Introduction of the Federal Employee Recruitment Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Federal Employee Recruitment Act of 2019 to require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to develop, within three months of enactment of this bill, a plan for recruiting new workers into federal service. With the aging of the federal workforce, this bill is more important than ever.

The average age of federal employees has steadily increased over the course of the last two decades, hitting 47.5 years in 2017. In the private sector, 54 percent workers are over 40 years old, while in the federal workforce, that number is 69 percent. At the end of last year, only 6 percent of the federal workforce were under 30, while almost a quarter of private-sector employees were under 30.

There are numerous consequences to an aging federal workforce. For example, as older federal employees opt to retire, the government risks permanently losing much of its institutional knowledge if federal agencies cannot find adequate replacements.

Possible solutions to the problem of a graying workforce include increased federal recruitment at college and university campuses, increased technological innovation in how applications are submitted, and a greater number of internships. Improved benefits, including paid family leave, increased telework, and short-term disability insurance allowing coverage for non-work- related injury or illness or pregnancy, can also likely increase recruitment and retention of employees by the federal government.

I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

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