Strengthen government's ability to achieve results efficiently and effectively
Indicator 1: Improve Quality of the Workforce
Measure b: State’s grade for Human Resource portion of the Governing Survey
Description:
In 2008, Washington received an overall grade of A-. This was the highest grade given out, and only two other states achieved it. The average of all 50 states graded was a B-. Washington's grade in the People category, which measures workforce planning, hiring processes, employee retention, training and development, and managing employee performance, improved from a B+ in 2005 to an A- in 2008. In People, the national average was C+.
These grades are determined by the Government Performance Project, a joint effort by the Pew Center on the States and Governing Magazine, based on interviews and surveys conducted in every state. The assessment evaluates the management of budgets and money, employees, information, and infrastructure (e.g. state roads, bridges, and buildings).
The states are graded against a set of critieria, not ranked against each other. Since the criteria change each year, the same level of management quality may result in different grades in subsquent years.
| Washington's Grades from the Government Performance Project | ||
| 2005 | 2008 | |
| Overall | B+ |
A- |
| People | B+ |
A- |