NC auditor says state could save millions by cutting long-vacant jobs; 190 have been empty for 5+ years

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A new report from the Office of the State Auditor suggests North Carolina could save millions of dollars by eliminating vacant jobs at the state level.

In an audit released Thursday by the OSA, it was found that at the time of the audit there were 8,846 jobs that have been vacant for six months or longer. The audit defines those as long-term vacancies, and the empty positions are spread across 46 of NC’s state agencies.

Of those 8,846 vacancies, 4,515 have been vacant for a least a year, and 190 have been unfilled for more than five years.

Taken all together, these empty positions have generated $1.04 billon, according to the audit’s findings.

“Five years, let’s just be realistic, that position can probably be eliminated,” State Auditor Dave Boliek said.

The audit also suggests cutting unfilled positions, and it goes a step further and provides guidelines for the reallocations of those funds.

“There are places where we need to reinvest, where we can get a return on investment,” Boliek said. “Nursing, other health care professionals across the state of North Carolina, corrections officials. I will agree with the governor, we’ve got to pay corrections department guards and folks that work in our corrections department more money.”

The audit lists the biggest cause for the vacancies as low compensation or unqualified candidates.

Departments with the highest vacancy rates are the NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Department of Adult Corrections, the NC Department of Transportation and the NC Department of Commerce.