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.
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.
It’s not only about the research funding that has made America a world leader in innovation. Community and technical colleges are crucial to meeting our workforce needs.
Most students in Delano, Calif., are low-income and many are English learners. A slew of support programs has raised test scores and sent them on paths to scholarships and top universities.
It’s not just about the services government employees provide to residents of their states and communities. There are long-term costs for taxpayers and the economy.
Criminal justice experts say understaffing and trauma can contribute to prison violence. Mental health support and a sense of community may help.
Even as public employee unions fight the Trump administration’s personnel cuts, a pair of GOP senators want to ban federal employees from belonging to unions.
The city had to reshuffle more than $50 million to address the unexpected shortfall, driven by overtime costs due to staffing shortages. The Fire Department alone needed an injection of $33 million to pay for unexpected overtime.
The public-sector workforce is plagued with vacancies. Some states are looking to recruit former federal workers who’ve recently lost their jobs.
Rapid wage growth has helped drive a record number of people working in government.
There's bipartisan agreement that immigration reform is essential. But mass deportation brings its own risks to communities.
Democrat Josh Shapiro has ordered state agencies to give fired federal workers hiring preference, akin to that given to state employees. He said Pennsylvania will benefit from their skills and experience.
State and local officials are working to mitigate the impact of cuts to the federal workforce spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, offering career services and other resources.
Georgia’s prison system sees a spike in violent deaths and severe staffing shortages, prompting urgent calls for reform and funding to address the escalating crisis.
Local officials should go on the offense to protect important initiatives that have benefited all of us. In particular, they can enlist businesses that see the benefits of their own diversity initiatives.
This outbreak feels different from any other, farmers say. Egg producers and industry groups are begging for a new prevention strategy.
A visa program created under NAFTA allows Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the U.S. with minimal red tape. But to take advantage of it, states need to look at the Catch-22 situation created by their occupational licensing requirements.
By empowering them to bargain and providing other protections, policymakers can address frustration over flat wages and inflation, while strengthening local economies.
Understaffed police departments and concerns over public safety are spurring greater use of private security guards. But they aren't a perfect substitute.
Some programmers and engineers are willing to forego private-sector pay to find meaningful work. But governments need to be more nimble about hiring.
Finding ways to support teaching as a career, including training, innovation and community engagement, helped a Chicago-area district increase its retention rate by 23 percent in just three years.
The city’s police department has put a focus on officer mental health and well-being. That’s a big cultural change because officers often feel they need to hide their struggles.
President Trump’s executive order abolishing remote work for most employees will be good for the local economy and transit systems. Twenty percent of the federal workforce lives in the D.C. area.
As 2024 came to a close, the White House and Congress approved big giveaways to two subsets of state and local government employees and pensioners. There could be political backlash, and for equity’s sake there might be a case for some corrective tax policies.
Mayor Michelle Wu has hired more than 300 new City Hall staffers, helping fuel budget growth of 8 percent over the past year. Many of the new positions are in middle and upper management.
A 2022 law gave staff the ability to unionize. Their new contract will provide a raise of 3 percent in July and additional workplace protections.
Voters in several states, including deeply red ones, chose to make significant boosts. While the federal minimum remains stuck at $7.25, 10 states now have a wage of $15 or higher and more are headed in that direction.
There's turnover in Washington with each new administration. Departing federal workers can bring valuable skills and experience to state and local governments.
The personnel cost has doubled over the last three years. Employees have been granted more sick leave but they seem to be using more due to in-person work requirements.
California’s Democratic governor will also expand job training and credential programs to help more residents without degrees find work in the public sector.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has ordered city workers to show up at the office five days a week, leading more companies to follow suit. But hybrid work remains a new normal in many places.
Texas state Rep. Armando Martinez has been arguing for years that a law school would help the Rio Grande Valley economy and reduce brain drain. Local colleges are finally working on a plan.
