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Washington, D.C.—The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today unveiled its latest public service campaign—including an effort to encourage parents to discuss potential federal careers with their children.

The nationwide campaign, which features a video of NTEU members discussing their career choices with their children, will use social media, blogs and broadcast interviews to get the word out to families about federal careers. At the same time, the campaign will highlight the dedication, skill and critical work of federal employees.

“Parents play a key role in the career choices their children make, yet most do not encourage their kids to explore federal service,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. “We want to get the message out that the federal workplace offers tremendous opportunity to perform fascinating and vital work that impacts every American in important ways.”

The potential problem for federal agencies is real, she said. A survey for NTEU by Ipsos Public Affairs of more than 1,000 adults with children between the ages of 8 and 22 showed that only 37 percent of parents had ever discussed a possible federal career with their child. At the same time, about 31 percent of the federal government—about 600,000 current employees—will be eligible to retire by 2017.

Even with the growing opportunities available in the federal government, parents report that only 8 percent of children want to work for the federal government and only 6 percent are considering a career in the military.

Federal work, President Kelley emphasized, impacts the nation significantly, including protecting the borders; safeguarding the nation’s food supply and medicines; keeping bank deposits safe; ensuring the quality of air and water, preserving our national heritage; protecting public health; and much more.

“We need to stomp out the stereotypes. Nobody wants to grow up to be a bureaucrat, but lots of kids want to grow up to be a park ranger, an astronaut, a scientist or an FBI agent,” said Kelley. “Our country needs talented young people to aspire to public service.”

College-bound students should note that more federal workers have college degrees than private sector workers, with 21 percent holding a master’s degree, professional degree or doctorate versus 9 percent of private sector workers.

The NTEU survey found parents have favorable impressions of federal jobs: 74 percent of the parents believe federal jobs are stable and well-paid; 70 percent said they provide career growth; 76 percent agree that federal workers provide important services to the public; and 56 percent said they believe the jobs are personally fulfilling.

President Kelley said: “The work of federal employees helps large numbers of people and drives positive change. Fifty federal employees have won the Nobel Prize. Every federal employee takes pride in that accomplishment, and in the work they do every day.”

The “Federal Careers” video and more information on the campaign can be found at www.theyworkforus.org.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.