Workforce

The Other Digital Divide

Jobs using technology are more common in some parts of the country than in others, according to a recent study. The divide is leading to a widening wage and skills gap.

  • By Kery Murakami

Key Steps in Creating a Diverse Broadband Workforce

COMMENTARY | States urgently need to identify and build robust workforces now or risk being left behind.

  • By Scott Jensen, Kelly Rogers and Kate Finnerty

States With Legal Pot Consider How to Protect Cannabis Workers

In some states, so-called labor peace agreements have figured prominently in efforts to set up legal pot marketplaces.

  • By Leigh Giangreco, Stateline

L.A. School District Workers Demand Historic Raise During 3-day Strike

Teachers in the nation’s second-largest school district joined bus drivers, cafeteria workers and paraprofessionals in a “sympathy strike,” resulting in over 65,000 personnel absences and bringing classes to a halt.

  • By Nadra  Nittle, The 19th

State Cyber Workforce Challenges Reaching ‘Crisis Levels’

By marketing themselves better and adapting to remote work, states can attract and retain more cybersecurity workers, a new report suggests.

  • By Chris Teale

States Have the Resources to Clear Criminal Records

COMMENTARY | Most governments already have the capacity and technology to deliver automatic record clearance to all those eligible for relief equitably, expeditiously and at scale.

  • By Jay Jordan and Alia Toran-Burrell

Public Sector Work Equals High Job Satisfaction

A new workforce survey reveals what employees love about the public sector, and what’s driving them away.

  • By Molly Bolan

Home-Based Care: Fixing the Childcare Drought in Rural America

Some rural counties are trying an approach to tackle childcare shortages. A new program supports home-based childcare providers with resources, education, and grants.

  • By Anne Vilen, The Daily Yonder

Feds to Hand Out $39B to Chip Makers in Workforce Development Subsidies

To access the funding, companies will not only need to show how they plan to train and recruit workers, but also how they will provide child care.

  • By Kery Murakami

Legislative Staffs Are Pushing to Unionize

Since Oregon successfully unionized in 2021, statehouse employees in half a dozen states have also sought to organize.

  • By Kyle Chouinard

California Dangles Bonuses for Nursing Homes That Add Staff

Rather than simply reward top-performing facilities, the state’s Medicaid program will hand bonuses to nursing homes — even low-rated ones — for hiring more workers and reducing staff turnover.

  • By Samantha Young, Kaiser Health News

Finding Public Sector Workers in High Schools

Though many young people are ignorant about jobs in the public sector, internships can help educate them and draw them into the workforce.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
Featured eBooks
Road and Transit Infrastructure Trends
Federal Recovery Funds at the State and Local Level
Infrastructure at a Turning Point

Cyber Training Expands to Local Leaders

The National Cybersecurity Center will offer the training every two years, and push local governments to take advantage of free resources and information-sharing.

  • By Chris Teale

New York’s Death Grip on In-office Work is Starting to Loosen

Amid workforce crises, Eric Adams cracks open the door to “flexible” arrangements and Kathy Hochul invests in a hybrid future.

  • By Annie McDonough

The Worker Shortage Is Real. Could Tech Help Governors Close Gaps?

Business leaders pointed to high-tech job training and tools like artificial intelligence as possible solutions to the historic shortage of workers.

  • By Kery Murakami

As Texas Booms, Local Governments — Especially in Small Towns — Struggle to Find Workers

A cascade of issues including inflation and growing distrust in government aren’t helping local governments hire for critical positions in public safety and utilities.

  • By Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune

‘Whole Nation’ Effort Needed to Build Broadband Workforce

Federal investment could mean the creation of up to 150,000 broadband-related jobs, but state and local leaders must build robust apprenticeship programs and commit to diversity to make it happen.

  • By Chris Teale

Are Pensions the Answer to the Public-Sector Worker Shortage?

COMMENTARY | Research shows that pension benefits overwhelmingly help attract skilled workers, especially millennials.

  • By Bridget Early

Can Women Help Fill the Shortage of Trade Workers? Unions Are Betting On It.

But with only about 2 percent of tradespersons identifying as women, recruitment and retention initiatives by unions are just scratching the surface.

  • By Jessica Kutz  , The 19th

State Looks to ‘Unconventional’ Tactics to Find Talent

The Indiana Office of Technology eliminated degree requirements for most jobs in 2019, and now it uses a work-based learning apprenticeship program to reskill employees keen to learn IT.

  • By Chris Teale

States Strive to Reverse Shortage of Paramedics, EMTs

Two-thirds of states considered legislation last year related to emergency medical workers.

  • By Marsha Mercer, Stateline