Meeting Demand for State and Local Public Finance Jobs

Meeting Demand for State and Local Public Finance Jobs

State and local public finance offices must focus on talent to mitigate a worker shortage.

The new report, Meeting Demand for State and Local Public Finance Jobs, from GFOA and Lightcast shows demand for state and local public finance officers is outstripping the current supply of workers in the sector. Increasing the pace of hiring and the breadth of recruitment will be necessary to reverse the growing gap between supply and demand. State and local governments will also benefit from committing to expanding the public finance pipeline today, because a wave of retirements is expected to exacerbate the shortage of public finance officers.

Fortunately, state and local public finance has much to offer to potential candidates. Job turnover in the sector is low, and tenure is high. Entry-level positions in state and local public finance tend to pay more than similar positions in the private sector. The sector features work-life balance. The sector champions diversity, with notably high concentrations of women and Black individuals relative to other sectors. State and public finance jobs are also service opportunities: proximate to the communities in which finance officers live and integral to the proper functioning of local government.

This report analyzes the historic, current, and projected landscape of public finance employment and juxtaposes it with current demand trends in the sector. The key findings detailed below underscore the need for state and local public finance to recruit, retain, and grow its workforce. The key findings also detail some of the strengths of the public finance sector. The recommendations that follow indicate ways that public finance organizations can leverage those strengths and take specific actions to meet demand within the sector.

Download Full Report Download News Release

“Before the pandemic, [GFOA and its member organizations] typically talked about new GASB statements, funding pensions, or the impact of revenue constraints. Since I have been back on the road post-lockdown, though, the number one challenge I consistently hear about is attracting and retaining talent—and I’ve heard it described as a crisis for government finance more than once.”

Chris Morrill, GFOA Executive Director

About Report Partner Lightcast

Lightcast provides trusted global labor market data, analytics, and expert guidance that empowers communities, corporations, and learning providers to make informed decisions and navigate the increasingly complex world of work. With a database of more than one billion job postings and career profiles, our team provides best-in-class customer service with robust data, clear analysis, and expert guidance on skills, jobs, and opportunities. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India. The company is backed by global private equity leader KKR. For more, visit www.lightcast.io

Share now!