Fed: Most public servants want to stay just five years: survey

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Fed: Most public servants want to stay just five years: survey

By Shane Wright

CANBERRA, Aug 14 AAP - Almost 70 per cent of people targeted for recruitment by thefederal public service planned staying only five years, a union survey has found.

In a submission to a Senate inquiry into the training needs of the public service,the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said it appeared new employees were givenlittle support when they moved to Canberra to work.

It said the Australian Public Service (APS) had to overhaul its graduate recruitmentprogram or continue to face problems getting and keeping staff.

The Senate's Finance and Public Administration Committee is examining recruitment andtraining in the APS.

The CPSU said its survey of staff had found 64 per cent of public servants considered resigning.

It said it also found 68 per cent of those surveyed employed under the graduate recruitmentprogram only planned to stay with the public service five years.

"This could be in part a result of poor targeting of graduate recruitment, advertisingand promotional strategies," it said.

"The APS graduate program represents a considerable investment of public money andit is imperative that the return from such expenditure is maximised."

The union said the number of public servants with between five and 10 years of experienceslipped from 28.5 per cent of all staff in 1996 to 17.1 per cent in June last year.

It said the APS had to change its advertisement and promotion of the program, and workbetter at picking graduates.

The survey's results appeared to be confirmed by the APS, which said the number ofits staff under 25 dropped almost 65 per cent between 1992 and 1997.

It said the length of employment of its younger staff was much shorter than previously.

"There is evidence of a continuing high level of turnover amongst graduate recruits,"

it said in its submission.

"This may be a consequence of poor initial career choice, alternative attractive careers,particularly in the context of a buoyant economy."

The APS said changing the mix of younger and older staff would become even more difficultin coming years as the general population aged.

AAP sw/las/sb

KEYWORD: SERVANT