The Internship Imperative: Building Pathways into Public Service : The Volcker Alliance , April 13 , 2026
The Internship Imperative: Building Pathways into Public Service : The Volcker Alliance , April 13 , 2026
From the report: "Government faces a workforce crisis. Experienced workers are retiring faster than agencies can replace them, and state and local positions sit unfilled for months or years. These gaps are not abstract: They imperil emergency response, delay permits and infrastructure, strain health care systems, and undercut basic public services.
At the same time, the pipeline of young talent into government has slowed to a trickle. State and local government workforces are significantly older than the broader labor force, with relatively few employees at the beginning of their careers pursuing work in public service. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median age of the public-service workforce is 45.6, older than nearly every other industry in the United States.¹ As the pipeline has atrophied, governments have further reduced their reliance on full-time, early-career professionals, compounding the crisis.
These trends carry consequences. Generation Z—despite its strong values orientation—is skeptical of government as a vehicle for change: Only 37 percent view working in government as effective, and nearly half say they would not even consider a government career.² This disconnect threatens government’s ability to deliver."
Authors - Ackelsberg, Matan, Corrin, MayaSubjects
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