Getting Started and Tools for Action

Intro

City governments often navigate resource constraints and may not feel that staff time is available to implement strategies to address workforce challenges. However, investing time in the municipal workforce now ensures that city services can continue to operate with stable, 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 a strong municipal workforce by raising awareness of the value of public-sector careers and increasing interest in these careers across the community.

1. Self-Assessment Tool (PDF): Start by completing the Self-Assessment and taking time to reflect on the city’s current policies, programs, and practices for recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining municipal workers.
2. Municipal Workforce Prioritization Tool (PDF): 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 (PDF): 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.