When I first started working for the State of Michigan, the pay was below industry standards but the benefits were great.  Unfortunately, you needed to work there for 10 years before you would be fully vested in their pension program.  And of course, after 10 years you were pretty much established and were inclined to stay.

But, about 20 years ago, the State eliminated the pension in favor of a 401K.  This meant that new hires could take their money and run when ever they felt like it.  So instead of having a career job, the State became a place where people worked until they could find something better.  As a result, prime employee moved on to better jobs and the seconds remained at the State.  Thus the expression “Good enough for government work.”