Journal of Public Affairs Education· 2026Q2
Bridging the Gap: Examining the Professional Challenges, Competencies, and Training Needs of California’s Local Government Workforce
- 1citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A survey of California local government workers (n=unknown) found that while most are satisfied with their jobs, a gap exists between the training needed and received, particularly for those with lower education levels or from marginalized groups.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Most California local government workers surveyed report job satisfaction and would recommend public service careers.
- A significant gap exists between the training local government workers need and what they receive.
- Lower levels of education and membership in marginalized groups correlate with lower job satisfaction, fewer training opportunities, and greater difficulty addressing professional challenges.
- Findings suggest a need to re-evaluate and tailor public affairs education to better meet the needs of diverse public servant groups.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Understanding how to train new generations of public servants and meet the future training needs of public organizations is central to advancing public administration practice and scholarship of teaching and learning. This article reports results from a recent survey of local government public servants in California that was conducted to assess current on-the-job challenges and identify education and training practices perceived as most useful in meeting job demands. While the majority of local government practitioners surveyed reported satisfaction with their jobs and would recommend a career in public service, the findings indicate that there is a gap between the training needed and received for some groups. Results from descriptive and regression analyses indicate that the level of education and being a member of a marginalized group impacted job satisfaction, training opportunities, and the ability to address professional challenges. This article presents implications for public affairs education for practitioners and scholars.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Public Administration
Public AdministrationSocial Sciences