Jefferson County was featured in a recent PBS NewsHour story about the nationwide staffing shortages state and local governments are facing. Richland County in South Carolina was also featured in the story.
PBS NewsHour reporter Catherine Rampell and producer Diane Lincoln visited Jefferson County to interview several Jefferson County employees, including Road and Bridge Project Manager Brian Knight, Construction Project Manager Will Truesdale, former County Manager Don Davis, Sheriff Jeff Shrader and Human Resources Director Jennifer Fairweather.
Jefferson County’s turnover rate has increased significantly over the past few years – from 9% in 2020 to 20% in 2022. The NewsHour story mentioned how the county’s Road and Bridge Division is short 36 out of 190 positions. Those staffing shortages, combined with rising costs of fuel and materials, means the amount of lane miles the county can maintain is dropping, the report stated.
According to Sheriff Shrader, staffing shortages in public safety translates to fewer people in jail, ultimately putting the public at risk.
You can watch the entire NewsHour story on the PBS website.
Jefferson County is hiring
Are you seeking a job opportunity that is more than a paycheck? A career with Jefferson County will not only allow you to serve our community in a positive, customer-focused way, it will also give you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those living in and enjoying all that Jeffco has to offer. Jefferson County invites you to explore our current list of open positions at www.jeffco.us/jobs.