Pros
Good benefits. A permanent employee is almost never fired, no matter how incompetent. Opportunities to join other agencies, shared employee pool. Union represented. Some opportunities to advance
Cons
Pay is behind the times, some employees qualify for public assistance. Technology is prehistoric. Age diversity is a problem - overall state workers are older, peer groups for 20 and 30 something's is non-existent. Time in grade/seniority are heavily weighted in hiring decisions. Rampant cronyism. Employees get to be the public face of whatever scandal the higher-ups have gotten themselves into: Cover Oregon, Data Breaches, Governor's Ethnics Violations/Resignation, misappropriation of funds etc. During contract negotiation time (currently every 2 years) - open enmity between represented and non-represented. Education and private sector experience is a wild card - could actually hold you back. Office drama varies by location.