LA City Personnel Committee Finishes Series of Hearings on City Department Vacancies

LOS ANGELES – Councilmember Tim McOsker and the Personnel, Audits, and Hiring Committee concluded a series of hearings today focused on city department vacancies. The first hearing took place February 28, followed by four subsequent sessions over the past two months.

“With these hearings, it was my intention to identify vacancies by job function in each department and bureau of the City and translate that information in terms of the effect on delivery and quality of services for constituents,” said Councilmember McOsker. “I recognize that the employee base and salary accounts are central to our Budget Committee hearings over the next month, and as the Chair of the Personnel Committee, it’s important to me that we have the most up to date numbers on vacancies and to hear from the department managers on what it means for our city services.”

According to the City Administrative Officer, since March 31, 2020, the vacancy rate has been consistently growing. The City is currently experiencing the highest vacancy rates in at least the last 15 years.

In December 2023, McOsker introduced a motion with Council President Paul Krekorian to instruct all city departments to provide a list of vacancies by classification and programs, identify how these positions are funded (ie. special funds, fee-supported or general fund) and the impact of these vacancies to the respective departments and programs.

The Personnel, Audits and Hiring Committee hearings were broken into 5 categories, based on type of services and functions: Proprietary; Public Safety; Administrative Services; Public Works/Infrastructure; and Social Services. According to the City Administrative Officer, currently there are 3,599 vacant positions within the city of Los Angeles departments.

During the Proprietary departments hearing, the Department of Water and Power shared that of the 11,848 positions funded from the last fiscal year, 11,334 were occupied with a vacancy rate of 6%. Comparatively, during the Public Works/Infrastructure hearing, the Department of Transportation reported that they have 335 vacant positions, or an 18% vacancy rate. The Department of Recreation and Parks during the Social Services hearing has a vacancy rate of 23.1% and, interestingly, 65.3% of those positions were vacated in the past two years.

At the Public Safety hearing, LAFD documented a 22% vacancy rate with a total of 94 vacant civilian positions. The Emergency Management Division has 34 authorized positions with only 2 vacant positions. Finally, during the Administrative Services hearing, the Information Technology Agency shared it has 94 vacant positions with a vacancy rate of 20%. 29 of these vacant positions have a direct impact on Public Safety Communications including police, fire, and medical communications between each other, supervisors, and 9-1-1 Dispatch.

There are multiple systemic barriers that have made it a challenge to recruit qualified candidates and retain them as permanent employees. McOsker’s intention with these hearings was to illustrate the various needs and analyze the effects on key public services that serve the residents of Los Angeles.

These hearings will allow the City to prioritize recruitment in key positions throughout this year and prepare for challenges in the upcoming 2024-25 Fiscal Year as Budget Committee deliberations begin next week.