Industry News

On December 31, 2021, the MissionSquare Research Institute (formerly the Center for State and Local Government Excellence at ICMA-RC or SLGE) released its infographic, Six Workforce Trends to Watch in 2022. The Institute researched how public sector employers can manage and support their current workforce as well as attract new key talent.

The infographic provides various strategies and actions that state and local governments can take to improve retention and recruitment. It also focuses on the competitive advantage of public sector employers including: flexibility; remote work opportunities; childcare; paid family leave; and mental health care.  

The key public sector workforce trends include:

• Focusing on the importance of public sector roles;
• Monitoring burnout;
• Supporting sustainable retirement benefits;
• Exploring beyond traditional benefits;
• Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals; and
• Concentrating on the drivers of the Great Resignation. 

Although the pandemic has been challenging, it has helped to recognize and reinforce the value of local government and the public sector. According to the Institute, strong pension plans are an important benefit provided by public employers to retain and attract employees. It states, “Given the efforts of many governments to pay annual required contributions to their pension plans, along with healthy investment returns, overall public pensions are stable and well positioned heading into the new year.”

The infographic is available here.