Perceptions of Public Servants
Tracking how Americans view public sector workers and their work
Public discourse and popular culture often portray public servants as lazy, inefficient, and rigid. But what do Americans actually think about public sector employees?
Through an ongoing series of quarterly, nationally representative surveys, we are tracking Americans’ Perceptions of Public Servants to better understand how the public views public sector workers and their work, and what changes these beliefs.
Findings from the initial survey rounds show:
01
Most Americans view public sector workers favorably, but not as favorably as private sector workers—especially when it comes to innovation.
02
Democrats tend to hold more positive views of public sector workers than Republicans and Independents.
03
Views vary widely by type of public servant: firefighters are viewed favorably, while election officials, police officers, and especially ICE agents are viewed much less favorably, with large differences by party.
04
Labels shape stereotypes. Americans consistently view “public servants” as more warm, competent, and high in integrity than “bureaucrats” and “government employees.”
05
Beliefs about public sector workers—especially their perceived integrity—strongly predict interest in public sector careers.
06
Beliefs about public servants’ competence and integrity are closely related to beliefs about government efficiency—even after accounting for broader trust in government.
Perceptions of Public Servants is generously funded by the Harvard Kennedy School Dean’s Office.