Entering the working world in the midst of an economic downturn, recent college graduates are increasingly landing in government and nonprofit jobs, according to The New York Times.

A Times analysis of U.S. Census Bureau survey data showed the number of college graduates going to work for nonprofit groups rose 11 percent in 2009, while the number hired by the federal government grew 16 percent.

National-service programs such as AmeriCorps and Teach for America have seen applications skyrocket since 2008.

Diana Aviv, chief executive of Independent Sector, said she commonly hears of nonprofit positions attracting more than 100 applicants, many of them from Ivy League colleges.

“Some of these people haven’t been employed for a while and are happy to have something.” she said. “But once they’re there, they’ve recalibrated and reoriented themselves toward public service.”