Why Local Agencies are Primed to Take the Lead in Tackling Workforce Challenges

This article by Christy Jewell , Senior Program Manager for the Institute for Local Government originally appeared in California Special District magazine, September-October 2024 issue.

Every day, the media highlights the struggles of organizations of all sizes in filling crucial positions. Nowhere is this more acute than in local government, where nearly 70% of entities face limited hiring pools, unprecedented levels of resignations and turnover, and the imperative to find and groom the next generation of leaders. To address these workforce challenges, special districts must pioneer novel approaches to attract a broader, more diverse, pool of qualified candidates and foster community involvement. Already, workforce shortages are significantly impacting the vital services that local governments are tasked with delivering.

Positions within the public sector can offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in one's local community—yet awareness of these "hidden gem" roles, especially about special districts among historically marginalized groups, remains a challenge. So, how can special districts ensure equitable and mutually beneficial access to these important positions?

Public agencies have long explored programs like internships with younger talent, but now a promising solution gaining momentum on both national and statewide levels is the adoption of non-traditional registered apprenticeships for positions that are in high demand and notoriously difficult to fill. While apprenticeships have long been associated with public safety and the construction and building trades, they are also starting to gain momentum in “non-traditional” sectors such as human resources, finance, manufacturing, and IT. Through inclusive outreach strategies, apprenticeship programs can democratize access to top-notch training and quality jobs for individuals from diverse backgrounds, all while meeting local government’s evolving needs.

Apprenticeships are tried-and-tested vehicles for skill development, employing an "earn and learn" model. By aligning training directly with job requirements, public agencies can ensure that essential and unique skills are acquired and honed, resulting in industry-recognized credentials and a pipeline of talent poised to ascend through the ranks of leadership. This is especially relevant for out of school job seekers without college degrees due to lack of access or affordability. For that demographic, the earn-and learn apprenticeships model can offer a variety of pathways to thrive in local government careers.

The Institute for Local Government (ILG) has secured multiple public and private grants to establish a new non-traditional registered apprenticeship program tailored to the hiring needs of local governments. Serving as an Apprenticeship Intermediary, ILG will provide a virtual one-stop for local governments interested in learning about non-traditional registered apprenticeships. From research and toolkits to possible partners and funding, the new resource will help local agencies identify a path that works for them.

As part of the bold workforce initiative, ILG will also launch a demonstration pilot where 5-10 jurisdictions will test registered apprenticeships of 5-7 high demand non-traditional occupations. ILG will assist with all elements of the program development and implementation with the pilot jurisdictions to document the process and identify possible improvements for the State Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

In its capacity as an Intermediary and Program Sponsor, ILG will actively facilitate and coordinate relationships between the pilot jurisdictions (employers), educational institutions, and labor unions or collective bargaining units, as appropriate. We’ll also coordinate registration of the occupations with State and/or Federal agencies and work to streamline the registration and implementation process to build greater capacity for our local agencies.

Governor Newsom has an ambitious target of 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029, and local governments have an opportunity to join the thousands of private sector businesses that are already engaged in this vital endeavor.

If your agency would like to learn more about non-traditional apprenticeships or has promising practices to share in our Resource Hub, please email [email protected].

About the Institute for Local Government: ILG is a non-profit training and education affiliate of CSDA, CSAC and League of California Cities. Together with our affiliates, ILG serves over 2,500 cities, counties and special districts. ILG provides practical and easy-to-use resources so local agencies can raise their visibility and effectively implement policies on the ground.