**GAO-09-632T**                      Published: Apr 22, 2009. Publicly Released: Apr 22, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

In 2001, GAO identified human capital management as a governmentwide high-risk area because federal agencies lacked a strategic approach to human capital management that integrated human capital efforts with their missions and program goals. Progress has been made. However, the area remains high-risk because of a continuing need for a governmentwide framework to advance human capital reform. The importance of a top-notch federal workforce cannot be overstated. The federal government is facing new and growing challenges coupled with a retirement wave and the loss of leadership and institutional knowledge at all levels. The issues facing agencies are complex and require a broad range of technical skills that are also highly sought after by the private sector. This testimony, based on a large body of completed work issued from January 2001 through March 2009, focuses on executive branch agencies' and the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) progress in addressing strategic human capital management challenges in four key areas: (1) leadership; (2) strategic human capital planning; (3) acquiring, developing, and retaining talent; and (4) results-oriented organizational culture. In prior reports, GAO has made a range of recommendations to OPM and agencies in the four areas. GAO is reporting on progress in addressing these recommendations and is making no new recommendations.

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## Topics

Human Capital

Employee trainingEmployeesExecutive agenciesFederal agenciesFederal employeesHiring policiesHuman capitalHuman capital managementHuman capital planningOrganizational changePersonnel managementPersonnel recruitingSkilled laborStaff utilizationStrategic planningTraining utilization