Communications of the ACM
The Government Is Now the Hottest Tech Employer in Town
Workers see jobs in government as affecting people's lives for good.
Credit: Getty Images
After a year of massive layoffs made jobs at major tech firms look unstable, the U.S. government has come to be seen as an appealing, innovative employer.
With the market yet to right itself, and some people reexamining the role big tech firms play in society, public sector roles, complete with perks like pensions and a warm, fuzzy do-good feeling, are suddenly proving popular.
Case in point: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hired 1,068 people into tech jobs over the past year, meeting its hiring goal. To do so, the agency adjusted pay to narrow the gap between government and private sector roles, resulting in an average salary increase of $18,000.
It also reworked its application and recruiting strategies; rather than wait for workers to come to the hiring website, it went to find them at LinkedIn Live events and conferences.
"This has been a moment where folks have started pausing and started thinking about where they can make the most difference," says Jennifer Anastasoff, executive director at Tech Talent Project.
From Wired
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