Recruitment, training and retention of public officials
There have been many changes in approach to the recruitment, training and retention of senior public officials in different regions across the globe, including a trend away from purely merit based recruitment towards a focus on and acquisition of definable skills. This has occurred alongside a more nuanced recognition of the need to reflect greater diversity in the backgrounds of public officials. In the drive to gain more efficient and effective delivery of public services, and to overcome the wicked problems often grappled with in the public sector, the move to skills-based recruitment and training alongside attention to equality and diversity concerns frequently coincide in modernization drives. Recognizing that international research is needed to avoid negative/backwards outcomes, PMM has been encouraging articles from researchers and practitioner across the globe that provide insights into recruiting and retaining a public service fit for purpose. A PMM theme issue is planned for 2025; meanwhile this collection includes the journal’s more recent articles that contribute to finding solutions that will work in different countries. Many of the articles highlight the need for training in leadership skills, for softer skills, as well as ethics and core values. Public service motivation features in a number of articles—unpicking the institutional and managerial problem areas that lead to young graduates taking employment in the private or not-for-profit sector or to leaving the public sector early in their careers. The articles here are from practitioners, politicians and researchers representing Australia, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain and the UK.
Edited by
Professor Andrew Massey(International School for Government, King’s College London)