Editorial: People power

Life for federal workers has changed dramatically. Once a more comfortable, laid-back environment when compared with private-sector jobs, feds now find that they must fight for and justify their jobs.

In recent decades, change has become more rapid for federal workers. And the Internet Age has quickened the pace.

More change is on the horizon. The federal workforce is graying, and many employees are expected to leave the government during the next five years.

In Federal Computer Week's July 25 issue, we published the results of a survey of federal information technology workers. It provides some insights about the best and worst agencies for IT workers. Beyond that, the survey shows what keeps feds satisfied and what makes them dissatisfied.

FCW asked several experts to advise agencies on how to recruit and retain top-notch employees.

In the pages that follow, they offer their assessments.

• Harold Gray, director of the Center for Professional Development at Howard University's School of Business, suggests ways the government can attract younger IT workers to the workforce.
• Janet Barnes, deputy associate director of the Center for Information Services and chief information officer at the Office of Personnel Management, writes about the advantages of hiring young, energetic IT workers.
• Marcia Marsh, vice president of government transformation at the Partnership for Public Service, looks at empowering human resources employees.
• Jacqueline Simon, public policy director at the American Federation of Government Employees, discusses the potential pitfalls of new personnel systems at the Homeland Security and Defense departments.
• And W. Frederick Thompson, vice president of management and technology at the Council for Excellence in Government, reflects on the differences between the public and private sectors.

— Christopher J. Dorobek