Innovations and Hiring Improvements to Address Public Health Workforce Recruitment

Organizations should improve inefficient recruitment and hiring processes and systems where possible. Much of this is achievable through quality improvement initiatives rather than legal or regulatory changes. However, tracking the hiring process to identify inefficiencies is essential, as barriers likely differ across agencies and states. Finding ways to shorten the applicant review timeframe and improve communication with applicants throughout the hiring process may yield more successful recruitment efforts. Lastly, Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding and programming have led to recruitment innovations. Flexibility to adapt recruitment approaches to changing workforce and labor market dynamics is needed for an adequate workforce with the capacity to address foundational needs and public health challenges.