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City Managers

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of general and operations managers (including city managers) who work in local government will grow 3.6 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Although city management is a growing profession, the field is still relatively small. Applicants with only a bachelor's degree will have the most difficulty finding employment. Even an entry-level job often requires an advanced degree.

The issues that affect a city are constantly changing. Future city managers will need to focus on clean air regulations and addressing the effects of global climate change, promoting diversity, providing affordable housing, creating new policing methods, zoning of commercial businesses, and revitalizing old downtown areas. Additionally, city managers are finding that they are sharing more and more of their authority with many different groups, such as unions and special interest groups.