Workforce

Research Studies

• Compensation Matters: The Case of Teachers

  This brief offers an analysis of how cuts in pension benefits could affect the quality of teachers school districts are able to hire. (1/13)

• Local Government Employment, Benefits, and Retirement

  One-third of human resource executives made changes to the retirement plans they offer to employees within the past 12 months. (10/12)

• The Public Sector Workforce – Past, Present, and Future

  An examination of the demographics of the state and local government workforce, the projected public sector workforce needs of the future as the baby boomer generation begins to retire, and the issues state and local government executives describe as major challenges to recruiting and retaining the next wave of public servants. Originally presented at the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) meeting, January 5, 2009.

• Public Sector Employment: The Current Situation

  An assessment of the state of the public sector workforce. (7/07)

Surveys

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• State and Local Government Workforce: 2013 Trends

  This annual survey conducted by the Center and the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) finds that as local and state government workers head for the exits, human resource managers say their top concern is staff development. (5/13)

• State and Local Government Workforce: 2012 Trends

  More than half of state and local governments still have a pay freeze and are adjusting retirement and health care benefits. At the same time, the pace of layoffs has slowed with 28 percent reporting layoffs this year compared with 40 percent last year. (4/12)

• State and Local Government Workforce: 2011 Realities

  Retaining staff needed for core services, reducing employee health care costs, and addressing employee morale and workload problems are the top workforce issues facing local and state governments. (5/11)

• Health Reform Brings Workforce Challenges for States

  State officials say they have the expertise but not enough employees to meet federal deadlines for health care reform. (9/10)

• The Great Recession and the State and Local Government Workforce

  Hiring freezes, pay freezes, layoffs, and furloughs top the list of ways that state and local governments are cutting costs. (1/10)

Fact Sheets

• The Impending Shortage in the State and Local Public Health Workforce

  Over the next five years, the United States will face a serious shortage of skilled public health personnel that will directly affect the ability of states and localities to protect public health. Focusing on recruitment, retention, and training can help assure that our nation has the talent it needs to respond to emergencies, prevent the spread of disease, and ensure that our water and food are safe. (3/08)

Case Studies

• Work-Life Balance Pays Dividends in Coconino County, Arizona

  To retain employees despite an inability to offer salary increases, Coconino County’s Human Resources Department developed innovative and cost saving initiatives that emphasized employee work-life balance. (4/12)

• Financial Education for Public Employees

  The Center is working with public officials to review state and local government financial education programs for their employees, and is developing guiding principles and recommendations for its improvement. (2/11)

• Innovating Human Resource Practices in Sarasota County, Florida

  What is a local government to do when nearly 40 percent of its workforce is eligible to retire in the next five years, but replacing workers with permanent full-time workers is not possible? Sarasota County, Florida, has devised several strategies to ensure that it has the talent it needs while effectively managing personnel costs. (12/10)

• Improving Customer Service and Employee Morale in Georgia

  Governor Sonny Perdue spearheaded the creation of the state’s Office of Customer Service in 2006 to improve customer service across all state government departments and agencies. Joe Doyle, director of the Office of Customer Service, quickly realized that excellent customer service is directly related to motivated employees and initiated a comprehensive employee satisfaction program to accompany a customer service improvement program. (10/10)

• Employee and Community Wellness Programs in Austin, Texas

  Programs to improve the health and wellness of city employees, retirees, and the residents of Austin and Travis County. (7/09)

Articles

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• Health Care, a 50-State Challenge for Nation’s Public Health Administrators

  Health care reform is stretching the capacity of state workforces, but it also offers an opportunity to tackle problems (PA Times). (November/December 2010)

• HR: Keeping a Strategic Focus in a Tough Economy

  In this article in HR News, Center President & CEO Elizabeth Kellar describes how government human resource professionals need to take a strategic approach to balancing workforce needs with economic realities. See page 14. (9/10)

• Managing the Public Health Workforce in San Antonio, Texas

  Dr. Bryan Alsip, assistant director for clinical and population-based services of the San Antonio, TX, Metropolitan Health District, discusses his strategic approach to workforce management. His goals: ensuring that that his department can meet the growing needs of the community and attract grants to maintain and improve services. (5/13/10)

• Future Compensation of the State and Local Workforce

  Are compensation and benefit packages ready to address the occupational needs of the next decade? (9/09)

• Have Talent, Will Work for Experience

  They’re educated, passionate, and committed to public service. There’s only one problem: are there jobs for young people who want to go into local government public service? (2/15/09)