Are government jobs still "good"? My dad has been swearing that government jobs are amazing his whole life. He pushed us into this field, but I'm not sure his judgment was correct.

Your dad's judgment was solid until this year. And in fairness, he could not have anticipated the stupidity we've all had to endure.

I guess depending on who you know. I was let go from a government job years ago. They use the at will as an excuse. I had been at the job for 3 years. 2 years under a contract and then got the actual federal job. Now during this time they used me to train people who came in over me (GS-14), I was a GS 12. They hired me on the condition that I would be on probation again. I had previously worked 7 years with 2 other government employers. Technically, this was illegal, but no one was brave enough to speak up. Here's the kicker. One day before this new probation was to end, they let me go. The union was trash and didn't help. At the end, they slid someone into my position (depends on who you know), he could not pass/score high enough to make the hiring list. This is because, he did not know the job. They made up contracts for him and kept him around. Now, over 10 years later, I got hired as a contractor again. This time under a different administration and I worked from home. I didn't have to see any of the previous employers in person. However, someone saw my name on some paper work and guess what? I'm the talk again. The devil is still working on them. What's crazy is no one can take away my work ethics. My evaluation was still awesome, for being a newbie... I was told. My percentile in my performance was over 90%. Wherever I work, I'm going to exceed all expectations. 🧡

Have you watched the news.

For the majority of the past 100 or so years, I'd say he was right. That's no longer the case thanks to DOGE and the current administration. The stability that used to come with government work is gone.

A few Administrations have over-hired, leading to the current mass layoffs. I have worked for two different Federal sectors under two different Administrations and each has experienced recissions, layofffs, and/or sequestration (Obama reduced the Federal workforce by ~400,000, my first experience). As a Hispanic Cherokee with a Schedule A disability, I experienced EEO confirmed discrimination in both jobs...I worked for 10 years on the railroad as a Locomotive Engineer, before PSR made life difficult and they fired me for taking time off for my disability (yes, yet another discrimination experience). Given my work ethic and skillset, I don't understand it, but Government is a touchy thing to work for if you are not supported by nepotism. My grandparents and parents worked for and retired from Federal service, it's a completely different environment now, comparatively.

Your dad was probably on CSRS retirement system which was amazing. FERS is a much lesser system. I’ve found private industry to have far better and cheaper health, dental, vision insurance plans, with better pay and bonuses. The lifeline pension, PTO, and earlier retirement are the only benefits that are enticing. If you are a high achiever you will be frustrated in gov work. Years of DEI hiring and promotions are still wrecking leadership and cultures in most gov agencies. People complaining and blaming current admin are likely low achievers who ride the system and live on the massively bloated system that’s rendered it mostly ineffective. They know they likely won’t make it in the private sector for lack of talent and/motivation. They will swear their performance reports were all great but in gov, all managers give everyone great performance reviews all the time, even if untrue. Everyone gets participation trophies even if they are a disaster, and there are many in every gov org but no one could get fired until current admin.

It was true until recently. But there are some areas where things will not change.

Yes. It depends on which field you go into. Engineering, military, aerospace, and utilities will always be funded. As much as I dislike this administration, I went to a conference two years ago for EEO and HR professionals in which no one knew their jobs and the laws they are charged with upholding. 75% of those people I met no longer have jobs, and I see why. If you get a bachelor's of science degree, you'll never have to worry about a job application for a position again. The key is to get a degree, get hired on as an intern, or student trainee, and you'll be all set.