Anne Arundel County is bracing for a retirement boom that could erode decades of institutional knowledge if not properly retained, officials say.
“It?s very difficult to pass on knowledge, but it?s the most important thing we need to do,” county Personnel Officer Andrea Fulton said. “That person with the institutional knowledge needs to document that as much as possible before when they walk out that door.”
The number of county employees retiring has more than doubled since 1997, and nearly 20 percent of the county?s 4,000 employees are eligible to retire during the next four years.
“Our greatest people we have in the government have been in the county for 30 years. I hate to see that knowledge go,” said County Council Chairman Ronald Dillon, R-District 3.
Officials said they have various programs in place to avoid possible “brain drain” among the county?s ranks, including mentoring and cross-training employees to share skills and knowledge.
And departments such as the county police know five years in advance of retirements, allowing time for training and recruiting.
“Sure, it?s a concern for us, but the best thing we can do is continue to recruit and make sure that our quality of service is never compromised due to the vacancies,” county police spokeswoman Sgt. Sara Schriver said.
One saving grace for Anne Arundel is that its employees are reflecting the national trend and staying on the job longer before retiring.
The county is aiming to hire younger employees in hopes of having a longer-established work force.
“Leadership must provide a vision that excites people and allows them to be enthusiastic about working here,” County Executive John R. Leopold said. “That?s as important as salary, and we have to do creative things that have long-term impact for this generation.”
BY THE NUMBERS
County employee demographic:
Number of employees: 4,165
Average age: 43
County employees who have retired:
Year – Employees
1997 59
1998 57
1999 76
2000 97
2001 104
2002 154
2003 136
2004 146
2005 149
2006 167
County employees eligible to retire
Year – Full Benefits – Early Retirement Benefits – Total
2007 156 69 225
2008 157 91 248
2009 148 64 212
2010 142 51 193
Average years of service in county:
Year – Average
2004 20.28 years
2005 22.06 years
2006 23.21 years
Source: Anne Arundel County Personnel Office
