Boosting Efficiency in the Public Sector with Workforce Development Software

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law to match job seekers with the skills needed in the labor market. However, issues unique to the public sector make it difficult to make this law a reality. There are 2.95 million employees in the public sector workforce, with only 7.4% of federal employees under 30. Without increasing the number of Gen Z workers, public sector agencies will struggle to adapt and change for the future.

The public sector is notorious for slow software systems, with outdated and old IT systems even putting taxpayers at risk. The public sector needs to implement improved software systems to appeal to younger generations, streamline workflows, and improve workforce development programs to meet the needs of the WIOA. In this article, we’ll discuss challenges with workforce development in this unique sector and how software improves public sector workforce development.

Challenges With Employee Development in the Public Sector

Public sector workforce challenges are unique from any other sector–public sector budgets are often much more limited than private businesses. Tax-funded money must be carefully allocated to maximize use. There are typically fewer people to do more work, and with limited resources, employees struggle to complete additional training to increase their skills.

Some of the most common challenges in public sector workforce training are:

Bureaucratic hurdles: All funding for employee development and new hires must go through levels of approval, making it challenging to improve existing systems.
Unique employee motivations: Public sector employees are often overworked. Without a clear understanding of why they need to go through a development program, they will not participate.
Retention issues: 77% of private sector workers would recommend their job as a good workplace, while only 67.5% of federal employees do. Lower job satisfaction causes public sector employees to look elsewhere.
Multigenerational expectations: Public sector employees tend to be older, with only 2% of federal employees in Gen Z. Older generations usually have a lower comfort level with technology and may not agree on a learning preference for employee development.
Inability to attract new talent: Recruiting in the federal public sector tends to have older practices, such as job fairs and career days, which aren’t as appealing to Gen Z, who prefer online environments to socialize.

Key Features in Workforce Development Software

Public sector agencies need to utilize digital tools for the public sector workforce to improve current workflows and better appeal to younger generations. Public sector agency workforce software is a comprehensive solution to connect the dots between employers and community members looking for work. These tools offer administrative assistance to ease communication and connect open jobs to willing job seekers.

With workforce development software, public sector agencies can utilize features such as:

Customizable workflows and programs: Collaboration tools offer task management and a robust portal to gain a complete at-a-glance of employee development programs.
Comprehensive reporting: Workforce development software provides reporting tools to match federal performance indicators and support WIOA programs, so your team can make data-driven decisions and improve outcomes.
A user-friendly interface: Paperwork can be clunky and confusing, with uncertain legal red tape barring entry. Workforce development software is intuitive, making it easy for your team to use it and streamline their workday.
Remote work: Most workforce development software is cloud-based, so your team can do work from any location, and workers going through workforce development can access materials remotely. This allows public sector agencies to work with more people outside their immediate community and find more talent in hard-to-reach places.
Needs assessment tool: Public sector workforce software often features a skills assessment tool so that organizations can match potential workers to the right federal agency.

How to Utilize Public Sector Agency Workforce Software

Public sector training and development tools must be implemented properly to be effective. But the results can be impressive: 68% of employees would rather complete training at work, and 45% of workers are less likely to quit if they receive training. By implementing these public sector workforce development strategies, the public sector can improve retention rates and better serve the younger generation of workers.

1. Improve Workforce Training and Development Programs

Public sector workforce development platforms create a central place to build and grow workforce training and development programs. A robust program is critical for job success–92% of employees believe that workplace training makes a positive impact on their job engagement. Workforce development software gives public sector agencies the tools they need to grow these programs, including:

Creating plans for virtual or in-person training programs to upskill employees. They can track sign-ups, build programs, and link virtual meetings, all in one place.
Connecting job seekers and employers for job shadowing opportunities. With a database of names from both sectors, there’s a significant opportunity for hands-on learning.
Reporting allows public sector agencies to track skills and identify areas where potential public sector workers need to learn to grow in their careers.
Building personalized learning plans, and you can track each participant throughout programs to ensure successful completion.

2. Provide Better Services Faster

Cutting through the red tape can be one of the most difficult elements of working in a public sector agency. Public sector employee management software offers a platform where all pertinent information can be stored, allowing for easy access where your team can solve problems independently. Streamlined information systems with robust, intuitive tools enable public sector agencies to:

Manage caseloads more efficiently through intuitive interfaces. Public sector workforce software often includes case management tools for a seamless process from intake to skills development completion.
Access real-time data and reporting to measure program outcomes. You only know which programs to fix if you have the data to see what’s going wrong.
Coordinate services across departments through integrated platforms.

3. Enhance Collaboration With Robust Tools

It takes an average of 119 days to fill a role in the public sector sector. With long delays, people willing to work in the public sector may be offered a job in the private sector first. When money is tight, workers cannot afford to wait. Workforce development software can help public sector agencies connect workers with positions that need to be filled.

With PlanStreet, in particular, there is a referral feature within the portal. Public sector programs can quickly match job seekers to ideal careers and help them get their foot in the door with a government agency. Referrals improve hiring rates–employers favor referrals by 82% for the best ROI.

4. Pinpoint Skills Development in the Community

A thorough skills assessment is one of the most critical elements in developing community workforce programs launched by workforce development boards. Vocational evaluations and assessments allow workforce development boards to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the participants in their programs. These evaluations help leaders understand which skills training to develop to boost the efficacy of their program.

Evaluation tools also help community workforce development leaders understand which worker fits best with each employer participating in apprenticeship and internship programs. It’s critical to keep all of this data in one place. Workforce development software like PlanStreet creates customized journeys for clients, with proprietary AI engines walking them through the appropriate forms and services. This allows clients to develop skills faster and allows for fewer administrative hours for your team.

5. Remain Compliant With Federal Regulations

The public sector inherently has more hoops to jump through because public money is involved. However, workforce development software can speed up these previously tedious processes. Look for features that automatically track and enforce compliance with labor laws, including FLSA, FMLA, and ADA. Consider reporting features that include pre-configured reports that meet WIOA and PIRL standards.

Solve Public Sector Workforce Challenges With PlanStreet

Employee training and development in the public sector doesn’t have to feel decades behind. PlanStreet’s public sector employee skills development platform offers tools to train employees better, retain more talent, and streamline the skills development process. PlanStreets robust platform includes:

Outcome tracking for greater success rates at every program milestone.
Skills assessments tool to determine the ideal services needed for your employees.
Access to educational resources to promote career advancement for community members.
Effective collaboration tools to streamline communication and achieve better results.
Comprehensive reporting that’s compliant with federal performance indicators.

Contact PlanStreet today and improve public sector workforce development at your organization.