Industry News

Recently, 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 2023. The research found that the public sector faces significant challenges in hiring and retaining employees in various critical areas. However, governments are utilizing strategies which have helped with creative outreach techniques, ongoing employee engagement and professional development to acquire new skills.

The research indicates that the most difficult positions to fill over the past year are in policing (78%), corrections/jails (77%), health care (physicians/nurses) (76%), engineering (73%), mental health professionals (71%), dispatch (71%) and skilled trades (71%).

In addition, the research found that about 35% of respondents indicated that retirement-eligible employees are accelerating their plans for retirement while 22% have postponed their retirement date.

Other key findings include: 

• 53% of respondents hired more full-time staff in 2022 than in 2021;
• 62% implemented broad-based pay increases;
• 61% allowed for flexible schedules;
• 58% provided for regular hybrid scheduling for eligible positions;
• 46% hired temporary or contract employees; and
• Only about 30% believe employees are financially prepared for retirement. 

State and local governments continue to deal with a challenging recruitment environment and are deploying new strategies to attract and retain public service workers. Some are offering hiring bonuses, increasing salaries, amending degree requirements and job descriptions, expanding recruiting methods and implementing non-traditional benefits or other retention programs.

The survey included responses from 249 human resource managers with 80% from local governments and 20% from state governments. 

The report is available here.