The recent poll confirmed that college grads are keen to
seek out competitive pay and benefits, and where the
private sector may offer slightly higher salary, federal
student loan repayment incentives could prove a leg up
for federal recruiters that know how to pitch it well.
Another statistic: 78 percent of agencies reporting to
the Office of Personnel Management on use of the federal
student loan repayment program in 2004 said it helped
them with recruitment and retention efforts — though many
said they lack budget funds to put toward repayments.
Legislation is pending in the House to make federal
student loan payments — considered taxable income to
employees — tax free, which could help agencies leverage
the program to even greater effect.