How to replace procurement pros who are retiring
In the coming years, an increasing number of government purchasing and procurement professionals will be nearing retirement age. According to the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, 16 percent of its members are more than 60 years old, and 41 percent are between the ages of 50-59. The retirement wave is accompanied by an increased demand for efficiency and performance from state and local government procurement programs as a result of the budget crisis. Automation and simplification can help compensate for expected staff losses.
The retirement surge has profound consequences on many state and local government procurement organizations. Procurement professionals with a long track record, institutional knowledge of best practices and hard-earned experience will leave behind an organization in need. Unless officials plan now, they will be unable to transfer that knowledge to a new generation of professionals and be confident that a lifetime of work is left in good hands.
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