Televisions. Jewelry. Tools. At Blaine Fortner’s pawnshop in Billings, Mont., there has been a slow but steady increase in one segment of his clientele pawning these and other items in exchange for cash: employees of the federal government.

As the longest government shutdown in American history continues, federal workers who are not getting paid are increasingly turning to pawnbrokers for short-term loans.

The turnout is small — a few people per day — pawnbrokers said, with similar stories emerging from places like Capitol Heights, Md.; Alexandria, Va.; Las Vegas; and Anchorage, Alaska. But many said they expected the numbers to increase amid the stalemate.

“They’re just bringing more and more in because they’re getting behind,” Mr. Fortner said.

About 800,000 federal workers have missed a paycheck during the nearly monthlong shutdown. Thousands have filed for unemployment. Private businesses, banks and charitable organizations are offering help in the form of suspended fees and food banks.