The numbers just aren't what they used to be when it comes to applications for the Saint Paul Fire Department.
"Probably about 15 to 20 years ago when I was applying we had 3,000 or 4,000 applicants," said Deputy Chief Roy Mokosso with the St. Paul Fire Department. "It was a selective and tough process."
When the application window was last open five years ago, Mokosso said there were around 1,000 applications. Saint Paul Fire reopened that application during June.
They'll likely get 400 applications.
"Which would be 10 percent of what we were getting 10 or 15 years ago. There definitely is a change in the labor market and probably a lot less interest in folks wanting to do a job in public service."
Despite the declining number of applicants, Mokosso credits the department's pathways programs for keeping staffing levels where they should be. Those pathways programs, including the EMS Academy, help young people get their EMT training and a foot in the door for future hiring opportunities.
"Our current staffing is one or two above our authorized strength which is great," he said. "While we add a bunch, attrition occurs and we lose two or three each month. So from a staffing level I think we are doing well. We're not low, or behind."
As for what's keeping the number of applicants down during the June hiring effort, the pandemic along with civil unrest in the Twin Cities are likely the two main culprits.
"There aren't opportunities to work from home," Mokosso said. "80 percent of what we do is EMS so with our ambulance transports we're interacting with medical staff at hospitals and wearing masks. The pandemic's been tough on everybody working within the medical community. Also, the civil unrest in the Twin Cities was something that was in peoples' faces. I think there are some folks that are kind of turned off to the idea that they would ever have to respond or deal with a situation like that."
The department will be holding an information session on Wednesday, June 28 at 6 p.m. at 1683 Energy Park Dr in St. Paul. There's also a way to attend the event virtually.
More information about the Saint Paul Fire Department's hiring process can be found here.