Akron Becomes First Ohio City in National Effort to Rebuild Public Sector Workforce
Mayor Malik and Work for America partner to strengthen hiring systems, fill critical roles, and bring top talent into city government
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@workforamerica.org | press@akronohio.gov
Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
Visuals: Link
AKRON, OH — Mayor Shammas Malik today announced that Akron, OH is the first city in the state – and one of only three nationwide – chosen for Work for America’s “Spotlight City” initiative. The partnership will help Akron recruit top talent, modernize hiring systems, and serve as a model for how local governments across the region can rebuild critical public services at a moment when federal layoffs are flooding the job market.
This comes at a pivotal moment: on September 30, hundreds of thousands of federal employees affected by the Deferred Resignation Program will permanently lose pay and benefits. Many of these displaced workers have the exact skills local governments like Akron urgently need.
“Very soon, hundreds of thousands of former federal workers with highly transferable skills will lose their benefits and salaries,” said Mayor Shammas Malik. “The City of Akron is not only eager to welcome this wave of experienced talent, but also proud to partner with Work for America to rethink how we hire so we can get these folks into the doors of City Hall quickly and effectively.”
“What’s happening in Akron is bigger than filling jobs - it’s rewriting the story of public service,” said Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director of Work for America. “For too long, government work has only been noticed when something goes wrong. Akron is flipping that script by lifting up the voices of its own employees and showing why serving this city matters. It’s fresh, it’s human, and it’s exactly the kind of leadership communities across the country need right now.”
When Work for America launched Civic Match to connect displaced federal employees and other mission-driven talent with open roles in local and state government, the City of Akron was one of the first municipalities in the nation to sign on. Since then, Akron has worked closely with Work for America to identify and place federal talent in city government roles – helping both the City and residents benefit from a new wave of skilled public servants.
Building on that early leadership, Akron is now becoming the third Spotlight City in the country. This designation includes:
“Why Here, Why Now” workshop with 15 Akron city employees to co-create a compelling Employer Value Proposition (EVP) rooted in their lived experiences – the first time EVP work is being tested in the public sector.
Tailored recruitment support to help fill the most urgent staffing needs across city departments.
Mayor Malik joins Work for America’s national Advisory Board, alongside other mayors committed to transforming public-sector hiring nationwide.
By stepping into the spotlight, Akron is helping to broaden a national initiative that supports local governments in building and retaining strong teams to ensure better services for their communities.
Visuals for Media
High-resolution photos and broadcast-quality b-roll are available here: LINK.
Assets include Mayor Malik addressing city employees, as well as the Mayor and Akron workers participating in candid workshop discussions.
Please credit “Work for America” when using visuals.
About Work for America
Work for America (WFA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit tackling the government staffing crisis by helping state and local governments recruit, hire, and retain the people they need to deliver for their communities. From launching Civic Match, a national platform connecting mission-driven talent with government jobs, to helping cities modernize hiring systems and tell a more compelling story about public service, WFA is making it easier for great people to serve — and for communities to thrive.
WFA’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and TIME for its innovative approach to rebuilding the public workforce. Learn more here.
