Washington , DC - The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today issued the Report on Agencies' Use of Hiring Flexibilities. It contains baseline data on the use, effectiveness and efficiency of hiring flexibilities that federal agencies may use to create a workforce that is best suited to accomplish their mission and goals. The report may also be used when deciding whether or not to make changes to governmentwide policies on hiring flexibilities.

"The demographics of the federal workforce are changing, with roughly 60 percent of the workforce expected to be eligible for retirement over the next decade," said OPM Director Linda M. Springer. "This report contains information on what hiring authorities federal agencies are using to create and maintain a strong workforce."

The report's findings were obtained through an on-line survey and OPM's Personnel Data File (CPDF), and it focused on the following appointing authorities:

• Direct-Hire Authority
• Federal Career Intern Program
• Presidential Management Fellows Program
• Individuals with Mental Retardation, Severe Physical Disabilities, or Psychiatric Disabilities
• Student Career Experience Program
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (as amended)
• Veterans Recruitment Appointment
• 30-Percent or More Disabled Veterans Appointing Authority
• Major findings in the report indicate:
• When hiring flexibilities are used instead of traditional ranking and selection procedures, both supervisors/managers and HR practitioners rated these flexibilities as more efficient;
• The majority of supervisors/managers who used hiring flexibilities indicated they are more effective in producing quality hires than traditional ranking and selection procedures;
• The majority of respondents are not using OPM resources (i.e., Hiring Flexibilities Resource Center, Presidential Management Fellows Program website) or other guidance about these hiring flexibilities; and
• Supervisors/managers rely most on their HR staff for information on these hiring flexibilities.

OPM continues to provide agencies with tools to assist them in educating supervisors and managers on using hiring flexibilities and it has implemented numerous recruiting and hiring initiatives over the past two years, including the Career Patterns Initiative— a 21st century approach to recruiting talent.

A full copy of the report can be found at www.opm.gov/publications/special/hflex2008.pdf [1.39 MB]

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.