State Hiring Reform
Cutting Red Tape to Improve Talent
The Gap
Half of state government agencies report struggling to fill vacancies—often because their hiring processes are overly slow, demanding, complex, and frustrating for both applicants and the state. When the government is understaffed, it’s less responsive.
The Solution
To serve the public effectively, states need to speed up hiring and ensure they can recruit the best possible candidates.
State of Play
Listed below are the top ten states that have enacted the most impactful state hiring reforms. Please see our white paper Cutting Red Tape for States to Hire Top Talent for more details on the policies that each of these states implemented.
How the Policy Works
There are a few key ways for states to tackle hiring reform.
Prioritize skills-based hiring: By removing degree requirements for roles that don’t need specialized education, states can widen the talent pool, speed up hiring, and better serve the public.
Funnel top federal talent into state public service: State hiring often takes nearly three times as long as the private sector, so simplifying applications, shortening timelines, and offering tailored support for departing federal workers can make a big difference.
Enact Direct Hire Authority: States can enact legislation to create a state equivalent of the federal Direct Hire Authority, which allows expedited hiring for critical needs or severe candidate shortages. The program allows hiring managers to waive certain hiring processes, like civil service examinations, when necessary.
Why Responsive Gov Cares
When the path to a public service job is clearer and faster, more qualified people will choose civil service. A qualified, fully staffed government is the first step to an effective government.
