With Millennials comprising only 8.5 percent of the federal workforce, agencies must attract, hire and retain top talent from colleges and universities to ensure our government is positioned to tackle the country’s most pressing problems. What steps do agencies need to take to address this challenge? How can they do a better job of attracting the best and brightest?

In an analysis, the Partnership for Public Service working with the National Association of Colleges and Employers analyzed a survey of more than 37,000 students from 646 colleges and universities, asking about everything from their expectations about their first job to whether they would consider a career in public service. The results revealed a complex picture. While only 2 percent of college students surveyed said they planned to enter federal service after graduation, 5.7 percent listed federal service as their ideal career. To help capitalize on this interest, the analysis includes strategies that federal managers and recruiters can employ to better draw top graduates.