Delaware Department of Human Resources sets consecutive hiring records

Implementing a strategic state government workforce recruitment campaign highlighting higher salaries, employee benefits and signing bonuses, the Delaware Department of Human Resources has set new records the past two years hiring and promoting state employees.

In calendar year 2023, 4,516 state employees were hired and promoted, which is a 22% increase since the start of the Carney administration in 2017. State government workforce hiring and promotions also set a record in 2022, with nearly 4,000 state employees being hired, rehired and promoted.

“In this very tight labor market coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, DHR implemented an aggressive marketing campaign to promote state job openings, posting a record 4,500 job openings in 2023 on the state employment website, strategically advertising these jobs on social media sites, and significantly increasing our presence at job fairs in Delaware and surrounding states,” said Claire DeMatteis, DHR secretary. “Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Carney and the overwhelming support of the General Assembly, their priority of higher, more competitive state salaries and incentive bonuses has helped the state set hiring and promotion records the past two years.”

Due to the increased marketing efforts and competitive state salaries, applications for state jobs have increased by an average of 20% per month this past year, with monthly applications increasing some months by 35-37%.

In 2022, DHR launched a robust, multiyear media campaign to recruit for high-demand positions, emphasizing the state’s generous benefit packages, including health coverage, retirement plans and flexible work schedules. The jobs campaign highlighted increased salaries, proposed by Carney and passed by the General Assembly, for state merit employees not covered under a collective bargaining agreement. State employees received an average salary increase of 12% in FY 2023 and 2024, with those at the lower end of the pay scale receiving up to an 18% increase. Since FY 2017, state employee salaries have increased by an average of 31%.

DHR also reviewed and updated job descriptions for over 3,000 positions, eliminated the bachelor’s degree requirement for hundreds of state positions, conducted pay equity reviews for 1,700 state positions, assessed 235 classification requests and established 132 new state positions.

DHR’s initiatives reflect the department’s commitment to its centralization, modernization and recruitment efforts.

To explore career opportunities with the State of Delaware, go to statejobs.delaware.gov.