Summary of Report 21-707

Information technology careers at state agencies cover a broad range of jobs and include titles such as cybersecurity analyst, programmer, data base administrator, and web administrator. Employees classified in those job titles perform duties such as preventing and detecting cybersecurity threats, programming computers, managing databases, and maintaining websites. These types of jobs, as well as others in the information technology field, are included within the scope of this audit.

When compared with fiscal year 2016, the number of employees in the Information Technology occupational category during fiscal year 2020 increased by 0.6 percent. However, in fiscal year 2020, the state employed 145 fewer full-time and part-time classified employees (a decrease of 3.1 percent) within the Information Technology occupational category compared to the previous fiscal year. This decline may be due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic, which started to affect agencies’ hiring practices in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

Jump to Chapter 1 

A total of 500 (62.7 percent) of the 797 employees tested at 7 state agencies were correctly classified in accordance with the State’s Position Classification Plan. The agencies reported that of those 797 employees tested:

• 788 were in a job classification series that fell within the Information Technology occupational category.
• 9 were performing information technology-related work but were in a job classification series located within another occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2 

The Office of the Attorney General (Office) identified 188 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category or performing similar work. Of those 188 employees, 93 (49.5 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State’s Position Classification Plan. For the 95 misclassified employees, the majority (90.5 percent) were in an incorrect job classification series, including 15 employees who were also in an incorrect occupational category. For example, one misclassified employee will be reclassified from a Systems Analyst to a Data Analyst to better align with the employee’s duties. The Data Analyst job classification series is in the Planning, Research, and Statistics occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2-A 

The Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts (Comptroller’s Office) identified 364 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category. Of those 364 employees, 276 (75.8 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State’s Position Classification Plan. The 88 misclassified employees were performing job duties that did not align with their current job classification series. Three of those employees were also in an incorrect occupational category. For example, one misclassified employee will be reclassified from a Systems Analyst to a Project Manager to better align with the employee’s duties. The Project Manager job classification series is in the Program Management occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2-B 

The Employees Retirement System (System) identified 65 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category. Of those 65 employees, 39 (60.0 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State's Position Classification Plan. The 26 misclassified employees were performing duties that did not align with their current job classification series. Specifically, the majority (84.6 percent) of the 26 misclassified employees were in an incorrect job classification series. Three of those employees were also in an incorrect occupational category. For example, one employee will be reclassified from a Systems Analyst to a Manager. The Manager job classification series is in the Program Management occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2-C 

The Department of Information Resources (Department) identified 56 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category or performing similar work. Of those 56 employees, 30 (53.6 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State’s Position Classification Plan. The 26 misclassified employees were performing job duties that did not align with their current job classification series. Nine of those employees were also in an incorrect occupational category. For example, one misclassified employee will be reclassified from a Systems Analyst to a Portfolio Project Manager to better align with the employee’s duties. The Portfolio Project Manager job classification series is in the Program Management occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2-D 

The Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council (Office) identified 18 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category. Of those 18 employees, 13 (72.2 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State's Position Classification Plan. The five misclassified employees were performing duties that did not align with their current job classification titles.

Jump to Chapter 2-E 

The Department of Insurance (Department) identified 74 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category. Of those 74 employees, 30 (40.5 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State’s Position Classification Plan. The 44 misclassified employees were performing job duties that did not align with their current job classification series. Specifically, the majority (95.5 percent) of the 44 misclassified employees were in an incorrect job classification series. Fourteen of those employees were also in an incorrect occupational category. For example, one misclassified employee will be reclassified from a Systems Analyst to a Data Analyst to better align with the employee’s duties. The Data Analyst job classification series is in the Planning, Research, and Statistics occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2-F 

The Department of Licensing and Regulation (Department) identified 32 employees who were classified in the Information Technology occupational category. Of those 32 employees, 19 (59.4 percent) were correctly classified in accordance with the State’s Position Classification Plan. The 13 misclassified employees were performing duties that did not align with their current job classification series. Specifically, the majority (84.6 percent) of the 13 misclassified employees were in an incorrect job classification series, including 2 employees who were also in an incorrect occupational category. For example, one employee will be reclassified from a Systems Analyst to a Manager. The Manager job classification series is in the Program Management occupational category.

Jump to Chapter 2-G