Pennsylvania is actively recruiting current and recently laid-off federal employees to fill hundreds of open state government positions.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order earlier this month directing the state’s Office of Administration to streamline the hiring process for former federal workers.
The move by the state comes amid federal job cuts and uncertainty, with reports indicating more than 16,000 federal employees have lost their jobs.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the state has received about 1,100 applications from roughly 700 people with federal experience.
Shapiro’s executive order looks to attract experienced individuals with specialized skills in fields such as civil engineering, nursing, corrections and accounting.
The executive order from Shapiro directs the state to recognize federal government experience as equivalent to state work experience for civil service roles.
“Due to recent events, many experienced and talented public servants … may be unemployed or seeking new employment,” Shapiro’s executive order said.
Approximately 103,700 Pennsylvanians were employed by the federal government in 2024, according to the state.
The state has more than 500 open jobs across various agencies and offices.
Shapiro has also pushed for reduced hiring times, eased residency requirements, protected veterans’ hiring preferences and reduced college degree requirements for some positions, according to his office.
The administration plans to host in-person and virtual hiring events for federal employees, match federal and state job titles, and has created a website for federal workers.
Pennsylvania is not alone in seeking to hire federal workers impacted by recent federal job cuts and early retirement offers. States, including Maryland, New York, and Hawaii, have all ramped up campaigns to hire federal workers.
The White House has reported more than 70,000 federal employees have taken buyout offers.
Some federal job terminations have faced legal challenges, with judges ruling that certain firings were illegal or require further review.
The job cuts, which have been criticized for being carried out without little planning, are part of actions spearheaded by billionaire businessman and government contractor Elon Musk.
Advertisement
Convenient Legal Access to High Quality Cannabis Just A Few Minutes Away!
Leave a Comment