Management careers with the Federal Government are not just for MPA majors anymore. Due to the decline in corporate hiring of MBA students, the interest in government MBA jobs in the United States is up substantially. This trend may change though as the economy recovers and the private sector heats up; however, for now a job is better than no paycheck at all and many students may be looking at the full picture including a pension which has become rare with many corporate employers today.

Does the Government Hire MBA Grads?

Did you know there are more than 200,000 business careers in the U.S. Federal Government? With job losses mounting during the past recession, MBA government careers created a paradigm shift for students who typically sought high flying, Wall Street careers. MBA students sought the stability of public service and the chance to make a difference as new regulatory agencies have been created or proposed to deal with massive new programs like TARP and bankruptcy issues. Many faculty members at top business schools have had frank discussions with their students about where the future job market is.

Where are the Jobs for MBA Graduates?

Also, remember a wave of baby boomer retirements is nearing for the public sector. This will create numerous vacancies for MBA’s within the Federal Government. Typical areas hiring MBA’s within the U.S. Federal Government include the following:

  • FDIC
  • NASA
  • Labor Department
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • National Security Agency
  • Federal Reserve Board
  • Department of Defense
  • Department of the Treasury

New MBA hires for the next several years will be critical as they work to craft how the government will be involved with regulating commerce. The Obama Administration in the United States has shown an increasing desire to improve regulations surrounding several industries. Many MBA graduates have shown an interest to be a part of this historical shift in legislative regulations.

What Types of Career Paths are Available with the Government?

The following is a list of possible categories of career paths available with the Federal Government for business majors:

  • Accounting
  • Auditing
  • Budget Analysis
  • Contracting
  • Financial Analysis
  • Human Resources
  • Internal Revenue Agent
  • Loan Specialist

MBA students have been showing a desire to not only make money, but moreso they would like to make a difference. When they can make a difference, have a decent paycheck to pay back student loans, and also land a nice benefits package including a rare pension, then why wouldn’t a job with a government agency make sense?