Introduction. Enhancing the attractiveness of municipal service is considered today as a priority area of staffing local authorities. At the same time, the contextual conditions of border regions create ambivalence in how municipal service is perceived among young people.
The aim of the article is to identify how student youth perceive the attractiveness of municipal service in the current context, as well as to uncover their motivations, concerns, and expectations regarding work in local government bodies.
Methods. The focus group method was used with 3rd–4th year students majoring in “State and Municipal Administration” of the Kursk Academy of Public and Municipal Service and Kursk State University.
Results. It was found that the key motive for choosing a profession is the desire to engage in socially useful activities (helping people, developing local areas), while pragmatic aspects (stability, benefits) are less widespread. However, natives of rural areas demonstrate a pronounced local identity and willingness to work in their municipalities, but subject to state support – preferential mortgages, health insurance.
The scientific novelty of the study lies in establishing the high significance of territorial identity as a motivating factor in students from border regions choosing to work in municipal authorities.
Practical significance. The proposed recommendations can be used to improve the training process for specialists majoring in “State and Municipal Administration”.