Federal IT Workforce: 50 and Over by 2008
Federal IT Workforce: 50 and Over by 2008
Large retirement wave over the next ten years expected to significantly impact IT competencies; federal government programs focus on career development and retention
The number of federal IT workers age 50 or older will steadily increase over the next several years from 38 percent in fiscal year 2003 (FY03) to 45 percent by FY08, according to the latest INPUT/Output report released today by INPUT, the quantifiable leader in government market intelligence. The government workforce tends to be older than the private sector workforce with a higher percentage of employees older than 45 in information technology related occupations creating the potential for severe shortages across the spectrum of IT competencies.
“The IT workforce is strategically important to the federal government’s ability to accomplish its high priority missions,” said Jennifer Geurin, senior analyst, federal agency profiles at INPUT. “Agencies faced with IT workforce challenges are focusing on programs to recruit, retain and re-train a skilled IT workforce in order to meet their goals.”
The Federal Chief Information Officers Council (CIOC) was established in July 1996 to serve as the principal interagency forum for improving practices in the design, modernization, use, sharing and performance of federal government agency information resources. In FY 2004, the CIOC has worked collaboratively with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to improve the recruitment, development, retention, and management of a fully trained and qualified IT workforce.
“Currently, the main focus of the CIOC is continued skills development, career development and retention of existing IT employees,” added Geurin. Programs like the IT Exchange Program and the CIO University Program are intended to improve the competency of the federal workforce in using IT to deliver government information and services. The IT Workforce Development Roadmap has also been created as a career development tool for current and prospective federal IT workers.
“As the federal government workface ages, the government will need to contend with replacing a growing number of retiring workers,” stated Geurin. “In order to sustain a level a balance between retiring and new IT professionals, the federal government will increasingly look to outside IT vendors for the time and resources necessary to accomplish its missions.”
INPUT’s “Aging Federal IT Workforce: Trends and Solutions” INPUT/Output report is available to clients of INPUT’s Information Services subscription programs. For more information, visit http://info.input.com or call 703-707-3500.
About INPUT:
INPUT is the quantifiable leader in government market intelligence. Established in 1974 and based in Reston, Virginia, INPUT provides information services, industry analysis, consulting, software solutions, and events to help technology vendors win more government business, and to help government organizations further advance their IT initiatives. INPUT tracks more than a half trillion dollars in contract and grant opportunities within the US federal, state & local government markets, as well as tender opportunities throughout the European Union and United Kingdom. INPUT has built a solid reputation for high quality and in-depth government industry insight and analysis, with over 1,000 clients, including 81 of the top 100 IT contractors. Leading defense, hardware, software, telecommunications and IT services contractors, plus 4 of the top 5 8(a)s, rely on INPUT to help them win more than $45 billion in government business each year. For more information about INPUT, visit http://www.input.com
or call 703-707-3500.
