Managing the demographic shift: retention and recruitment of the public servant

The public service will be experiencing a shortage of workers with the demographic shift as baby boomers leave the workforce over the next 5-10 years. This study has been conducted to investigate the determinants of job satisfaction and establish the importance of job satisfaction in determining retention and recruitment of public servants. Hertzberg's two factor theory will be used. According to Hertzberg's two factor theory, long term motivation determinants of job satisfaction include achievement, recognition of achievement, the work itself, responsibility, advancement or promotion and growth. Short-term factors or hygiene factors include organization policies and administration, supervision, interpersonal relations, working conditions, salary, status and security. The purpose of the study is to review whether the federal government is meeting the satisfaction needs of its current employees and new hires in order to retain and recruit them. The results of the data confirm that on average the public servant employees are satisfied but that there is significant room for improvement.