In a strategic pivot to last year’s workforce cuts, the Trump administration is launching a new initiative aimed at attracting Gen Z professionals to federal jobs, with a focus on rebuilding a shrinking early-career talent pool. According to a Fox News report, officials say the move is designed to “re-cool government” and better compete with private sector opportunities.
only 7% Federal workforce Under 30, authorities flag concern
The push comes amid concerns over a growing federal workforce. Only 7% of federal employees are under the age of 30, significantly lower than the roughly 22% seen in the broader non-government workforce.The gap could pose long-term risks to institutional continuity and operational readiness, officials warned. “By a factor of 3:1, the federal government is heavily indexed on early-career talent,” an official told Fox News Digital.
Transfer from layoff to employment after deduction of DOGE.
The hiring drive marks a marked turnaround from last year, when the Department of Government Efficiency led massive workforce cuts. More than 75,000 federal employees chose deferred resignation, along with more than 280,000 layoffs in federal roles and contractor positions.Administration officials defended earlier cuts as necessary to eliminate inefficiencies, adding that younger workers were largely unaffected. The current effort, he says, is focused on rebuilding capabilities with early-career talent.
New ‘Early Career Talent Network’ to Drive Recruitment
At the heart of the initiative is a new platform launched by the US Office of Personnel Management in collaboration with the White House. The “Early Career Talent Network” aims to connect young professionals across agencies to full-time federal roles.Recruitment will initially focus on five high-demand areas:
- Finance
- Human resources
- Engineering
- Project management
- Acquisitive
Officials emphasized that demonstrated skills will be prioritized over traditional credentials such as a college background or years of experience in hiring.
‘Make government cool again’: Campus outreach planned.
OPM Director Scott Cooper said the initiative is about building a sustainable talent pipeline while making public services more accessible and attractive to younger generations.“He wants to convey that early-career professionals can work on meaningful, high-impact projects and gain valuable expertise in both the public and private sectors,” an official told Fox News Digital.As part of the outreach, officials plan to visit college and university campuses later this year to promote awareness and recruitment.
