New Report Reveals Deepening Leadership Gaps in U.S. Local Government

Government Leadership Solutions to Host May 14 Webinar on Erosion of Trust, Talent Retention, and Leadership Development Shortfalls

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Government Leadership Solutions (GLS) today announced the release of the 2025 State of Local Government Leadership Pipeline Executive Summary, a revealing look into the most urgent challenges facing local governments across the country. To engage leaders around these findings, GLS will host a live webinar on May 14, 2025, where experts will unpack the data and provide actionable strategies to address the growing leadership crisis.

The study, led by renowned leadership expert Dr. Maria Church, introduces three new leadership personas - Challengers, Culturists, and Guardians - that reflect the diverse experiences in today's public service environment directly affecting the health of the local government leadership pipeline. Among the study's most critical findings:

• Erosion of public trust (65%) - a key barrier to effective governance
• Talent retention struggles (59%) - making it harder to maintain a robust workforce
• Budget constraints (53%) - limiting investment in leadership development and succession planning
• Workplace culture challenges (49%) - positive workplace culture is a top priority for local government leaders

Less than half (39%) see their Local Government talent pipeline as "Extremely" or "Very Important," despite significant attraction and retention shortfalls.

"This year's results are a wake-up call," said Dr. Church. "Local governments are facing compounding pressures, and without intentional investment in leadership development, the pipeline risks drying up entirely."

Join the Conversation: Exclusive Webinar Details

Local government leaders are invited to join GLS for a timely, interactive discussion on the report's findings and strategies to build more resilient, trusted, and future-ready organizations.

Date: May 14, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM MST
Register Now: https://resources.governmentleadershipsolutions.com/state-of-local-government-registration

Whether you're in executive leadership, HR, or managing talent development, this webinar is your opportunity to learn how peer agencies are navigating these challenges - and what you can do today to strengthen your own pipeline.

About Government Leadership Solutions

Government Leadership Solutions (GLS) empowers local governments with the tools, frameworks, and support needed to build strong leadership pipelines, strengthen workplace culture, and achieve strategic goals. GLS works alongside agencies to tackle evolving workforce demands with insight, innovation, and impact.

For more information, visit www.GovernmentLeadershipSolutions.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-reveals-deepening-leadership-gaps-in-us-local-government-302429679.html

SOURCE Government Leadership Solutions