How significant an issue is talent management in the public sector?
It is necessary to define what we mean by the public sector. Broadly speaking, the public sector includes the federal, provincial and municipal governments, related Crown corporations and agencies, and parapublic organizations such as health and education. For most of the public sector, talent management is an emerging critical issue, especially for those employers that rely on a skilled and knowledge-intensive workforce. Two main challenges have surfaced in recent years: the pending wave of retirements and competitive recruitment pressures from other industries. These create significant attraction challenges for public sector employers, especially for the skilled trades and technical professions (such as plumbers, electricians, economists and accountants), as well as the senior management cadre. “Public sector employers are recognizing that in order to attract new workers, they need to market their workplaces and innovative practices — and then deliver a progressive employment proposi
