Governor Sarah Sanders has announced a $102 million state employee pay plan that would increase average salaries by 9.8% for over 14,000 state employees. The plan aims to bring state employee salaries up to private labor market rates and target jobs facing employee shortages. The raises would go into effect in July 2025 and would not eliminate any positions. The plan is part of the governor’s Arkansas Forward initiative, which focuses on improving state government efficiency.
The new pay plan, based on recommendations from consultant McKinsey & Company, would bring average salaries across the targeted jobs from $53,784 to $58,362. The plan also aims to offer state employees a clear career track by establishing skills-based career tracks rather than degree-based ones. The number of job titles would be reduced from 2,200 to 800, and the plan would expand the number of employee pay tables from four to six.
Leaders in the Arkansas legislature have expressed confidence that the pay plan will easily pass. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester and Incoming Speaker of the House Brian Evans both commended the plan and expect it to be well-received by their colleagues. Secretary of Transformation and Shared Services Leslie Fisken invited Arkansans to apply for state jobs through the state careers website.
Overall, the pay plan is seen as a positive step towards rewarding hard work and encouraging recruitment and retention of state employees. With an emphasis on bringing salaries in line with the private labor market, the plan is expected to help attract and retain skilled workers in the state government sector.
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