Overview
- Vacancy pressures are concentrated in major service agencies, led by Health and Human Services (3,074 vacancies; $375 million), Adult Corrections (2,817; $228.6 million), Transportation (838; $78.6 million), and Commerce (684; $226.1 million).
- The report counts 4,515 positions vacant for at least a year, including 190 unfilled for more than five years.
- Agencies most often cited uncompetitive pay, limited qualified applicants, and administrative lag as reasons for prolonged vacancies.
- Recommendations include eliminating positions vacant at least one year for an estimated $138 million in state appropriation savings and strengthening tracking of how lapsed salary is used.
- NCDHHS disputes the audit’s methodology and context, and the state employees association notes nearly 3,000 positions have been frozen under statute due to the lack of a new budget.