Press Release: Civic Match Survey Reveals Federal Workers’ Unshaken Commitment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: civicmatch@moonshot-company.com
Monday April 21, 2025, 6 am EST
New Civic Match Survey Reveals Federal Workers’ Unshaken Commitment to Public Service Despite Layoffs and Uncertainty
Monday April 21, Brooklyn, NY — Civic Match, a nonprofit initiative by Work for America, released a new survey today showing that federal workers—despite job insecurity and ongoing fear of layoffs—remain deeply committed to continuing their careers in public service. A first of its kind, the survey provides a powerful, humanizing glimpse into the current lives and choices of terminated federal workers, including more than 8,000 (and counting) people using Civic Match’s platform to find new job opportunities in state and local government right now.
The survey is available HERE and a longer policy report is available HERE. Infographics are available for download HERE.
“The data confirms what we’ve heard again and again: thousands of public servants are ready to relocate, reimagine their careers, and help rebuild trust in government—this time at the state and local level,” said Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director of Work for America. “If cities and states act now, they won’t just gain talent—they’ll gain seasoned experts in their fields, ready to shape the future of public service.”
KEY FINDINGS
Public Service Remains a Calling: Despite economic uncertainty, 52% of surveyed workers said they are almost certain or very likely to pursue state or local government jobs. Only 7% reported being less interested in public service since recent layoffs.
Early Career Professionals Lead the Charge: Among respondents with 1–3 years of experience, a staggering 74% plan to stay in public service—highlighting a strong pipeline of early-career talent eager to serve.
Willing to Relocate: 54% of federal workers said they are open to relocating for the right job, and among those, 77% are willing to move to small or mid-sized cities—underscoring their flexibility and dedication.
Putting Purpose Before Politics: Up to 60% of respondents said they would be willing to work for a mayor or governor from the opposing political party. Among early career professionals (1–3 years experience), that number rises to 67%—a clear sign this workforce is driven by mission, not partisanship.
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
“I relocated from Atlanta to Kansas City for a federal job because I believe it is truly a great honor to serve my country... I’ve applied to every local city and state job I can find—I’m determined not to give up.”
Eva, Kansas City, MO
“Working for the government has always been my dream. It’s what I went to college and started law school for.”
Beverley, Atlanta, GA
“After nearly 20 years in state and nonprofit public service, I was thrilled to serve at the federal level. I’m not sure what comes next, but I still believe deeply in the mission.”
Jess, Laramie, WY
“I have spent 28 years in public service, and though I am less than four years away from reaching retirement age, I still have so much knowledge and expertise to offer, and want to continue working.”
Jay G, Raleigh NC
A TALENT POOL READY TO BE TAPPED
Since launching in November 2024, Civic Match has received applications from 8,000 (and counting) federal workers looking for new state and local government job opportunities in 190 cities across 47 states. Since January 20, 2025, Civic Match has seen a 15x increase in federal workers using its platform to find new state and local government jobs. 38% of federal workers on Civic Match’s platform are looking for a job because they were fired, terminated or had their role eliminated.
Civic Match’s program has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, CBS News, Bloomberg, Politico and ABC News for its efforts to address the current federal workforce crisis.
ABOUT CIVIC MATCH
Civic Match was launched in November 2024 with the goal of keeping great public servants in public service. Civic Match is an initiative of the nonpartisan nonprofit organization Work for America, whose mission is to make public service a desirable, accessible, and stable career path for American families across all walks of life.
