Many local government managers throughout Texas are working in a prosperous economy. This is in contrast to the rest of the country that is still recovering from the recent recession. While government officials in other states may envy the growth and prosperity in our communities, they are unaware of the challenges that we all face in a booming economy.
- Hiring new employees. When your unemployment rate is lower than the national average, it is difficult to find employees – they have too many options available to them.
Solution – Consider recruiting from other parts of the country that are lagging in their recovery. Candidates may consider relocating, even for non-management positions, when they realize the opportunities in your organization. - Maintaining current staff. There’s a constant drain on our workforce as other organizations compete for our greatest resources – our employees. Maintaining the necessary staffing levels to perform our essential functions is an ongoing challenge.
Solution – Increasing salaries alone is not the answer. There is always someone willing to pay more. The key is to engage your employees so that they are part of something bigger than their jobs. They must feel connected to the organization and the community to maintain the longevity that we hope for. - Doing more with less. As our finances and populations grow, so do the needs of our communities. If you struggle to recruit new workers and maintain the ones you have, how do you meet increasing service demands?
Solution – Strategic planning and priority setting will allow you to focus your organization’s efforts on the areas of greatest need and importance.
With proper time and attention, we can all navigate through the challenges associated with a robust economy.
(Article submitted by Jim Nichols, Assistant City Manager, City of Midland. If you have interesting news or helpful topics to share, please submit them to Kim Pendergraft at [email protected]. Please keep the information to fewer than 250 words.)