Indiana's state employment has bounced back, surpassing the numbers seen before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with state government agencies now employing more than 32,000 individuals, a recovery highlighted by the Indiana Transparency Portal which, as of July 12, cited the employment figure at 32,075 across 80 different agencies, this figure represents the highest employment number recorded since data collection began in 2016 by the Indiana State Personnel Department (INSPD), as detailed in reports provided by WISH-TV, IBJ, and Indiana Capital Chronicle.
The journey has been challenging as the pandemic initially forced many employees to consider retirement or adapt to remote work, resulting in a significant drop in state government employment between 2020 and 2022 with the State Personnel Department noting a loss of over 2,000 state employees in that time span, as directors like Cris Johnston of the Indiana Office of Management and Budget have observed shifts in working trends and retirement decisions, stating “When the pandemic hit some people decided to say ‘well, you know what? I have to work remotely,’” and with another group saying "I’m just going to retire, I’m not going to come back," WISH-TV reported.
These personnel shifts were not confined to those nearing retirement age, but affected younger workers as well, with data from a U.S. Census Bureau survey indicating that 4.6% of adults aged 62 to 65 retired early or planned to retire early due to the pandemic’s impact, and the year 2021 seeing employee turnover peaking at 25% among state agencies, as described by IBJ.
The resurgence in employment numbers is a welcome change, especially given the stark losses experienced by some agencies like the Indiana Department of Health which disclosed the departure of about 330 of its 760 full-time clinical employees, losing approximately 43% of its workforce during the pandemic, and similar departures were seen in the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and Attorney General’s Office, all agencies grappling with the need to replenish ranks and solidify the structures necessary for serving the public, WISH-TV and the IBJ indicated.
With Indiana's economy on the path of recovery and the state now achieving a historic high in employment numbers, the efforts of state agencies to stabilize and grow despite the adversities presented by the pandemic are evidently bearing fruit, marking a notable milestone in Indiana's ongoing return to pre-pandemic operational norms.
