Delaware Department of Human Resources Sets Consecutive Hiring Records

DOVER, Del. — Implementing a strategic state government workforce recruitment campaign highlighting higher salaries, employee benefits and signing bonuses, the Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) 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 percent 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, re-hired, 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 Governor Carney and the overwhelming support of the General Assembly, their priority of higher, more competitive state salaries and incentive bonuses have 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 percent per month this past year, with monthly applications increasing some months by 35-37 percent.

In 2022, DHR launched a robust multi-year media campaign to recruit for high-demand positions and emphasizing the state’s generous benefits, including health benefits, retirement plans and flexible work schedules. The jobs campaign highlighted increased salaries, proposed by Governor 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 percent in FY 2023 and 2024, with those at the lower end of the pay scale receiving up to an 18 percent increase. Since FY 2017, state employee salaries have increased by an average of 31 percent.

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 recruitment initiatives reflect the department’s commitment to its centralization, modernization, and recruitment efforts. Interested applicants can explore career opportunities with the State of Delaware at https://statejobs.delaware.gov.

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Delaware Veterans Home to Host Job Fair Sept. 29

The Delaware Veterans Home (DVH) will be hosting a job fair for healthcare professionals scheduled for September 29, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. DVH is actively seeking qualified candidates for the roles of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs,) Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Registered Nurses (RNs) to provide quality care for veteran residents.

Prospective individuals will be able to connect with DVH staff, learn more about the positions available, and receive onsite interviews. Applicants are encouraged to bring their resume and any pertinent supporting documentation.

Successful applicants receive a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health, dental and vision care, retirement plans, work-life balance, and opportunities for professional growth. Recruitment incentives are currently being offered for eligible positions.

Individuals are invited to attend the job fair from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 100 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford, DE 19963. Pre-registration is not required. Light refreshments will be offered.

For more information about the event or about the Delaware Veterans Home, visit vethome.delaware.gov or call (302) 424-6000. To apply today, visit statejobs.delaware.gov.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Rony Baltazar-Lopez (Rony.baltazar@delaware.gov) or (302) 739-4111.

Established in 2007, the Delaware Veterans Home is a large 144-bed facility situated on over 20 acres in Milford, DE. Its mission is to offer a safe and nurturing environment for veterans in need of long-term care. DVH houses residents from diverse military backgrounds and delivers a variety of support services that meet their unique needs and preferences.


DPH Announces Medical Provider Recruitment Push

DOVER, DE (March 14, 2023) The Division of Public Health (DPH) is continuing its recruitment push to attract more medical professionals to live and work in Delaware.   

As part of that recruitment effort, DPH, in conjunction with the Middletown-based Epic Marketing Consultants Corporation, developed a recruitment video touting the benefits of being a health care professional in Delaware. The video features a number of health care professionals from across the state, including Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, MSN, PhD; Dr. Megan Werner, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Westside Family Healthcare; Karyl Rattay, MD, MS, former director of the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH); and others.  

“It is a home environment, and whether they choose a beach, a rural western area in our state, or if they choose to go to the inner city of Wilmington or in our state capital of Dover, there are a lot of opportunities in the seven health systems,” Lt. Gov. Hall-Long said as part of the recruitment video.  

As Delaware’s population grows and becomes more diverse, health care providers are seeing an increase in demand for a range of services and assistance in various communities across the state. Delaware has a number of federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) seeking highly qualified providers in the areas of family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, gynecology/obstetrics, dentistry, and psychiatry.  

Medical professionals living in Delaware may also be eligible to receive financial benefits — such as National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and state loan repayment opportunities — that position them to get the best return on their investment and can help remunerate medical education expenses.  

  

  • The Delaware State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) provides educational debt relief to cover a portion of government and commercial loans incurred during one’s health profession education up to $50,000 annually.  
  • The Delaware Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program (HCPLRP) is a state-sponsored educational debt relief program for medical providers, awarding up to $50,000 annually to eligible health care professionals.  
  • The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provides practical experience to physicians around the country and offers financial incentives like the NHSC Loan Repayment Program and the NHSC Scholar Program, both offering tax-free funding for educational expenses.  

Another opportunity for health care professionals considering Delaware is the Conrad State 30/J-1 Visa Waiver program, which allows foreign medical graduates who have been admitted to the U.S. for medical training to remain in Delaware. Up to 30 J-1 physicians per year are accepted into the waiver program in Delaware, where they serve in HPSAs and MUAs.  Each of Delaware’s three counties have major hospital systems with which to affiliate, and the state ranks first for hospital quality in the nation (“Best States Rankings,” U.S. News & World Report, 2019). The state is home to several leading hospitals and health care systems that offer state-of-the-art facilities and a range of specialties. These institutions provide health care providers with access to advanced technology and resources to deliver high-quality care.  DHSS is also hoping to attract medical professionals to the area as both a great place to live and to work. The First State has abundant resources, amenities, and attractive locations. Delaware has a favorable regulatory environment for health care providers, with relatively low malpractice insurance rates, no sales tax, and low personal income tax rates. The state’s central location on the East Coast provides easy access to major metropolitan areas like Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C., which opens up additional opportunities for networking and professional development.  DHSS is available to link medical professionals with the programs best suited to their needs and interests. Call the Division of Public Health’s Primary Care Office at 302-741-8599 or visit https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hsm/bhprmhome.html to learn more about the Delaware advantage and opportunities available.  

 


State of Delaware Commits to Filling Job Vacancies

Multifaceted campaign is underway to help bolster the workforce for all state agencies and services in Delaware

DOVER, Del. (Aug. 3, 2022) — The Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) has launched a multifaceted marketing communications campaign aimed at bolstering the workforce for all state agencies. The strategies underway focus on recruiting quality candidates for many of the state’s high-demand positions, including nurses, corporation specialists, employment services specialists, unemployment insurance claims processors and field agents, vocational rehabilitation counselors, disability determination adjudicators, and law enforcement officers across multiple agencies.

Delaware, like public and private-sector employers nationwide, is in the grips of acute worker shortages driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, an imbalance between the technical skills required and the positions available, and generational changes regarding work-life balance. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 5.5 million more job openings in the U.S. than there are workers available to fill them.

“State workers come to work each day to serve their fellow Delawareans and have been stretched thin,” said Gov. John Carney. “Our efforts have two objectives: finding qualified candidates, especially for high-demand positions, and easing the strain on state agencies that have been operating short-staffed for a while. By strengthening our workforce, we can make sure Delaware remains a state focused on opportunity and positioned to support a thriving economy well into the future.”

The campaign officially started in mid-June and is designed to educate jobseekers from Delaware and neighboring states about the variety of positions available, as well as motivate them to “explore, apply, and succeed.”

“Our marketing campaign to spread the word about careers in state government is part of a larger effort to recruit and retain dedicated employees,” said DHR Secretary Claire DeMatteis. “This integrated plan will motivate people from all walks of life to apply for and embrace state employment based on exceptional benefits and a public service mission. Thanks to Gov. Carney and the members of the Delaware General Assembly, we are significantly increasing state employee salaries to be more competitive with the private sector, offering signing and retention bonuses for high-demand jobs, and continuing to offer the best health care and retirement benefits to our dedicated employees.”

The state’s marketing communications campaign, which continues through October, integrates radio; social media; and outdoor, transit, and digital advertising.

StateJobs.Delaware.gov provides everything an individual needs to explore all opportunities available, understand job descriptions and benefits, and apply.

Media Contact:
Karen Smith, Communications Director
Cell: 302-505-6090
Karen.M.Smith@delaware.gov