Opinion of a guest. The Cherokee Nation strives to be a great place to work because we want the best and brightest people serving our community. Over the past several years, the Cherokee Nation has invested heavily in improving our work environment. Today, the Cherokee Nation government employs more than 5,300 people and Cherokee Nation Businesses employ more than 9,100. They bring their passion and skills to the table every day and are deeply committed to the success of our tribal nation.
To honor our dedicated team, we hosted a Cherokee Nation Employee Appreciation Day in Tahlequah. Our government workforce is approximately 85% Cherokee, with 7 out of 10 employees being women. This is representative of the Cherokee Nation’s commitment to employing our own people, and valuing inclusion and equity.
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Cherokee Nation recently conducted our first comprehensive compensation study, which directly resulted in significant wage increases for 80% of our workforce. These increases represent an investment of approximately $10 million for the men and women who lift our tribe, and much of that revenue goes directly back into our community to stimulate the economy in northeast Oklahoma.
The initiative maintains a fair wage structure with a minimum wage that will gradually increase to $15 by 2025 – double the current federal and state minimum of $7.25. Our average salary – over $65,000 – is also well above the state average of $50,045. That, of course, includes a full package of competitive benefits available to the entire workforce. We strive to be an employer of choice and our efforts to pay competitive wages make that possible.
We also invest in training opportunities so that Cherokee Nation employees can continuously improve their skills and advance their careers. We implemented a digital employee experience platform and established an executive coaching process. The Cherokee Nation workforce learning portal offers more than 1,500 online and instructor-led training courses, empowering employees with professional growth opportunities at their own pace.
We have made significant infrastructure investments, ranging from the construction of new facilities to the addition of small but impactful facilities such as lactation rooms for young families. We’ve expanded leave options to address mental wellbeing and health, to support families raising young people and for expectant mothers. Our Child Flex Spending Account and Child Care Subsidy Program further supports Cherokee Nation employees and eases the financial burden of child care.
These improvements are part of our broader strategy to create a work environment that supports diverse families, as well as a healthy work-life balance.
Additionally, Cherokee Nation is developing next-generation support through a newly enhanced internship program and scholarships, which are essential to nurturing the passion and professional development of our younger citizens, who we hope will one day return and work for the people.
All of these efforts and more stem from our deep appreciation for our employees. We know that a well-supported workforce is the foundation of our strength as a tribal nation. We will continue to advance our employees through our highly respected Human Resources department and will continue to follow Oklahoma’s example.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the paramount leader of the Cherokee nation.
