* I very much agree with the Chicago Tribune editorial board that one of the state’s three employee recruitment ads is cringey as all getout. But the Tribsters based their overall argument - that the state doesn’t really have a recruitment problem - on faulty data…
But as the state looks to lure more employees to join its ranks, it’s worth noting that state government added 15,600 jobs, among the highest gains of any industry statewide, from December 2023 to December 2024, according to an Illinois Policy Institute analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The editorial board just hired a former IPI employee, so of course they’d use those numbers.
* I reached out to the comptroller’s office to double-check. Here’s the actual state headcount based on W2s issued, including temporary workers/contractors like snow plow drivers…
State employee headcount end of December 2023: 78,232
State employee headcount end of December 2024: 80,039
So, that’s an increase of 1,807 people, a 2.3 percent rise above the previous year, not an increase of 15,600.
* From the governor’s press secretary…
The Tribune’s editorial is an insult to hardworking state employees who dedicate their lives to serving the people of Illinois. State employees show up every day to do the critical work of supporting working families, making sure taxpayers receive benefits, providing healthcare services, and serving in law enforcement. Attracting and retaining talent to the state workforce positions Illinois to succeed.
Having a job where good healthcare is available, competitive benefits, and a commitment to public service is something we are proud of. After state government was stripped to the studs during the previous administration, Governor Pritzker took the necessary steps to rebuild a government that actually functions.
Yeah, that may be a fair description of the benefits available to some state workers (e.g., I am a 9-month employee), but that “3-, 4-, 5-weeks off” line doesn’t exactly play in Peoria, as they say. I think you often say, “do better,” right?
A career that encourages “Work-life balance” hasn’t been my experience as a state worker, but I think the younger folks do a better job of setting boundaries that create a better balance. This is not a knock on the young folks-I think it’s healthier, and in general the kids are alright.
Agreed, I have over 20 years of state service, and I am not earning 5 weeks yet. New employees earn 2 weeks of paid vacation for their first five years. They should have went with that and maybe included the paid sick leave benefit earned by all employees.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:42 pm:
There was a time, well over a decade ago, when the typical IPI analysis contained actual data presented in a thought provoking manner.
Nowadays, their data tends to be suspect at best, flat out wrong far too often and is almost always accompanied by analysis that is fundamentally and ideologically flawed. Sad.
Okay Boomer, that ad was obviously not meant for your demographic.
Honestly, I’m glad CMS is taking the IPI approach and not caring what they’ve got to say to get the point across or objective achieved…we need the workers.
My office is meant for 90-100 caseworkers. We’ve finally fought our way back up to 56. But we’re on
kinda emergency procedures still. Anyone left is either on the phones or pulling customers from the lobby. Thank a loving God that our system lets us work on any case in the state. Every office in Southern Illinois has workers assigned to help us out working our queues.
But what really really chafes me is IPI saying we don’t have a problem. I feel they want us to fail. It’s only through failure that they have the opportunity to come in and rebuild the administrative state into their own image. Funny thing though, when they actually had the chance under Rauner, they utterly failed.
It frustrates me that they weren’t totally discredited from that moment on. We should strive to remember that Rauner handed the reins over to them and they crashed and burned in a month.
To the post, I don’t care if they offer them a new playstation, hampster outfit to wear to work, or free Starbucks for life. We gotta get more Oompa Loompas working to make the chocolate.
That first ad. How many of those applicants you want on your department team project?
Also, CMS should do some follow up ads showing the applicants waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting for CMS to complete the hiring review process.
I’m sorry but here in Springfield, the message to younger people is very clear; with Tier 2, the State is not a good option. The pay is simply not worth it. And one of the first things mentioned in that cringe-ad is one of two things they really dislike, only 2 weeks vacation in the first 5 years.
Now, not systemically losing applications, months-long turnaround times, and not publicly acknowledging when these issues arise are still major recruitment issues. Those factors alone can lead to a recruitment problem and perception that the only way to get hired is through patronage.
===I’m sorry but here in Springfield, the message to younger people is very clear; with Tier 2, the State is not a good option===
Yes, because Springfield is such a gorgeous boomtown with high-paying jobs going begging.
- Original Rambler - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 3:01 pm:
It’s been about 70 years since the Personnel Code (which governs hiring) underwent a major review and revision. Oh sure, there’s been tweaks that at times lead to conflicting and hard to understand provisions. It’s time for the State to find a state that does hiring well and use it as a model for a new Personnel Code.
- H-W - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:12 pm:
Re: Cringe-worthy
Yeah, that may be a fair description of the benefits available to some state workers (e.g., I am a 9-month employee), but that “3-, 4-, 5-weeks off” line doesn’t exactly play in Peoria, as they say. I think you often say, “do better,” right?
- Big Dipper - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:14 pm:
Based on the quality of the editorials I find it hard to believe that the Trib editorial board members work more than 37.5 hours per week.
- Incandenza - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:31 pm:
More proof that almost all editorial boards are essentially make-work factories for hyper-conservatives who otherwise couldn’t be employed elsewhere.
- Mamacita - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:32 pm:
A career that encourages “Work-life balance” hasn’t been my experience as a state worker, but I think the younger folks do a better job of setting boundaries that create a better balance. This is not a knock on the young folks-I think it’s healthier, and in general the kids are alright.
- Steve Polite - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:38 pm:
H-W,
Agreed, I have over 20 years of state service, and I am not earning 5 weeks yet. New employees earn 2 weeks of paid vacation for their first five years. They should have went with that and maybe included the paid sick leave benefit earned by all employees.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:42 pm:
There was a time, well over a decade ago, when the typical IPI analysis contained actual data presented in a thought provoking manner.
Nowadays, their data tends to be suspect at best, flat out wrong far too often and is almost always accompanied by analysis that is fundamentally and ideologically flawed. Sad.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 12:58 pm:
I don’t love the ads either but those are, for better or worse, the selling points that will get millennials and younger interested.
- Dan Johnson - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 1:16 pm:
I found it refreshing that someone was selling government employment to people instead of the default perception that it’s kind of a lame job.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 1:20 pm:
Okay Boomer, that ad was obviously not meant for your demographic.
Honestly, I’m glad CMS is taking the IPI approach and not caring what they’ve got to say to get the point across or objective achieved…we need the workers.
My office is meant for 90-100 caseworkers. We’ve finally fought our way back up to 56. But we’re on
kinda emergency procedures still. Anyone left is either on the phones or pulling customers from the lobby. Thank a loving God that our system lets us work on any case in the state. Every office in Southern Illinois has workers assigned to help us out working our queues.
But what really really chafes me is IPI saying we don’t have a problem. I feel they want us to fail. It’s only through failure that they have the opportunity to come in and rebuild the administrative state into their own image. Funny thing though, when they actually had the chance under Rauner, they utterly failed.
It frustrates me that they weren’t totally discredited from that moment on. We should strive to remember that Rauner handed the reins over to them and they crashed and burned in a month.
To the post, I don’t care if they offer them a new playstation, hampster outfit to wear to work, or free Starbucks for life. We gotta get more Oompa Loompas working to make the chocolate.
- Squib Kick - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
That first ad. How many of those applicants you want on your department team project?
Also, CMS should do some follow up ads showing the applicants waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting for CMS to complete the hiring review process.
- Lurker - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 2:07 pm:
I’m sorry but here in Springfield, the message to younger people is very clear; with Tier 2, the State is not a good option. The pay is simply not worth it. And one of the first things mentioned in that cringe-ad is one of two things they really dislike, only 2 weeks vacation in the first 5 years.
- Dirty Red - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 2:08 pm:
Agreed with Dan, 100%.
Now, not systemically losing applications, months-long turnaround times, and not publicly acknowledging when these issues arise are still major recruitment issues. Those factors alone can lead to a recruitment problem and perception that the only way to get hired is through patronage.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 2:11 pm:
===not systemically losing applications, months-long turnaround times, and not publicly acknowledging when these issues arise===
Yeah. Maybe instead of dreaming up that goofy ad, CMS coulda just, you know, fixed its myriad problems that it refuses to admit exist.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 2:12 pm:
===I’m sorry but here in Springfield, the message to younger people is very clear; with Tier 2, the State is not a good option===
Yes, because Springfield is such a gorgeous boomtown with high-paying jobs going begging.
- Original Rambler - Friday, Jan 31, 25 @ 3:01 pm:
It’s been about 70 years since the Personnel Code (which governs hiring) underwent a major review and revision. Oh sure, there’s been tweaks that at times lead to conflicting and hard to understand provisions. It’s time for the State to find a state that does hiring well and use it as a model for a new Personnel Code.
As to the ad, definitely cringeworthy.