Younger Feds Happier With Jobs

Federal workers age 25 and younger are generally more satisfied with their jobs, pay and benefits than workers in other age groups, according to data from the 2010 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

The survey results, released Monday, found differences, sometimes significant, among the two groups in the Millennial generation - those age 25 and under and those age 26 to 29 - and older workers when it comes to satisfaction with jobs, pay, benefits and other issues. For example, 75.4 percent of those age 25 and under said they are satisfied with their jobs, compared to 73 percent of those age 26 to 29 and 69.9 percent of those age 30 to 39, the survey found. In addition, 69.2 percent of those age 25 and under said they are satisfied with their pay, compared to 65.9 percent of those age 26 to 29 and around 66 percent of those age 40 and older.

Younger millennials also were the most likely to say that performance and compensation are linked and to report satisfaction with recognition and rewards for doing a good job. For example, 58.3 percent of those age 25 and younger said they are satisfied with the recognition they receive for doing a good job. That was higher than the percentage for any other age group and exceeded the governmentwide average of 52.2 percent by more than 6 percentage points. More than 38 percent of workers under age 25 said pay raises were dependent on job performance, compared to the governmentwide average of just 26.3 percent, the survey found.

Younger millennials also are the most likely to recommend their organization or agency as a good place to work, with 79.1 percent saying they would do so, compared to 74.1 percent of those age 26 to 29 and just 69 percent of those age 50 to 59, the survey found. In addition, 57.2 percent of those age 25 and younger said their work unit is able to recruit people with the right skills, compared to the governmentwide average of just 45.8 percent.

The government still lacks in rewarding employees for creativity and innovation, a view that was supported by all age groups, the survey found. Only 45.4 percent of those under 25 said innovation was rewarded, compared to 41.3 percent of those age 26 to 29 and just 42 percent of those age 60 and older.

On telework programs, 35.2 percent of those age 25 and under said they were satisfied, compared to 38.4 percent of those age 26 to 29 and 33.7 percent of those age 60 and older. The youngest feds gave their senior leaders the most credit for supporting work/life programs, however, with 67.7 percent saying their senior leaders support those programs, compared to the governmentwide average of just 54.7 percent giving their senior leaders a positive review on work/life balance.

There also was a disconnect among age groups when asked whether managers support collaboration across work units to accomplish work objectives. For example, 68.9 percent of those age 25 and younger said their managers support collaboration, compared to 64 percent of those age 26 to 29 and an average of 57 percent for all other age groups.