~ As state government workforce ages, steps will be taken to plan for the future ~

Saint Paul – To ensure that state government is able to successfully carry out its mission now and in the future, Governor Tim Pawlenty today signed an executive order that requires all state agencies to conduct workforce planning to deal with potential labor shortages. The number of state employees retiring annually has increased by 32 percent over the last five years.

“A significant number of state employees will soon be eligible for retirement and we need to plan now to ensure that state government is efficiently delivering quality services,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In the next ten years, approximately 39 percent of state workers will reach the average retirement age of 61. At the same time, the number of available skilled workers in the labor market will decrease. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity to improve productivity and accountability.”

The Governor’s executive order requires all executive branch agencies to work with the Department of Employee Relations (DOER) to develop and implement workforce plans. DOER will assist agencies in creating their plans while coordinating an exchange of information between agencies to share resources and to address future work shortages and technology issues.

“We need to attract and retain qualified state workers, and we have to be creative about it,” said Patricia Anderson, Commissioner of the Department of Employee Relations. “Workforce planning also provides us with an opportunity to identify ways to increase productivity through the analysis of business processes and effective use of technology.”

Following the development of individual agency workforce plans, DOER will create a comprehensive Administration-wide workforce plan. DOER will then monitor and track agency workforce planning to ensure that workforce plans are updated on an annual basis.

This initiative is part of Governor Pawlenty’s Drive to Excellence initiative.

The following is the text of Executive Order 07-16:

I, TIM PAWLENTY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Minnesota laws do hereby issue this Executive Order:

WHEREAS, the number of state employees retiring annually has increased by 32% over the last five years; and

WHEREAS, approximately twenty percent of state workers will reach the average age of retirement, 61, over the next five years; and

WHEREAS, approximately thirty-nine percent of state workers will reach the age of 61 over the next ten years; and

WHEREAS, the availability of skilled workers is projected to decrease in coming years due to multiple factors resulting in increased competition for talent within the labor market; and

WHEREAS, state government must be able to attract and retain qualified workers from a shrinking workforce pool and increase productivity through the analysis of business processes and effective use of technology; and

WHEREAS, state government needs to conduct workforce planning to eliminate key gaps and shortages in human capital and effectively deploy human capital across all state agencies so they possess the capabilities critical for successfully carrying out their missions now and in the future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby order that:

1. The Commissioner of Employee Relations develop, implement and maintain a State Workforce Planning process including:

a. A State Policy on Workforce Planning to guide workforce planning activities within state agencies;

b. Training and resources to assist agency staff with workforce planning activities; and

c. Development and implementation of strategies to address key human capital issues identified through the workforce planning process.

2. Commissioners and the heads of state agencies will implement workforce planning processes within their agencies pursuant to the State Policy on Workforce Planning developed by the Commissioner of Employee Relations.

3. The Commissioner of Employee Relations will monitor and track agency workforce planning to ensure that critical issues are identified and addressed and that workforce plans are updated on an annual basis.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2006, Section 4.035, Subdivision 2, this Executive Order will be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in the State Register and filing with the Secretary of State and will remain in effect, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 4.035, subdivision 3.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand this 2nd day of October, 2007.