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Understanding Ageing Public Sector Workforces: Demographic challenge or a consequence of public employment policy design?

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  • Linda Colley

Abstract

In all OECD countries, populations and workforces are ageing, with public services generally being older than broader labour markets. Governments are concerned at the looming capacity crisis and identifying policy responses. However, they have generally identified the problem as a simple change in demographics. This article adds a new perspective to this policy debate. Using a study of an Australian state public service, it identifies an association between changes in public employment policies and changes in the workforce age profile. It suggests that current employment policies, which replaced the traditional focus on youth recruitment with a more open public sector labour market, have made it inevitable that public workforces would age and be older than the general labour market. Policy responses to the older public workforce need to go beyond demographic explanations, to accept the older public workforce as the new norm, and align public employment policies accordingly.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Colley, 2014. "Understanding Ageing Public Sector Workforces: Demographic challenge or a consequence of public employment policy design?," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(7), pages 1030-1052, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmgr:v:16:y:2014:i:7:p:1030-1052
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2013.771697
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pollitt, Christopher & Bouckaert, Geert, 2004. "Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 2, number 9780199268498, Decembrie.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cupcea Ion & Birca Alic, 2023. "The Particularities Of Human Resources Management In The Public Sector," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 3, pages 148-156, June.

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