Effective today, North Carolina’s Public Workforce Modernization Act (S.L. 2026-40) ushers in the largest overhaul to the state’s human resources system in more than 60 years.
The act, passed unanimously by the N.C. General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Josh Stein, elevates public service and enhances North Carolina’s capacity to build a workforce that delivers results for people.
The new law creates new pathways into public service. It includes work-based learning programs like apprenticeships and skills-based learning to bring in a wider talent pool. It also expands the veterans’ preference to spouses of active-duty service members.
Other new provisions aim to boost employee retention – mostly by expanding and enhancing the benefits offered in state government – and to increase state agency flexibility.
“Modernizing our human resources system is critical to protecting and delivering services for North Carolinians,” said Staci Meyer, director of the N.C. Office of State Human Resources. “These changes will help fulfill our mission of elevating public service and making state government both more efficient and more nimble. I am grateful to Governor Stein and the legislature for working together to make North Carolina the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Improved Hiring Flexibility
The new law will help speed up the hiring process and fill more vacancies. It allows agencies to convert high-performing temporary employees into permanent employees after three months instead of six. It allows employees to laterally transfer within agencies to meet evolving needs. It also provides enhanced applicant support, including job matching, through JoinNC – formerly Temporary Solutions – for both permanent and non-permanent positions to increase efficiency in the hiring process.
Enhanced Benefits
The new law also enhances benefits for state employees. It expands paid parental leave – for both parents – to 12 weeks of paid leave after the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. The act makes bereavement leave consistent for all state agencies, increases vacation leave for all state employees, and authorizes additional compensation and leave flexibility for agencies.
“North Carolinians deserve a government that can attract and retain dedicated public servants to keep our government running efficiently,” Meyer said. “These changes are critical to keeping our state competitive in an ever-changing landscape.”