Page 3 - Work Force March 2023

Recruit and retain: state budget proposal focuses on rebuilding public workforce
ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed New York State Budget recognizes the persistent understaffing of state and municipal workforces and provides funding to implement new policies to recruit and retain public employees.
Recruitment and retention is one of CSEA’s top budget priorities. The public workforce is facing a labor shortage, and this problem will become more severe because 25% of state employees are eligible to retire in the next five years.
State and local governments
must get the funding and other tools necessary to recruit and retain a strong workforce to ensure that New Yorkers receive the services that they need.
The budget includes several
civil service reforms that our union supports. CSEA is also proposing ideas to further increase community access to potential public job opportunities. For more details, see the graphic on this page.
In addition to workforce
initiatives, the governor proposes massive financial investments in public schools, new funding for SUNY campuses and SUNY hospitals, an increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate, expanded inpatient service opportunities in the Office of Mental Health and increased funds for CSEA-represented child care providers.
The $227 billion spending plan also does not include any facility closures, bed reductions or service cuts.
“From what we’ve seen in this year’s proposed state budget,
it’s clear that Governor Hochul recognizes the value of public service and investing in the recruitment efforts needed to provide and maintain that service,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. “For too many years, the state and local workforce has been decimated, making it harder to provide the services the citizens of New York State depend on.”
Recruit the next generation of employees & Retain the trained employees of today
The state and local workforce is decimated. This will only become more severe as 25% of state employees are eligible to retire in the next five years. We must rebuild the workforce by giving state and municipal governments the funding and other tools necessary to recruit and retain a strong workforce.
Diversity of the Workforce
We must take action to break down barriers that are preventing more New Yorkers from entering the public sector workforce.
Waive Civil Service Fees
An exam should not stand in the way of someone coming to work in the public sector. CSEA supports waiving civil service fees to break down barriers to entry to work in the public sector.
Better Publicize Job Opportunities
We support requiring the state Department of Civil Service to better publicize exam
and job announcements and to allow community-based organizations to be notified in order for them to distribute
the information in their communities and better help connect people to these jobs.
Continuous Recruitment
Our union supports the Governor’s proposal to allow the state Department of Civil Service to offer tests with more frequency to bring in the next generation of workers.
Centers for Careers in Government
CSEA supports the Governor’s proposal to create centers across the state that better connect job seekers with public sector work and give them the skills needed to take a civil service exam.
For more information please visit:
cseany.org/issues
CSEA is asking for the NYS Legislature to include the following in the FY24 Budget:
March 2023
The Work Force 3