Generation Y ranks the federal government low on innovation and creativity, according to a survey released earlier this month by Gallup.
That is a problem because these 18- to 29-year-old workers value personal fulfillment more than benefits and job stability.
With about 90 percent of senior managers and 60 percent of rank and file federal government workers slated to retire in the next 10 years, that means Uncle Sam will have a difficult time finding replacements for those who leave.
The federal government employs about 132,000 federal workers in the state, not counting those who work for National Security Agency. That number will only grow as a result of base relocations bringing thousands of new workers to Maryland, so the state could have a particularly hard time finding workers in coming years.
If growth potential and intellectual stretch are the 18- to 29-year-olds? two most important job priorities, that means increasing pension benefits at taxpayer expense, for example, is not going to solve turnover ?contrary to what the unions say.
As the report found, the federal government must do a better job of “offering high performing work environments that value innovation and creativity, and provide opportunities for growth and advancement.”
Amen. That is a lesson all levels of government can learn from. Too bad this survey and a recent joint report by the Abell Foundation and Maryland Public Policy Institute were not available prior to the state legislative debate over raising teacher pensions in Maryland. In that case the State Teacher?s Association claimed doing so was crucial to finding and keeping good teachers. The legislature agreed, making the state?s taxpayers $1.67 billion poorer over 25 years ? with no benefit for students.
It?s not as if people do not have an interest in working for the government. The Gallup survey, done in conjunction with the nonprofit and nonpartisan Council for Excellence in Government, found that 34 percent of Generation Y expressed an interest in working for federal agencies.
It?s just that they need to make work worthwhile for them to choose government over the private sector.
The survey ? and planned follow-ups ? mean we can debate more honestly about how all levels of government can recruit and retain the best and brightest ? and maybe save money in the process. That can only benefit government workers and the taxpayers who support their salaries.
