Like municipalities and companies across the nation, the city of Longmont continues to face labor shortage issues, said Joanne Zeas, the city’s chief human resources officer.
The city currently has 81 open positions — an improvement from the fall of 2022 when 120 positions were posted, but the need for skilled workers is expected to grow as the summer approaches, Zeas explained.
“I think sometimes you might see some delays on larger projects, because we have to make sure that — before anything — the lights are on,” she said. “We do try hard to make sure that we’re not having an impact where something is not getting done.”
Some city plans, such as parks and open space projects, have the budget — just not the employees, she explained.
“We think it’s the shrinking labor market, because our numbers are not any worse than other municipalities — generally when we pull them, they’re a little better, but what we find is that just the labor market itself is less,” Zeas said.
City departments are seeking employees with engineering, electrical and other labor trade skills, she said. Longmont’s Public Safety Department is also consistently recruiting.
Retaining employees is also a top priority, Zeas explained.
“This year, a lot of our budget was salary increases to make sure that we’re retaining and competing with other opportunities that people have — so there was a 6% increase that was given to city employees,” she said.
The city also tries to offer employees hybrid work-from-home options and flexible work schedules whenever possible, Zeas explained. Departments such as public safety and sanitation work four 10-hour days and then get three days off.
When recruiting from high schools and colleges, the city emphasizes that students who choose to work for their municipality can make a difference in their local community.
“You can really participate and you can give back,” she said. “You have a position that will hopefully grow with you, with the opportunities.”
The municipality has hired a full-time coordinator to build out its internship program, and the city has partnered with Longmont High School’s Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools, or P-TECH, program. Students in the class of 2023 will start their internships in September.
“We’re really excited about this partnership,” said Anne Atherton, assistant principal at Longmont High School. “Over the next month, we’re really looking at meeting with our partners and trying to recruit some mentors.”
