Top workforce concern: staff development.

• Position: News & Numbers - Brief article

As local and state government workers head for the exits, human resource managers say their top concern is staff development, according to State and Local Government Workforce: 2013 Trends, the annual survey of human resource professionals conducted by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence and the International Public Management Association for Human Resources. The pace of state and local government retirements remains high.

There are signs that the improving economy has begun to reach state and local governments, as they ease up on layoffs and compensation freezes imposed since the economic downturn of 2008. Key survey findings include:

* 33 percent report pay freezes, compared with 51 percent in 2012.

* 18 percent report layoffs, compared with 28 percent in 2012.

* 27 percent report hiring freezes, compared with 42 percent in 2012.

In addition:

* The number of governments making changes to health and retirement benefits remains high, with 56 percent modifying health benefits in 2013 and 44...