Human Resources Consortium

A Shared-Service Solution to Strengthen Local Government Workforce Strategy

The Central Pines Regional Human Resources Consortium is a new initiative launched by Central Pines Regional Council to address persistent, region-wide challenges in local government workforce recruitment, retention, and compensation strategy. 

Built in partnership with member governments, this Consortium allows participating agencies to pool resources, share best practices, and access real-time salary and benefits data through a modern, cloud-based platform. 

Why This Matters

A 2023 CPRC survey of local government leaders revealed that: 

  • 87% agreed it is harder to recruit into the public sector
  • 59% identified a lack of qualified applicants as a primary barrier
  • Leading causes of turnover include wages, limited growth opportunities, private sector competition, and burnout

Local governments are seeking collaborative solutions to grow the overall talent pool and make data-driven decisions on pay and benefits. 

What the HR Consortium Provides

Data Sharing & Transparency

Participating agencies will contribute to and access a regional database that captures real-time and historical salary and benefits information. This helps inform competitive compensation strategies while reducing the need for repeated surveys or consultant studies. 

Technology-Enabled Benchmarking

The Consortium uses the TechNet Compensation Survey System (CSS) - a nationally recognized, web-based platform designed specifically for local governments. CSS enables: 

  • Peer-to-peer benchmarking using custom comparator groups
  • Access to over 900 benchmark jobs from across the country
  • On-demand reporting for salary and benefits analysis

Cost Efficiency

By consolidating salary data collection and reporting, members benefit from: 

  • Reduced consultant fees
  • Fewer individual salary survey requests
  • A group discount on CSS participation

Shared Learning & Regional Coordination

Consortium members gain access to a community of HR professionals across the region working together to: 

  • Tackle industry-wide workforce challenges
  • Exchange strategies and solutions
  • Build a regional approach to public sector talent development

Participation & Next Steps

The Consortium is open to all CPRC member governments. The initial rollout includes technology onboarding, platform training, and early data input. Broad participation is essential to the Consortium's long-term success. 

To learn more or request an introductory meeting about the program, email Hannah Schuette, Management Analyst, at hschuette@centralpinesnc.gov. 

Current HR Consortium Members

  • Town of Hillsborough 
  • Town of Zebulon 
  • Town of Wendell 
  • Town of Garner 
  • Town of Wake Forest 
  • Wake County 
  • Town of Carrboro 
  • Town of Clayton  
  • Town of Southern Pines