Skills-Based Assessments for Public Sector Hiring

Skills-based hiring requires skills-based assessment. This guide walks through proven approaches states and cities are using to evaluate candidate abilities across the entire employee lifecycle—from screening through promotion.

This resource contains detailed guidance on hiring assessments, onboarding strategies, learning and development, and real examples from Colorado, California, Louisiana, Maryland, and the federal government. See how states are designing job descriptions, conducting skills-focused interviews, using work simulations, and building career pathways based on demonstrated capability.

Practices for success—defining skills, updating job classifications, distinguishing between minimum, required, and preferred qualifications–are outlined. In addition, the guide explores hiring assessment best practices, including preparation, execution, and fairness; onboarding assessments, such as apprenticeships and probationary-period strategies; and learning and development approaches for retention and internal mobility.