Workforce
State and local governments face a tight labor market and a competitive disadvantage with the private sector. But salaries aren’t the only issue, with cities, counties and states all grappling with training, retention, remote work and increased union activity.
Some states that have dropped degree requirements for public-sector jobs still force non-degree training providers to navigate a labyrinth of rules as if they were traditional colleges. It’s a fundamental roadblock to economic mobility.
State and local retirement systems should collaborate to develop an AI-powered digital assistant to help government employees make better financial decisions throughout their careers. Hand-me-downs from the private sector won't cut it.
The payoff from effective personnel policies is a heightened sense of residents’ confidence in government and quality of life.
Employers can get up to $5,000 per employee if training programs boost pay by at least 25 percent and exceed regional median wages.
Blame Ozempic. And maybe tariffs.
Starting pay must be at least 62 percent of average district pay. That’s lifted morale and reduced vacancies in Billings by 70 percent.
From Dallas to New York, departments are easing or ending college degree expectations hoping to broaden their recruitment pool.
Manufacturing payrolls shrank in August for the fourth straight month.
Federal funding and streamlined community college curriculum could make it easier to get on track for steady, well-paid employment.
Even during a time of inflation, there are ways to relieve financial pressures on families.
The state’s Roth IRA program has signed up more than 20,500 employees and will soon mandate employer participation if no other plan exists.
Are vehicles like private equity, crypto and real estate a good fit for 401(k)-style public retirement plans — or too risky for savers? Marketers will soon be pitching these “alternative investments” to public employers. Prudence dictates caution.
Driven by rising poverty and inadequate retirement income, older people are increasingly turning to employment, with labor force participation in urban areas climbing more steeply.
Local government jobs weren’t a focus for career technical education at a Central Texas school district until a new human resources director came to Cedar Park.
A recent survey found over half of rural ERs in the Dakotas lack 24/7 attending physician coverage, prompting reliance on physician assistants, nurse practitioners and remote consultant support.
Officers report clearer records, better training and more accountability, though budget and privacy questions remain.
The new tax and spending law’s requirements for food assistance and Medicaid impose costly administrative burdens on states and localities. Widely misunderstood rules for taxing overtime will intensify the administrative pain. Public employers should start preparing their workers for the confusion to come.
Funding cuts eliminate nearly half the grants, forcing nonprofits to downsize and cancel internships, leaving thousands adrift.
Labor and delivery units have closed and recruitment has collapsed, with physician leaders warning the workforce loss could take decades to recover.
For incarcerated people, books can bring hope and new understanding, prepare them for jobs on the outside or simply help pass the time. But they’re often hard to get.
The right policies can help more regions take advantage of AI for economic growth and prepare against some of its harms, according to a new report.
Most people are able to apply online but only about a third of those who call reach a live person. The number of call center employees has dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past two years.
With enrollment trending down, colleges are simplifying the process for students to get credit for skills they already have, which can save them both time and money.
While one stated purpose of worksite immigration raids is to remove illegal competition from the labor marketplace, the reality is far messier.
The state is trying to make apprenticeships a common offering in high school, but there are challenges, including a shortage of interested businesses.
The initiative was created four years ago to combat Colorado’s teacher shortage. More than 2,000 people have received grants from the program since its creation.
Employers aren’t happy with the skills today’s college graduates bring to the workplace. A few states are addressing the problem with effective work-based learning programs.
Arizona has seen more turnover in its election offices than most states. A fellowship program showed a path for attracting young workers to these jobs.
In January, Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order calling for state workers to return to the office. The state is no longer allowing hybrid work arrangements, with everyone either at home or at the office full time.
One California re-entry program boasts a 92 percent success rate in helping former prisoners find jobs or continue schooling — and keep from reoffending.
A series of new laws expanded workforce programs through high schools, community colleges and apprenticeships.
