State and local governments are struggling to hire and retain workers amid a tight labor market, even as private-sector employment is reaching pre-pandemic levels
.
There are “many things that we still need to do to recover from the pandemic — and they are largely in the hands of the public sector, because the private sector has almost fully recovered,” Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, said. That’s “despite trillions, with a ‘t,’ that the government spent to provide relief during Covid.
The year-over-year growth rate for hourly private-sector salaries and wages in each of the past four quarters has exceeded that for state and local governments by the largest margin on record,“Really across the board, many governments are often facing intense competition for workers,” Mike Maciag, who studies the government sector at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said.
Earlier economic downturns also saw a subsequent drop in public-sector employment. But economists say that this time is different because ofas part of its series of Covid-19 relief packages. This time around, “their revenues are up, even without the federal money that came in,” Rachel Greszler, a labor economist at the Heritage Foundation, said. “So it’s not a lack of funds for sure” that’s impeding hiring.
“Schools have seen an exodus of teachers,” said Pollak, the ZipRecruiter economist. “I’m not quite sure how our schools are functioning fully in person with 400,000 fewer staff on payroll; it makes me worry about the quality of education.”
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Local governments spending COVID-19 money on unrelated projectsFlooded with cash after Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act last year, state and local governments have devised some creative ways of spending their stimulus funds.
Baca lebih lajut »
Uber closes in on historic partnership with local taxi company - The San Francisco ExaminerThe agreement, after a similar partnership between Uber and taxi companies in New York City was announced last week, would mark an abrupt departure from the years of fierce fighting between the two groups. Via nytimes
Baca lebih lajut »
Renters at risk as local relief programs risk losing remaining fundsLocal emergency rent relief programs stand to lose nearly $100 million if unspent by March 31.
Baca lebih lajut »
City of San Antonio's official 2022 Fiesta Medal will include work by local artist Joan FabianThe medal includes a bright and colorful design commemorating 'Vibrant Village,' a new public art installation. SanAntonio SATX SanAntonioTX FiestaSanAntonio FIESTA SanAntonioArts ThingsToDoInSanAntonio
Baca lebih lajut »
California calls for more local water conservation on heels of historically dry three monthsCalifornians will be asked to further cut back on their water use, state officials said Monday as they warned water scarcity will shape the future of the drought-stricken state.
Baca lebih lajut »