State and local government workers deliver services that Americans depend on every day for individual and public welfare. The state and local government sector is also a major employer, and it is a direct source of economic security for more than 19 million workers across the country.
Yet, since the Great Recession, city and state governments in the United States have experienced declines in employment, falling wages that struggle to compete with employment opportunities in other sectors, and serious challenges recruiting new talent. In response, some cities and states are considering a new strategy to expand and diversify their workforces: skills-based hiring.
This report from the Center for America Progress outlines the current employment challenges facing state and local governments and the role that skills-based practices—including hiring and training—should play in the recovery, expansion, and growth of state and local government workforces.
To learn more, read the report online.