# I'm hearing government jobs are no longer stable??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005 "2014-07-13T18:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/1 "2014-07-13T18:17:40Z")
Well damm I didn’t want to hear that after being told that you will always have a job once you have a city or state job. So where are the stable jobs? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/2 "2014-07-13T18:43:36Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Well damm I didn’t want to hear that after being told that you will always have a job once you have a city or state job. > > So where are the stable jobs? If you ever find out, let me know. Even city and state jobs have been subject to political winds. I know someone who was shuttled out of a NJ position when Christie came in , despite being there through several administrations, both Republican and Democratic. Christie wanted to “clean house” and re-stock a lot of positions. ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/3 "2014-07-13T18:54:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you ever find out, let me know. > > Even city and state jobs have been subject to political winds. I know someone who was shuttled out of a NJ position when Christie came in , despite being there through several administrations, both Republican and Democratic. Christie wanted to “clean house” and re-stock a lot of positions. I can’t stay employed for 3 years straight due to political winds ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/4 "2014-07-13T19:52:35Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Well damm I didn’t want to hear that after being told that you will always have a job once you have a city or state job. > > So where are the stable jobs? [Right here.](http://www.equistaff.com/JobsInUnitedStates.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/5 "2014-07-13T23:34:01Z")
In the United States there are no jobs for life, not for the city, the state, the federal government, or any private sector company. Stable maybe, but never “always have a job.” You can often make tradeoffs of stability for compensation or other aspects, and working hard and being productive always helps, but there are never guarantees. What are you qualified to do? ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/6 "2014-07-13T23:43:07Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > In the United States there are no jobs for life, not for the city, the state, the federal government, or any private sector company. Stable maybe, but never “always have a job.” You can often make tradeoffs of stability for compensation or other aspects, and working hard and being productive always helps, but there are never guarantees. > > What are you qualified to do? I am a job counselor for my city and had plans of doing it on the state level in 3 or 4 years ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/7 "2014-07-13T23:55:07Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Well damm I didn’t want to hear that after being told that you will always have a job once you have a city or state job. > > So where are the stable jobs? All of the stable jobs you will find now are in the horse industry. ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/8 "2014-07-13T23:57:18Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > All of the stable jobs you will find now are in the horse industry. I don’t like the sound of that at all ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/9 "2014-07-14T00:09:29Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Well damm I didn’t want to hear that after being told that you will always have a job once you have a city or state job. > > So where are the stable jobs? Government jobs are no longer stable??? Is that what you’re hearing??? Holy shit??? What are we going to do about this??? Holy Fucking Shit??? ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/10 "2014-07-14T00:12:14Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Government jobs are no longer stable??? > Is that what you’re hearing??? > Holy shit??? > What are we going to do about this??? > Holy Fucking Shit??? Looks like become criminals ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/11 "2014-07-14T00:26:57Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Government jobs are no longer stable??? > Is that what you’re hearing??? > Holy shit??? > What are we going to do about this??? > Holy Fucking Shit??? \< snicker \> I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/12 "2014-07-14T01:03:37Z")
Things must be bad if a professional job counselor is asking for job advice from random strangers on the Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/13 "2014-07-14T01:07:42Z")
> [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > Things must be bad if a professional job counselor is asking for job advice from random strangers on the Straight Dope. Things are bad everywhere, where you been? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/14 "2014-07-14T01:37:39Z")
My federal job is being privatized. Actually, the site is being privatized; I may not even have a job once that happens. So, it’s pretty much a pervasive issue. ETA: “Hey, we had a great run when we were your age, but now that you’re the trailing edge of the baby boomers, every perk we had is going to be ripped from your hands. Just because.” ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/15 "2014-07-14T01:38:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > My federal job is being privatized. Actually, the site is being privatized; I may not even have a job once that happens. > > So, it’s pretty much a pervasive issue. well I am truly depressed now ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/16 "2014-07-14T11:41:46Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > All of the stable jobs you will find now are in the horse industry. > [@FBJJ](#): > > I don’t like the sound of that at all > [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > Things must be bad if a professional job counselor is asking for job advice from random strangers on the Straight Dope. > [@FBJJ](#): > > Things are bad everywhere, where you been? Well, I guess any work in the field of comedy is right out. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/17 "2014-07-14T12:51:42Z")
My govt employer cut about a third of the positions in my department during the housing bubble collapse. I was lucky in that a few of my coworkers got into some shenannigans and got fired, thereby saving me from the possibility of getting the ax. But we were an extreme situation since we were the second-hardest hit area economically, just behind Los Vegas. It’s dpressing to look at pictures of staff and see only 3 out of 14 people in the pic that still work here. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hearing-government-jobs-are-no-longer-stable/693005/18 "2014-07-14T13:13:02Z")
Federal job here for one of the “3rd rail” agencies. Things are being discussed like telework, office consolidation, etc. but any or all of those things will take years upon years to implement. Telework actually sounds pretty good. My point is that YMMV. State and local seem much more vulnerable and subjected to even the slightest political jetstream. We endured the furlough, but we ended up receiving backpay. The games in Washington have become tiresome, but I don’t think I’ve woken up yet to date and wondered if my job will still be there. I look around at the overall goal / aim of the agency and I don’t think it’s going anywhere.