Connecticut Takes 92 Days to Fill State Jobs as Unions Target Tier IV Pensions

1 articles · Updated · yankeeinstitute.org · Aug 14

Connecticut’s median time to fill an approved state vacancy was 92 days in August, extending a five-month stretch in which hiring has hovered around three months.
DAS data point to the biggest delay after candidate lists are ready: the agency-selection stage alone took a median 69 days in August, with some agencies far slower — 250 days at Workers’ Compensation, 207 at the Siting Council and 189 at Education.
State employee unions are instead tying recruitment problems to Tier IV pensions, even though SEBAC negotiated the 2017 tier, which won 83% approval and requires higher worker contributions plus a 1% matched savings account.
DAS has already acknowledged speed as a problem, launching a 2023 hiring review and issuing a July 28 policy urging faster vacancy filling, earlier application review and quicker offers to compete for workers.
The debate comes as Connecticut pays state workers about $101,500 on average — second highest nationally — and as Pennsylvania says it cut average hiring time 42% to 52 days through process changes.