The freeze announced this week includes carve-outs for public safety personnel and direct care positions, Gov. Maura Healey reiterated Thursday.

Gov. Maura Healey said she plans to freeze hiring across executive branch agencies and departments later this month in response to “widespread economic uncertainty” at the national level and a “tightening budget outlook” for the next fiscal year.

BOSTON — Gov. Maura T. Healey moved May 14 to pause most hiring in state government's executive branch in the face of what her office described as "widespread economic uncertainty at the national level and a tightening budget outlook" for the fiscal year that starts July 1.