Love Your Town; Work For It

Everyone has a good reason to join the municipal workforce

One of the goals of the Municipal Career Center is to not just encourage folks to apply to municipal careers, but to remind them that their hometown is full of people who work good-paying jobs that keep the proverbial lights on. The big struggle is getting young people tuned-in and into that pipeline. It’s a topic that has come up in municipal circles across the country, meaning that this is not an isolated problem.

The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, or ACIR, has put together a workforce development subcommittee that includes CCM as a member. In a recent meeting, CCM had the opportunity to discuss the Municipal Career Center, leading the discussion to how are we going to get young people into internships and apprenticeships to take on jobs as people age out of their roles. Or, alternatively, what happens if roles change due to increasing use of technology?

This comes just as Gen Z is getting engaged with local government. The generation, typically thought of as those born 1997 to 2012 (12- to 27-year-olds in 2024), is coming of age in a time of great upheaval, centered around an internet-first era, which was solidified during the COVID lockdowns. Unlike many Millennials who spent most of their childhood without constant access to the internet, Gen Z doesn’t really know a world without the internet readily available at their fingertips. It’s isn’t hard to argue that their relationship to society and culture is vastly different than any generation before them.

In an article on Communityplaymaker.com, they argue that this is going to effect the employer/employee relationship: “Just as Gen X pushed for a better worklife balance and Millennials demanded conversations about flexible work schedules and improved communications, Gen Z is also sure to usher in a new vision for the future of work.”

This includes, according to the online article, offering inclusive spaces, public art, housing – all of which equal to vibrant spaces. But fret not, this generation believes in government to be a problem-solver – owed somewhat to their progressive politics as a cohort, but also due to a strong desire for community that was lacking during the pandemic.

Getting Gen-Z into the pipelines might be as simple as letting them know the positions are available – and that they can make a difference with their careers if they are as invested in government as people are suggesting. The CCM Municipal Career Center aims to do just that, through our videos and resources.

Find out more at CTMunicipalCareers.Com