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.
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.
The state’s drop in birth rate has been happening faster than the national average, despite high rates of immigration. Soon, Texas will need to bring in workers from other states to meet labor demands.
Gov. Newsom required state workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing, but many state agencies continue to have low vaccination rates and are not administering weekly testing.
Technology leaders from Connecticut, Minnesota and Vermont shared their approaches to digital service delivery and developing those services “in a way that brings people in.”
Workers across the state quit their job nearly 120,000 times in August, up 30,000 from the same time last year. Nationally, American workers have quit 20 million jobs between April and August.
A recent analysis found that women lost $46 billion and that people of color lost $61 billion in California during 2020 due to the gender and race pay gaps. California has the second smallest gender pay gap in the nation.
One day after the city’s vaccine mandate went into effect, police officers and firefighters are unable to report to work for not being vaccinated. Some have filed for an exemption while others are facing separation.
Establishing a union amongst home health-care workers could ensure access to necessary supplies and better wages, but there are challenges, ranging from employees who typically work alone to high turnover rates.
As Washington state’s vaccine mandate began this week, officials warned workers who quit or are fired over the governor’s vaccine mandate shouldn’t expect to receive unemployment aid. But there are many exceptions.
The state Department of Transportation is looking to hire 500 seasonal plow drivers ahead of winter, but is struggling to find workers. Without enough drivers, clearing roads of snow could take much longer than in prior years.
The state received a warning from the federal government in May 2020 to avoid overly lenient qualifications for pandemic unemployment assistance. The state didn’t update its requirements until June 2021.
A coalition of police officers, firefighters and other city employees have claimed that the city’s COVID-19 vaccine and testing rules are discriminatory. The city has a vaccination rate of approximately 78 percent.
Unlike some government jobs, public finance positions often pay better than private-sector competitors. But an aging workforce and departures at senior levels present challenges.
Most state CIOs expect remote work to continue and for digital services to keep proliferating. That introduces a host of shifting priorities, including a renewed need for cybersecurity enhancements and identity tools.
The law, which ensured employees two weeks of COVID-related paid leave, has expired, forcing many low-wage workers, especially those in agriculture, to choose between their health or their salary.
The law affecting nondisclosure agreements also prevents employers from offering severance agreements that block displaced workers from talking about unlawful acts in the workplace. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s mandate will place state workers who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 on unpaid leave for up to 45 days, and they will also be ineligible for jobless pay. 2.2 percent of workers are still noncompliant.
19 state workers participated in a scheme to fraudulently collect unemployment benefit payments while still holding full-time jobs. Only one was fired, eight were briefly suspended and none were prosecuted.
About 1 percent of Kaiser Permanente employees have been placed on unpaid administrative leave for not getting vaccinated against COVID-19 by the Sept. 30 deadline. To return to work, they must be vaccinated by Dec. 1.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority is looking to develop specialized training and certification that increases an employee’s skill set, value and salary, but implementation still has obstacles to overcome.
As companies across the nation struggle to fill open positions, many employers are turning to the approximately 20 million Americans who have past felony convictions. Some experts believe this could create a lasting impact.
The increase is the first in a series that will eventually raise the state’s wage to $15 an hour. The wage raise is the first in the country to be approved by ballot measure, which was passed by 61 percent of voters.
Connecticut’s Southeast Area Transit District bus drivers are calling for improved workplace safety protections amid a rise in assaults against bus operators during the coronavirus pandemic.
The state consistently ranks in the top 10 states for workers with H-1B visa, but there’s a limited number of work permits available each year and political battles have delayed meaningful reform to increase the visas.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to keep Florida open have led many state employees to publicly voice concerns that departments are not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
While private employers add workers, multiple factors hold back return of public noneducation jobs.
Thousands of Connecticut residents were overpaid in unemployment insurance, meaning they now owe millions. But some lawmakers want the state to waive repayment and reimburse the unemployment fund.
More than 20,000 custodians statewide could receive a minimum wage increase, employer contribution to union pension plans and bereavement leave, which would generate thousands of dollars in additional wages and benefits.
The Biden administration’s mandate will require state workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. Some may decide to leave their job and state to avoid the vaccine.
Farms across the Midwest are struggling to hire domestic employees. In Illinois, the number of foreign agricultural workers has increased more than 250 percent in the past five years.
The four firms that are competing to earn a multimillion-dollar contract to modernize the state’s unemployment system have each experienced problems while working on other states’ unemployment or IT projects.
