Brookline HR reports stable applicant diversity and steady new-hire numbers; turnover easing from pandemic peaks

The Town of Brookline’s human-resources director provided a biannual update on hiring, exits and workforce demographics through August 2025, saying overall hiring activity is steady and that some pandemic-era turnover pressures have eased. Anne Braga, the town’s HR director, said there were 61 new hires across 16 departments from January through August 2025, including three firefighters and three department-head hires; roughly 20 percent of those hires live in Brookline. Braga said the town’s applicant pool remains similar in racial self-identification to previous periods, with about 35–38 percent of applicants not identifying race or gender in the online forms. Turnover and openings: Braga reported that quit rates — employees leaving without a next job lined up — have fallen from the high levels seen in 2022–23, while vacancies remain concentrated in certain hard-to-fill positions such as CDL driver slots and specialized technical roles. Of recent departures, 72 percent moved on to new opportunities, 22 percent retired, and the remainder left for other reasons, including disciplinary separations. Board response: Select Board members asked HR for year-over-year trend data, comparisons to peer communities, and clearer measures (head count, turnover rate, vacancy duration). Braga said a fuller year-end report will present year-over-year comparisons and additional analysis for FY25. Next steps: HR will return with a year-over-year analysis in time for the end-of-year staffing report and will explore targeted recruitment strategies where needed.