City and municipal councils find it hard to fill vacancies, according to the first edition of the Servantes Barometer survey, produced by UGent.
Their general and personnel managers gave replacing staff a rating of 4.97, on a scale of 1 (very easy) to 7 (very difficult), according to UGent Professor Herwig Reynaert, who conducted the research.
However, cities and municipalities offer job security, a work-life balance that is generally good, and short commuting times, trump cards that local governments need to play better, noted Professor Reynaert.
Moreover, turnover is low, according to the survey, and when employees do leave, it is often to another local administration or the public sector. Barely one in three goes over to the private sector.
The first edition of the Servantes Barometer was carried out as a baseline measurement. The intention is to repeat the survey every two years from now on, in order to monitor changes.
Detailed results of the survey will be presented at the Congress of Local and Provincial Politics on 13 March 2023.
