Bridging the Gap: Examining the Professional Challenges, Competencies, and Training Needs of California’s Local Government Workforce

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.