The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Community Assistance (OCA) was seeing challenges with hiring and retaining at local Weatherization Assistance Program agencies. The state conducted a wage study.
Weatherization Assistance Program
April 12, 2024
minute read time
About the Project
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Community Assistance (OCA) was seeing challenges with hiring and retaining at local Weatherization Assistance Program agencies. The state conducted a wage study.
Challenge
Weatherization agencies in Illinois were experiencing high staff turnover, and DCEO, OCA suspected it might be related to wages.
Solution
In 2019, DCEO, OCA conducted a survey of wages for all 34 agencies across the state and compared those wages to several benchmarks, including county median household income, qualification for Medicaid, and comparisons to building inspectors and construction managers.
They found that in most agencies, reported pay for coordinators, Energy Auditors, and Quality Control Inspectors were below the county median income. Seventeen percent of Energy Auditors and 15% of Quality Control Inspectors had incomes below Medicaid levels. DCEO,OCA determined that some of their local agencies might be at risk of losing staff to other similar industries, given those pay disparities.
Positive Impact
DCEO, OCA shared the results with all executive directors at the local agencies, and then with all staff within the state. Some agencies used the data to make changes to wages, and the state has received positive feedback from local staff.
The wage survey is now an annual process, and between 2019 and 2024, DCEO, OCA started to see some wage growth. DCEO, OCA is currently working with the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program network to develop best practices implemented by local agencies with respect to hiring and retention strategies including tuition reimbursement, career ladders, and performance incentives. DCEO, OCA is also having conversations with the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program network about the potential for creating a minimum wage for crew members, Energy Auditor/final inspector, and weatherization coordinator job classifications.
This story was developed using content from a National Association for State Community Services Programs webinar. Watch the webinar on NASCSP StateComServices YouTube Channel.