BACKGROUNDER
Human resource planning to address future employment requirements

The public service of Newfoundland and Labrador has a demographic profile consistent with the aging of Canada�s "baby boomer" generation. This means we are moving into a period when the rate of retirements from the public service will be higher than usual. Over the next three to four years 4,200 employees will be eligible to retire from the public service; this represents 18 per cent of government�s permanent workforce. These retirements will present both opportunities and challenges. They will allow government to streamline operations and to find new ways of doing business, while at the same time minimize the impact on employees. They may also create recruitment concerns in highly specialized areas. As well, it will require very focussed training and development to help manage succession within the public service.

Budget 2003 provides $3.4 million for initiatives designed to improve government�s ability to attract new employees in key areas and to provide opportunities for current public employees to enhance their skills. This direction includes initiatives to address hard-to-fill positions, support training activities for program staff, and promote leadership development among management and executive employees.

Highlights include:

• reconfiguring the existing Graduate Recruit Program, which provides entry-level internship positions to recent post-secondary graduates, to focus the program on positions that are hard to fill;
• extensive training activities for program, management and executive staff; (These initiatives will augment the Public Sector Leadership and Management Development Program, created in 2002 in partnership with the federal government and Memorial University�s Centre for Management Development.)
• reviewing human resource management policies to support the public service�s need to establish itself as an employer of choice;
• improving the use of human resource management information across the public service; and,
• improving internal communication.

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Communications, (709) 729-6793.

2003 03 27                                       3:40 p.m.