Mod up!
I like that idea of a guarantee federal job. Sort of like a non-violent version of the military. It should have a snappy name, like Civilian...something...Corps maybe?
If it was a large enough of an organization then the support of the organization itself could provide ample employment. Qualified counselors, trainers, etc to 'triage' the incoming 'recruits' for the jobs they are best suited for. Social workers, pre-K/daycare attendants, after school mentors for troubled kids, companionship for elderly. There is SO much work that needs to be done, just no 'market' for those jobs. Yet you just have to look at the financial sector to realize that what the 'market' demands is just shy of total bullshit anyway.
Our student:teacher ratio is something like 30:1. Reducing that significantly would have an effect on our education system an order of magnitude higher than any BS standardized testing regime.