Gov. Huckabee Sanders looks to overhaul state government pay plan

State of play: The state worked with management consulting firm McKinsey & Company to develop the plan as part of its Arkansas Forward initiative.

• The new plan will largely increase pay for state government employees to the labor market rate, including "double digit percent increases" for the state's hard-to-fill roles.
• Job titles will be streamlined across government agencies from about 2,200 now, to about 800.

State government employees will have a better insight into career paths, Leslie Fisken, Secretary of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, said.

Between the lines: About a third of state employees are now "on target" to be paid the market rate, Fisken said, but that leaves about 14,000 who aren't.

What we're watching: The Arkansas Legislature will have to approve the plan when it convenes next year.

• It could go into effect as early as July 1, 2025, Fisken said.

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