What predicts the public’s views about government workers?
Project Summary
Public discourse and popular culture often present a negative image of public servants that may shape broader views of public service and the experiences of public servants. In the US, recent events and rhetoric have reinforced negative stereotypes of public servants. The People Lab is conducting a series of online studies to better understand the US public’s views and stereotypes about public sector workers, how perceptions may shift over time, and how they are related to broader views about the government and policy-relevant outcomes.
Why is this issue important?
Current rhetoric around public service and public servants may be exacerbating existing stereotypes and perpetuating falsehoods in ways that could affect who is willing to work for government in the future, as well as public support for policy and institutional changes related to the role of government. Despite this, there is little research on the prevalence of stereotypes about public sector workers in the US, predictors of these stereotypes, and how these perceptions may shape individuals’ beliefs about government work, the role of government, and other key policy preferences.
What are we doing?
We are launching a series of nationally representative “pulse surveys” to track public perceptions of government workers over time, measuring not only how respondents stereotype public servants, but also how these views correlate with individual demographics, prior interactions with government, and broader views of government and policy preferences.
What have we learned?
This project is ongoing. We expect to release initial findings from ongoing surveys in Spring 2026.