Jobs, pensions crisis as 37pc of civil servants set to retire

PSC chairperson Margaret Kobia. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By EDWIN MUTAI

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Summary

• Headache for PSC as number of aging workforce goes up
• The most affected staff are in the senior management levels and technical cadres with critical skills and competencies.
• The government plans to introduce management trainee plan this year to fast-track graduates into executive roles

A jobs and pension crisis will hit the public service as the number of civil servants set to retire in the next decade rose to 37 per cent.

The Public Service Commission (PSC), in a report to Parliament, said the percentage of civil servants above the age of 50 increased from 35 per cent in the year to June 2016, to 37 per cent last year.

READ: Skills gap fears as 35pc of govt staff set to retire in 10 years

This means that 66,000 civil servants will retire before 2027 amid fears that the State will be forced to retain some workers beyond the retirement age of 60 due to a skills shortage.