A new analysis by job site Indeed reveals a significant increase in job applications from federal workers targeted by government cuts, with a 50% surge between January and February. The trend is particularly concerning for highly educated workers, who make up 68% of those actively looking for a new job on Indeed.
According to the data, applications from federal workers in agencies targeted by DOGE – such as the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Agriculture – were 75% higher in February than their baseline level in 2022. This suggests that the government cuts are disproportionately affecting workers with advanced degrees.
The surge in job applications is attributed to a “massive shift” in the federal workforce, as economists describe it. While it’s common for the federal workforce to churn during presidential administration changes, this level of turnover is unprecedented.
Indeed’s data also shows a significant increase in searches for specialized job titles commonly found in federal employment, such as policy analyst and compliance specialist. However, these trends are concerning given the cooling white-collar job market and the struggle of displaced workers to find equivalent work in the private sector.
The findings offer early indications of the impact of federal layoffs on the job market and will have implications for 2025. As one economist notes, “the influx of educated workers into the market is coming at a time when job postings for those workers have pulled back.”
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/03/25/federal-workers-job-search-doge-indeed