ABSTRACT
On January 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States from samples taken two days earlier in Washington state. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework was a benefit for relatively few public servants. Despite the government’s dependence and increased acceptance of alternative work schedules, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected occupations and segments of public employment differently. After three years, the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and continues to hinder government services and obstruct broader economic growth. New variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are emerging constantly, and the United States could potentially return to early pandemic conditions in the future. Finally, despite existing challenges, job growth will continue for state and local governments through the end of 2024, when funding from the ARPA expires.
