City staff reports stable hiring: Sunnyvale vacancy rate ~7.6%; HR outlines recruitment tactics

As required by Assembly Bill 2561, Sunnyvale’s Human Resources Director Heather Ruiz presented an annual vacancy, recruitment and retention report at the May 19 council meeting. Using a mid‑April data snapshot, staff reported 978.02 authorized FTEs and 71.7 vacancies, a 7.6% vacancy rate. HR noted anything under about 10% is a healthy benchmark for an organization of Sunnyvale’s size.

HR described recruitment activity over the past year (roughly 148 hires/promotions in 2025, and 113 hires/promotions year‑to‑date through April 14) and highlighted key challenges in hiring for specialized Information Technology roles and communications/dispatcher positions, which are difficult statewide. Ruiz emphasized steps to improve recruitment and candidate experience: updated civil-service rules (2025), virtual interviews to increase participation, TestGenius for remote written testing, periodic review of minimum qualifications, and robust exit surveys.

Council members asked for additional follow-up data on turnover and the absolute numbers who left year-to-date; staff agreed to provide more details. Council unanimously accepted the vacancy report.

Outcome: Council accepted the AB2561-required vacancy and recruitment report; HR will provide supplemental turnover/exit data and continue recruitment work.