The Labor Center’s recent report Civil Service Vacancies in California 2022-2023 highlights the local effects of California’s statewide government staffing crisis. We found vacancy rates in several counties as high as 30% across wage levels and occupations. Similar vacancy rates have been reported in cities, school districts, and state agencies. As a result, Californians have had to…
Author: sh
What Workers and Unions Stand to Gain from Recent Executive Orders on Artificial Intelligence
Given the glaring absence of national legislation in the U.S. regulating new technologies, the recent release of several executive orders on artificial intelligence (AI) at the federal level and in California is significant. President Biden’s executive order in particular is effectively the first national public policy on AI to be established in this country. Moreover,…
California’s teachers are fighting for better schools
In an extraordinary year for labor, California’s teachers have been at the center of a revitalized movement that has successfully demanded better working conditions, family-supporting wages, and a seat at the table for important educational decisions. The toll taken by the COVID-19 pandemic, the stress of working in an increasingly strained education system, persistent state…
NEW: Technology in the Public Sector and the Future of Government work
This report explores how governments use technology, what drives technology adoption, and how technologies affect public sector workers and the delivery of public services. Transparency and accountability have lagged behind rapid technology adoption, and public workers can play a critical role in ensuring that technology improves and protects the public good.
Evaluating the Impact of Proposed Changes to Oakland’s Gross Receipts Tax
As local economies continue to recover from the pandemic downturn, policymakers are focused on how best to use public policy tools to support resilient and equitable economies. Like many cities, Oakland is examining how its business tax structure aligns with the city’s goals and needs. The City Council is considering a proposal to restructure the…