Eighty-one percent of state and local governments are hiring new employees but face workforce challenges that are impacting total employment, according to a new research report from MissionSquare Research Institute conducted in collaboration with the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) and the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE).  Conducted since 2009, this annual study explores a range of topics pertaining to workforce and compensation changes, recruitment and retention efforts, and future public employer priorities.

New research assessing the state and local government workforce finds jurisdictions are facing acute challenges recruiting employees in several critical areas. Health care positions are identified as hard to fill by 60-75% of survey respondents, followed by positions in corrections and policing, both at 64%. Other positions identified as hard to fill include skilled trades (57%) and engineering (52%), which are professions in direct competition with the private sector.  The research also shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is triggering a higher rate of retirement among the state and local workforce.

Since 2009, SLGE at ICMA-RC has partnered with IPMA-HR and NASPE to conduct this annual study on state and local workforce issues.

New research from finds a steady increase in telework among state and local government employees (27 percent), the highest share since 2016 (22 percent). This practice is more common in state agencies (64 percent) than local jurisdictions (19 percent).

The increase may relate to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that overlapped with this research. This telework trend, and others, may change dramatically given the ongoing pandemic, social distancing guidelines, and unprecedented pressures on state and local government budgets.

Based on research by SLGE, IPMA-HR and NASPE, the report on State and Local Government Workforce: 2020 Survey includes this data as well as findings on recruitment and retention strategies, difficult to fill positions, gig economy hiring, changes in retirement and health benefits, and other workforce issues.

SLGE – in partnership with the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) and the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE) – has completed the 2019 workforce survey for state and local government. The survey addresses issues from recruitment and retention to benefits, flexible work practices, retirements and other separations, and gig economy hiring.