Author Archive
Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
Finance
An Often-Overlooked Reason for Public Sector Job Vacancies
Agencies have struggled to recruit and retain workers, but it’s not uncommon for them to hold jobs open in order to shift salary dollars around in their budgets to cover other costs.
Management
When the Infrastructure Boom Meets the Workforce Crash
With federal dollars pouring into state and local governments for infrastructure, there’s one huge challenge: Who will do all the work?
Management
How One State Is Excelling at Process Improvement
Every week Nebraska is contacted by other states to learn how it is saving staff time, streamlining projects and delivering better customer services. Here’s why.
Health & Human Services
How One State is Curbing Growth in Health Care Costs
Massachusetts is known for high medical expenses. But a unique initiative there is helping to dramatically slow increases and has other states taking notice. Here’s how it works.
Management
Government Employee Input—‘Shark Tank’ Style
Missouri has a way for frontline state employees to pitch ideas to high-level judges in hopes of getting them implemented. It's based on a reality TV show.
Management
The Future of Government Jobs: No Field Will Be the Same
It’s impossible to perfectly predict what state and local public sector employment will look like a decade from now. But some clear signs are emerging.
Management
The Future of State and Local Government Jobs
Public sector workplaces are expected to change dramatically in the coming years, with major implications for employees and agencies. In this special series, Route Fifty explores what’s ahead.
Management
Building a More Diverse Public Sector Hiring Pipeline
Local governments are rethinking how they go about connecting with job candidates. “It’s just not enough to post a position and then say we have no qualified diverse talent,” says one official.
Management
How to Regain Citizens' Trust After a Financial Scandal
Just getting rid of the people involved isn't enough. A complex task follows for local leaders to restore faith in the government.
Finance
How Cities and Counties Are Thinking Big With Their ARPA Plans
Across the country, some local governments are using federal aid from the American Rescue Plan to launch "transformational" projects in areas like affordable housing, public safety and ridding homes of lead—things that will endure long after the money is spent.
Management
Why Job Applicants Are Frustrated With the State and Local Government Hiring Process
New survey findings reveal that many workers are interested in public sector jobs, but get bogged down in the application phase.
Featured eBooks
Health & Human Services
The 'Impossible' Federal Standard States Can't Meet as They Work to Assist Low-Income Families
Critics say a longstanding performance metric for work participation that is part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is faulty and should be reformed.
Management
A State Tries to Attract Public Workers Who Have Resume Gaps
In Utah, a first-of-its kind program provides training and mentorship for people taking government jobs after time away from the workforce.
Management
How to Recruit and Manage Short-term Workers
State and local governments have greater reliance on temporary staff, but challenges abound. There are new ways to make these arrangements work.
Management
5 Ways to Overcome the Hiring and Retention Crisis Without Raising Pay
Higher salaries alone are unlikely to be a cure-all for public sector workforce shortages. Some states and localities are experimenting with other approaches for attracting and keeping employees.
Finance
Successful Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Public Employees
Some department vacancies are 20% to 30%, but governments are making headway filling positions and keeping workers with signing bonuses as high as $20,000 and big hourly wage hikes.
Health & Human Services
Collaboration Provides Effective Approach to State's Human Services
Oklahoma is on the cutting edge of a national trend bringing foundations, nonprofits and the Department of Human Services together to help residents in need.
Tech & Data
Local Leaders 'Cannot Hide From Technology'
The National Association of Counties is launching a new effort to help public sector officials better understand technology so they can make informed decisions about cybersecurity and IT budgeting and staffing.
Management
How Cities and Counties Are Dumping Abandoned Properties
Vacant building issues include unpaid property taxes, fires and crime, but localities are making some progress reining them in.
Tech & Data