Talented young tech workers should be hired by Uncle Sam

With tech layoffs at their highest since the dot-com crash, the job hunt is getting harder for the comp-sci crowd. Since the start of the year, more than 50,000 positions have been slashed at over 200 tech companies. Many in the industry are being forced to settle for pay cuts, if they can find a new gig at all.

With tech giants tightening their belts, this year’s computer science graduates are facing a job market that’s lost some of its luster. While grads from Ivy League universities are still landing plum positions, many talented coders from solid programs, particularly from public universities, have fewer options. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for the federal government to level up its tech workforce.

Agencies like the Department of Air Force are already sounding the alarm about their urgent need for software experts. The Department of Homeland Security’s AI Corps initiative aims to rapidly hire 50 artificial intelligence specialists. But agencies across the government have a critical need for software professionals. From developing military tech and protecting infrastructure to gathering intelligence and modernizing public services, coding skills are in high demand.

To fully capitalize on the current labor market, the government should target a specific talent pool: graduates from excellent computer science programs at non-elite universities.

By focusing on this often overlooked group, federal agencies can avoid directly competing with tech giants like Google and Meta while still attracting top-notch talent. Many of these graduates have the skills and drive to excel in public service, but may not have the same access to high-profile opportunities as their Ivy League peers.

The government has a compelling pitch to make as an employer. It can offer meaningful work on critical challenges, competitive pay and benefits, job security and superior work-life balance. For mission-driven grads, the chance to serve the nation and make a real impact can be a powerful draw.

In addition, working for the federal government can substantially help grads with their student debt. For instance, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program forgives any remaining Direct Loan balance after 10 years of qualifying payments while working for the government. Federal agencies can also directly repay up to $60,000 of student loans as a hiring incentive, and certain positions offer loan repayment assistance. 

A fast-track hiring process and strong on-campus presence could seal the deal. Even if it is late for this year’s graduates, this investment will pay off in the long run as current labor market conditions may persist for a few more years.

But seizing this moment will require a full-court press to revamp the government’s hidebound HR practices. Cumbersome job applications, prolonged security clearances and an overemphasis on prior government experience all create unnecessary barriers. Agencies should adopt the nimble, candidate-friendly approaches that are common in the private sector to attract and retain top talent.

If agencies move swiftly and strategically, the class of 2024’s loss can be the federal workforce’s gain. By targeting overlooked graduates and rolling out the red carpet, the government can build a pipeline of tech talent for the digital age.

The stakes could not be higher. As conflicts increasingly unfold in the digital domain, the government needs elite tech workers to defend the nation. It can no longer afford to let such talent slip away to Silicon Valley.

Nelson Lim is a senior social scientist at RAND, where he directs the Workforce, Development, and Health program in RAND Project AIR FORCE. He is also a professor of policy analysis at Pardee RAND Graduate School.