- Funding Programme
- Year
- 2023
Maximising the engagement and performance of older public servants through targeted human resource policies
The European Commission support will be provided in the area of public administration, with the purpose of maximising the engagement and performance of older public servants through targeted HR policies. France’s public sector is ageing, with nearly half of civil servants over 50. Few targeted strategies exist to support older workers, risking loss of key skills. The MEFSIN launched a project to address this, aligning with national reforms and EU goals to modernise HR management and retain experienced public servants.
Context
France’s public service faces an ageing workforce, with nearly half of civil servants over 50. Compared to the private sector, older employees are overrepresented, yet few strategies exist to support them. Challenges include age discrimination, limited development opportunities, and lack of flexible work options. The MEFSIN launched a project to explore older workers’ needs, aligning with national reform laws and EU priorities. With pension reforms extending working lives, there’s urgency to retain institutional knowledge and ensure public servants of all ages can contribute effectively. This effort supports France’s NRRP and OECD recommendations for strategic human resource management in the public sector.
Support delivered
The project supported the MEFSIN in understanding the specific challenges faced by older employees, such as ageism, limited upskilling opportunities and rigid career structures. Through co-creation workshops, stakeholder engagement and analysis of best practices across the EU and OECD, the project developed tools, methodologies and recommendations to enhance career progression, training and work-life balance for senior staff. These efforts align with France’s national reforms and EU objectives, supporting inclusive, multigenerational workforce planning and reinforcing the long-term resilience of the public administration.
Results achieved
The project started with a kick-off meeting to align stakeholders, followed by an inception report outlining aims and methodology, and a diagnostic report analysing performance drivers. A comparative report highlighted good HR practices across OECD and EU sectors. Based on findings, tailored recommendations and pilot actions were developed and assessed. Finally, inter-ministerial recommendations were proposed to promote strategic deployment of these actions across relevant French ministries, ensuring sustained impact and broader application of effective workforce practices for older public servants.
More about the project
You can read the documents related to the project here: