those who responded said their work is important. They feel their bosses treat them with respect (83 percent) and support their professional development (66 percent)... [However,] millennials tend to not stay in their jobs for long — just 3.8 years on average," writes Rein. Despite happier dispositions toward work than their older counterparts, "just one-third of the millennials surveyed believed their agencies value creativity and innovation. And only 34 percent reported that they have opportunities to advance in government."

In the press briefing, Archuleta also noted that federal millennial workers "tend to concentrate in the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Agriculture and Interior departments," and pointed out how "they are looking for work that is purpose-driven and where they think they can make a difference."