Bridging the Knowledge and Skills Gap: Tapping Federal Retirees

Abstract

Almost every study dealing with workforce planning in the government emphasizes the critical challenges that agencies are facing with respect to strategic human capital issues. With the government moving towards a market-driven approach, some authors suggest that a more flexible workforce is needed for today's (and tomorrow's) government. One pool of relatively untapped talent that hasn't been creatively applied to help address the ensuing human capital issues in the government deals with the use of federal retirees. Federal retirees could help bridge the knowledge and skills gaps in the government. This study addresses this issue and makes some specific recommendations to help agencies better deal with related human capital challenges.