Strengthening the Federal Workforce
- Employee engagement. Each year, OPM surveys federal employees about how engaged they are with their work. Since last year’s post, we found these scores have held steady or improved. We believe this reflects both federal agencies’ hard work in the face of tough times, and many federal employees’ dedication to getting the job done.
- Training. In today’s fast-paced world, the federal government, like any business, must identify critical and emerging skills needed in its workforce. We recently reported that the Federal Protective Service developed leadership, security technology, and other courses to help fill gaps in employee training, according to service officials.
- Inclusiveness. In 2015 we found that some federal agencies were trying to create a more inclusive workplace, which in turn helps create a stronger, more united workforce. For example, the National Mediation Board created a strategic plan to recruit a more diverse workforce and the Federal Trade Commission established Diversity Councils in order to create a more engaged, diverse workforce.
(Excerpted from GAO-15-619T)
This potential wave of retirements could create gaps in leadership as well as loss of institutional knowledge at all levels. To make sure this doesn’t happen, federal agencies must keep up their efforts to recruit and retain quality employees. To learn more about the government’s efforts, check out the resources on our webpage, including the leading practices in human capital management and strategic human capital management key issue pages. For more information on the human capital issues most in need of transformation, and our recommendations for how to address them, see the issue on our 2015 High Risk list.- Questions on the content of this post? Contact Robert Goldenkoff at goldenkoffr@gao.gov or Yvonne Jones at jonesy@gao.gov.
- Comments on GAO’s WatchBlog? Contact blog@gao.gov.
GAO's mission is to provide Congress with fact-based, nonpartisan information that can help improve federal government performance and ensure accountability for the benefit of the American people. GAO launched its WatchBlog in January, 2014, as part of its continuing effort to reach its audiences—Congress and the American people—where they are currently looking for information.
The blog format allows GAO to provide a little more context about its work than it can offer on its other social media platforms. Posts will tie GAO work to current events and the news; show how GAO’s work is affecting agencies or legislation; highlight reports, testimonies, and issue areas where GAO does work; and provide information about GAO itself, among other things.
Please send any feedback on GAO's WatchBlog to blog@gao.gov.