The problems of a small municipal authority in up-State New York are indicative of the labour shortages gripping Public Services throughout the United States.
Oswego County is waiving its Public Service testing fees for the year as it continues its struggle to recruit and hire employees for open positions.
The County normally has about 1,000 employees, but a vacancy report at the end of the year showed 144 positions were vacant.
Openings could be found across most Departments, but low-paying entry-level jobs had been particularly challenging to fill, as have emotionally-taxing caseworker positions with the Department of Social Services.
About a third of the 90 caseworker positions remain unfilled, though the County Legislature approved a pay increase in December.
Director of the County’s Human Resources Department, Julie Bell said while the Public Service testing fee was relatively modest, it could still be a barrier to employment for some individuals.
“We have suspended the fee in hopes to increase recruitment and make it more feasible for candidates to sign up and take the exam,” Ms Bell said.
“We hope that it will help. We’re trying to do everything we can to get more candidates to take our exams and apply for County employment.”
The County is by no means alone in its challenges with recruitment, a broad swath of industries still can’t hire enough workers.
Low unemployment, combined with strong hiring, has helped fuel inflation and driven wages up.
Government jobs have long been appealing because of the promise of good benefits and a pension waiting at retirement, but as Governments work to replace retiring employees, some of the perks may be less appealing to younger workers.
A survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that job security and work-life balance appeared to be more important to younger workers than retirement programs.
Employer-sponsored retirement plans were still seen as a valuable benefit, but younger workers reported that their top priority for their retirement plans was the ability to take savings with them when changing jobs.
Meanwhile, waiving the Oswego County exam fees this year won’t cost taxpayers anything extra.
Ms Bell said the County was using money from the American Rescue Plan Act that was set aside in the County Budget for recruitment and advertising.
New York, 10 January 2023
