5.1: Workforce
Building a 21st Century Workforce Other Information:
Our ability to maintain a highly effective organization that meets the needs of the Nation is challenged by a highly decentralized
organization, which employs significant numbers of employees and volunteers at the local level and a variety of models for
service delivery that are unique to Interior's nine bureaus and multiple offices. Over 70,000 employees, including a cadre
of seasonal employees, and over 280,000 volunteers perform a spectrum of duties that require highly skilled and unique disciplines
to conduct specialized activities such as firefighting, inspection of oil and gas operations, management of wild horse and
burros, migratory bird aerial surveys, wildlife disease necropsy, and others. The Department benefits from a workforce that
is passionate about the mission, dedicated to public service, and highly skilled and knowledgeable. These are the Department's
greatest asset. They are challenged by factors including an aging workforce and the demands of technology and knowledge management.
Interior is focusing on the improvement of key areas that will strengthen workforce management capabilities including recruitment,
retention, and development. Activities underway include workforce assessment and planning and hiring reforms to reduce the
time it takes to bring employees on board. Interior's vision for a highly skilled workforce that reflects the diversity of
the Nation includes a new inclusivity strategy that uses multiple cultural backgrounds as tools for competition and workforce
development. Differences in background, thought, education, and experience contribute to the varied perspectives in the workplace
and create a dynamism for higher performance and success in achieving mission goals.
Indicator(s):
|
