Governor Healey Signs Executive Order Directing State Agencies to Institute Skills-Based Hiring
Through
the “Lead by Example” Employer Talent Initiative, Healey-Driscoll
Administration will work with business community
to eliminate unnecessary education
requirements and increase job opportunities
NEWTON – In her address to the Associated Industries of
Massachusetts (AIM) today, Governor Healey announced that she
signed an executive
order instituting
skills-based hiring practices for the state’s workforce. Through this Executive
Order, for the vast majority of job postings, the administration will
focus primarily on applicants’ skills, knowledge, and abilities rather
than educational credentials. Job postings will only be allowed to
include degree conditions when absolutely necessary to the
performance of the job. Additionally, for the first time,
hiring managers will receive training and tools to implement this new
hiring strategy effectively.
“As the state’s largest employer, we rely on a strong,
diverse workforce to deliver crucial services and programs for Massachusetts
residents, businesses and communities every day. But too many job
applicants are being held back by unnecessary degree requirements,” said Governor
Healey. “This Executive Order directs our administration to focus on
applicants’ skills and experiences, rather than college credentials. It will
expand our applicant pool and help us build a more inclusive and
skilled workforce than ever before. Our administration
is leading by example, and we encourage the business community to
join us by adopting similar skills-based hiring practices.”
“Our administration recognizes that job applicants have a wide
range of skills and that nobody can be reduced to a line on a resume,”
said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “We have so many jobs
across the state that need to be filled and we have qualified,
talented workers who want them. We just need to lower the barriers to
entry, which is exactly what this Executive Order aims to do. We look
forward to continuing to share our lessons learned and best practices with the
business community as we all work toward these common goals.”
The Executive Order directs all executive departments and agencies
to utilize skills-based employment practices to attract, recruit,
hire, retain, and develop workers. The Executive Order also requires the
completion of a skills-based hiring training course for all agency managers and
support teams and ensure job postings and interview questions promote a
candidate’s set of skills, knowledge, and abilities. Additionally, as part of
the Administration’s “Lead by Example” Employer Talent Initiative,
the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will collaborate
with private, non-profit, and government employers to develop and publish best
practices resources for the broader business community to also adopt
skills-based hiring strategies.
“Massachusetts has an incredible opportunity to leverage its
platform as a major employer, lead by example, and encourage more
employers to do the same,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce
Development Lauren Jones. “As employers, including the Commonwealth,
embrace a skills-based hiring practice, we will collectively open more
opportunities to hire, retain, and develop the diverse, skilled talent
employers need to grow and thrive in regions across the state.”
The Executive Order also calls for new job postings not to
specify a
minimum level of education as an entrance requirement unless it is
determined that a particular level of education is necessary to perform
the job. While
only 7 percent of current positions require an education
requirement, the state’s Human Resources Division (HRD) will routinely
review positions to determine if education requirements are
necessary to perform the job.
As part of its guidance to departments and agencies, HRD will
develop tools for skills-based recruiting such as identifying and reducing
bias, writing a job description, and creating a recruitment plan. HRD will
also provide best practices when screening and interviewing candidates. As
part of a skills-based hiring strategy, the Healey-Driscoll Administration aims
to reduce unconscious bias in the workplace by focusing on
eliminating biases during the hiring process.
Residents interested in a career in state government, including
roles in health, human services, transportation, IT, finance, housing, economic
and workforce development, veterans’ services, energy, climate,
environmental affairs, public safety, and education, can visit the MassCareers
website for job opportunities.
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