Local Government Challenges as Older Workers Retire

How long do you plan to work, if you are a Baby Boomer? According to one survey from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, we are facing a “brain drain” in local governments. The ‘Silver Tsunami’ Has Arrived in Government explains the survey “indicates that governments are experiencing an uptick in retirements. More than half — 54 percent — of surveyed governments reported an increase in retirements last year from 2014, while just 10 percent reported a decrease.”  Here’s where the “brain drain” comes in. According to the story “[b]aby boomers at or near retirement age make up a large share of senior-level managers in many agencies. Compared to the private sector, public-sector workers tend to be older and possess higher levels of education.”

The article explores reasons why there seem to be so many retirements these days, including the expiration of union contracts, retirement benefits reductions , etc. And since not all Boomers have hit retirement age yet, the “silver tsunami” is expected to continue “over a number of years given that the youngest baby boomers just turned 52 years old.”

The article explains that the survey shows not just retirements but an increase in individuals quitting their jobs.

The survey, 7 pages long with 19 questions and results, is available here as a pdf.