The Partnership for Public Service has launched an initiative designed to fit private sector baby boomers with "encore careers" in the federal government.
Dubbed FedExperience – Transitions to Government, the initiative seeks to address the anticipated loss of up to one third of federal workers as they become eligible to retire over the next five years.
The pilot phase of the initiative includes collaboration with IBM, which PPS sees as a significant source of potential talent for the Department of Treasury, for example, as it seeks to fill 14,000 "mission critical" jobs in the next two years, including 7,950 IRS agents and tax examiners in addition to procurement, IT and accounting personnel.
PPS said the initiative would be expanded to other agencies and stakeholders and is optimistic despite some indications older workers are skeptical of government. A March 2007 survey from the Pew Research Center found that just 42 percent of those under 30 see government as inefficient, compared to more than 70 percent of people age 50 to 64, the report said.
"FedExperience is a win-win-win," said PPS president Max Stier, adding, "Boomers get their second career where they can find meaningful work, our government gets the talent it needs to fill looming shortages and the American people get a government that has the talent to service its people."