Friday, September 21, 2012

Officials Address the Coming Wave of Federal Worker Retirements

With nearly one-third of the federal workforce eligible to retire within the next four years, human capital planning is more essential than ever to the government, officials told lawmakers this week.
Filling skill gaps -- particularly those in cybersecurity and information technology -- could prove especially challenging, according to Gene Dodaro, comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office, who spoke on Wednesday at a hearing of a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs subcommittee.
“I believe that we’re entering a crucial period now when all these issues are going to have to be dealt with concurrently, because they’re providing a confluence of significant challenges to the federal government,” he told the Government Management and the Federal Workforce Oversight subpanel.
Nearly 30 percent of workers on the federal payroll at the end of 2011 will be eligible to retire by 2016, including about 58 percent of the Senior Executive Service, according to Dodaro.
Retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, additionally noted funding constraints. "Addressing these challenges during a time of declining agency budgets and an expected retirement wave requires the federal government to make the proper investments in its workforce and ensure that it is taking the steps necessary to retain its talent," a statement on his website said. It was Akaka’s final hearing of the subcommittee he has chaired since 2007.
Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry said OPM was looking to provide better ways for younger applicants to enter the workforce, while perhaps keeping senior-level employees on the payroll -- at least part time -- to help train new employees.

Read more: http://nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/officials-address-the-coming-wave-of-federal-worker-retirements-20120920

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