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MissionSquare Releases State and Local Government Workforce Survey Report for 2022

On June 23, 2022, the MissionSquare Research Institute (formerly the Center for State and Local Government Excellence at ICMA-RC or SLGE) published its report, Survey Findings: State and Local Government Workforce 2022. The research found that the public sector faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining employees in various critical areas. The new research indicates that the most difficult positions to fill are in health care (83%), policing (78%), engineering (78%), dispatch (75%), building permitting and inspections (73%), corrections/jails (72%), and skilled trades (71%).

In addition, the research found that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation are causing a higher rate of retirement among the state and local government workforce. About 53% of respondents indicated that retirement-eligible employees are accelerating their retirement plans, which is the highest rate observed since this research began in 2009.

Other key findings include:

  • 55% of respondents hired more full-time staff in 2021 than in 2020;
  • 54% provide for regular hybrid staffing; and
  • Only about 40% believe employees are financially prepared for retirement.

The survey included responses from 319 state and local government human resource staff members.

​The report is available here.