Bellingham Council promised a more diverse workforce. Here’s how that’s working
City of Bellingham employees remain overwhelmingly older white men, three years after city officials pledged more hiring diversity — particularly addressing gender and racial inequities.
Issues surrounding the new coronavirus pandemic, including a hiring freeze over several months in 2020, hiring difficulties and retirements have complicated their diversity efforts, city officials said.
“Two years of COVID slowed our hiring and recruiting processes, while at the same time employees made new life choices resulting in what is referred to as ‘the great resignation’ and ‘the silver tsunami;’ employees leaving to pursue their dreams and/or retiring,” Mayor Seth Fleetwood told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Bellingham had 19 positions open as of April 21, said Janice Keller, the city’s communications director.
Recruitment methods include postings on city’s website; Indeed.com; the statewide online job board WorkSource; Governmentjobs.com; National Labor Exchange, which is focused on veterans; Diversity.com; and at local technical and community colleges and universities, Keller told The Herald in an email.
“We sometimes also advertise positions in industry-specific networks to attract candidates with the requisite experience who may or may not be looking for their next career opportunity,” Keller said.
“Our human resources team and other staff involved in hiring continue to build connections in our community and beyond to bring awareness to positions at the city and to promote a diverse workforce,” she said.
Members of the city’s Human Resources Department speak to classes at Western Washington University, Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College, discussing topics such as cover letters and resumes to how to apply for a position with the city.
They also attend job fairs at WorkSource, WWU, Northwest Indian College, BTC and WCC and are in contact with employment specialists at the Opportunity Council, the state Department of Social and Health Services and WorkSource.
The city is hosting its own job fair on May 13.
Seeking diversity
Bellingham uses blind application reviews and removes identifying information to reduce bias in the review and assessment of applications, Keller said.
“We tailor interview questions based on job-related functions and competencies. This creates less room for unconscious bias during the interview process,” she said.
During the pandemic, external recruitment interviews were moved online, a step that also broadens the applicant pool.
“This reduces barriers for candidates who are unable to travel to Bellingham,” Keller said.
Human Resources helps candidates who don’t have the required equipment or technology to participate in the interview process.
“We are actively looking at what we can do as an organization to create a diverse and inclusive environment for all. In addition to steps we currently take to increase diversity and ensure fair and inclusive hiring practices, we have added a staff position to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. When this position is hired, they will be responsible for identifying and implementing recruitment strategies that will focus on people of color and women,” Keller said.
Worker demographics
According to workforce data supplied by the city, Bellingham had 973 employees through March 2022, compared to 1,061 employees in September 2020.
Some 63% of city employees are men, the same percentage as in 2020.
A total of 89% of city employees are white, down from 90% white in September 2020.
And one-third of the city’s entire workforce is white men older than 45.
“The city is committed to fostering a diverse workforce, a commitment that is reflected in our hiring processes, recruitment materials, and the outreach we are doing to attract applicants to City jobs,” Fleetwood said in an email.
“While with over 900 employees we can’t expect immediate results, we are confident our efforts now will be successful at moving the dial further in the future,” he said.
Of the city’s 15-member executive team, which consists of department heads and top managers, eight are women — including Police Chief Flo Simon, a Black woman.
Simon will retire in June and her replacement is Rebecca Mertzig of Ferndale, currently chief of the Stanwood Police Department.
Elected female officials include four women on the seven-member City Council — including Council President Hannah Stone— and Municipal Court Judge Debra Lev.
Two members of the City Council are Black, and are among only three people of color who have served on the council.
According to 2020 figures, the most recent U.S. Census data, 75% of Bellingham residents are white — 68,442 people out of a total 91,842 residents.
That’s a change from 2019 population estimates that showed nearly 83% of Bellingham’s 92,314 residents were white.
Even though the city’s overall workforce demographics have changed little, the Fire Department has grown more diverse, especially along gender lines, according to a recent report to the City Council from Fire Chief Bill Hewett.
Bellingham has double the national average of women firefighters, at nearly 10%, but there’s only one female officer and none at a rank above captain.
