Getting Started and Tools for Action

Intro

City governments are often navigating resource constraints and may not feel that staff time is available to undertake strategies to address workforce challenges. However, taking time to invest in the municipal workforce now ensures that city services can continue to operate with stable and appropriate staffing today and in the future. Given that staff capacity to dedicate to this effort may be limited, it is important to start by evaluating the strengths and limitations in the city’s municipal workforce policies and practices so that cities can prioritize and address challenges strategically and with the resources available.

Tools to Get Started

This core area helps cities build the foundation for a strong municipal workforce by improving awareness of the value of public sector careers and increasing interest in these careers across the community.

1. Self-Assessment Tool: Start by completing the Self-Assessment and taking time to reflect on the city’s current state of policies, programs, and practices in recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining municipal workers.
2. Municipal Workforce Prioritization Tool: After completing the Self-Assessment, use this tool to determine the key workforce areas to prioritize now and/or to address as additional resources and capacity become available.
3. Municipal Workforce Action Plan Template: Using the information collected through the Self-Assessment and Municipal Workforce Prioritization tools, use this template to build a detailed strategy to guide your city’s implementation of strategies to strengthen the municipal workforce.