The stagnant unemployment rate has many college students on edge about their post-graduation career prospects, but one avenue that has gained ground in light of the new economic reality is the possibility of working for the government, at either the state or federal level.

Some seniors are looking closely at the relative stability and availability of jobs at the nation’s largest employer.

“While I’m definitely keeping my options open, working for the government is looking like a more realistic option for me,” said Kelsey Ottesen, a senior Communication major.

Ottesen and other students considering government jobs reflect a recent trend among those readying to enter the work force.

“Across the country, there has been a renewed interest in federal jobs,” said Andrew Harper, the internship coordinator at the St. Edward’s University Career Planning office. “The millennial generation has indicated in research that they want to have a purpose or make a difference in their careers.”

Harper explained that both federal and state governments are looking for more than just political science students, as many different bureaus are seeking potential employees from many different academic backgrounds.

“In addition to the sciences, government employers are looking for more business students,” he said.

Harper believes that part of the reason for the increased effort of the government to recruit students is that many people in government jobs right now are on the verge of retirement.

“The Partnership for Public Service has seen that a lot of baby boomers will be retiring [soon],” Harper said. “They started an initiative called Call To Serve that works with universities to help make access to government jobs, and the [job] process itself, more accessible to students.”

Some students have included government employment as part of their job search to have more options when it comes time to graduate.

“Given the way the job market is, I don’t want to rule out the possibilities,” said Arielle Epstein, a senior Global Studies major.

The job market has improved, but not by much. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment dropped to 9 percent in January.

With all of the economic uncertainty of the past few years, Ottesen said job security could be a factor.

“My mom has been working for the government for 17 years,” Ottesen said. “So I really value the security of a government job.”

In addition, some students see working for the government as a stepping stone on the path towards reaching their ultimate career goals. It can also help them put their degrees to work without having to pursue more education after they receive their undergraduate degrees.

“I really can’t do a lot with my social work degree unless I get a Masters,” said Kelly Bagnall, a senior at The University of Texas. “It would just be an in-between job.”

For St. Edward’s students, Harper said that several different departments from both the state and federal government come to campus throughout the year, including an ambassador from the U.S. Department of State, The FBI, and the IRS.

“They want to inspire more students to work for the federal government,” he said.