State & Local Governments: IT Workforce Opportunities
Source: statetechmagazine.com
Following federal job cuts, state governments like Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania are seeking skilled workers. Simultaneously, potential funding cuts in areas like COVID, social services, and education are prompting modernization in state and local operations, particularly concerning AI.
Daniel May from the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) suggests that this disruption offers a chance to modernize state technologies and procurement practices. Caitlin Lewis, executive director at Work for America, notes that finance, procurement, and IT roles are frequently open.
Work for America launched Civic Match to connect skilled workers with state and local government jobs. Hiring managers can use the platform to promote opportunities. Civic Match has over 8,600 job seekers with various skills and experience levels; a significant percentage possess tech, engineering, procurement, and contract management expertise. Over 700 hiring managers are using Civic Match.
AI and Procurement
Civic Match partnered with NASPO to promote public procurement careers for former federal employees. Procurement is an early use case for generative AI, but AI implementation requires skilled people. May emphasizes the need for process changes to understand AI systems. Lewis believes AI will require human input, especially emotional intelligence, for process changes.
AI Roles
Lewis notes the demand for AI-specific roles like data and analytics experts, chief innovation officers, digital service leads, chief data officers, and AI policy analysts.
Civic Match data indicates that many are willing to accept pay cuts for government jobs, especially with a lower cost of living. Flexible work options and pensions can also serve as incentives. May highlights the purpose-driven nature of state and local government work, particularly in procurement, which impacts citizens.
May emphasizes that procurement is a public service, impacting areas like foster care, park design, and school equipment.