Should I stay a state employee or should I leave and get non-state job?

[S.B.G]

You should stick with your state job because there much more benefits with state oriented jobs as compare to non state jobs. the job security is also more strongly associated with state jobs but in a non state job you are not sure about your job safety

That is not always true. It depends on the State and it's economic conditions as well as it's politics. I considered hiring on with the Michigan State Police as a radio technician back in 2001. But they had a hiring freeze at the time and later, after a new governor was elected, State departments were reorganized, several times over the years, and that position and department went away. Had I been hired, I'd have lost my job within two years, especially being a newbie with no seniority.

 

[maflynn]

I'd have lost my job within two years, especially being a newbie with no seniority.

Yeah, there is no job is security at this point, municipalities have laid off many people for a variety of reasons.

 

[S.B.G]

Yeah, there is no job is security at this point, municipalities have laid off many people for a variety of reasons.

Yep, over the last 13 years I've watched the State of Michigan departments, mostly the State Police, and their various iterations of a technology department go through a lot of hard and lean times and people getting laid off. I'm glad I never became a State employee. Instead, I've been a County employee all this time. The County hasn't been without it's hard times either, but I've been fortunate to have kept my job this whole time.

 

[GoCubsGo]

That is not always true. It depends on the State and it's economic conditions as well as it's politics. I considered hiring on with the Michigan State Police as a radio technician back in 2001. But they had a hiring freeze at the time and later, after a new governor was elected, State departments were reorganized, several times over the years, and that position and department went away. Had I been hired, I'd have lost my job within two years, especially being a newbie with no seniority.

I'm familiar with your state situation within a regulatory office. What started with forced furlough went into reorganizations of departments at least once a year for a good number of years. The area I deal with is on the radar on a national level and yet they still weren't protected. 8 employees within a small area that I had dealings with are now down to 4.

State jobs aren't exactly secure these days but they're probably slightly more secure than some private sector jobs. For this OP, he's been on this track for over a year, it appears, and still appears to have not made much of a move. It is probably for the better based on what he has written.

OP, I am not sure of the school situation if you have a BA already but if schooling does help then do it, if you can afford to.