When Beaver County Clerk of Courts Judy Enslen recruited a woman with a master’s degree in criminal justice to work in her office, Enslen thought she was hiring someone who would be passionate in the role and would make a great fit for the detailed and demanding work. But shortly after joining the office, that woman left to start working at Walmart, where she would be earning a few dollars an hour more than the $12.26 the clerk’s office was paying.

Enslen’s small office had been down two positions for just about a year, so losing such a seemingly great candidate was tough, Enslen said.