United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Staff turnover in NSO: Survey findings Workshop on Human Resources Management and Training in Statistical Offices September 2010

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Outline:  Rationale for the survey  Survey questionnaire  Survey respondents  Survey findings

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Survey: Rationale, questionnaire

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Rationale for the survey  To collect information on the HRMT in the National Statistical Offices (NSO)  To understand reasons for the turnover  To find measures to solve problems of rapid staff turnover

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 The Staff Turnover Survey  The survey had 4 sections: Section A - key data Section B – staff recruitment and retention Section C – staff turnover data Section D – managing staff turnover  The target group was staff in central office only Survey sent to UNECE members + other countries participating in CES 38 responses received

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Responding countries by region CIS - 11Western BalkansEuropean Union Other UNECE countries Non UNECE member countries ArmeniaBosnia and HerzegovinaAustriaHungaryPolandCanadaBrazil BelarusCroatiaBulgariaItalyPortugalIcelandMexico KyrgyzstanMontenegroCyprusLatvia Slovak RepublicIsraelNew Zealand MoldovaSerbiaDenmarkLithuaniaSloveniaNorwayRepublic of Korea TajikistanThe FYR of MacedoniaFinlandMaltaSpainSwitzerland Ukraine GermanyNetherlandsSweden

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 7 Survey findings

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Women in NSO  Women are predominant among UNECE NSO staff  More pronounced in CIS and Western Balkans

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Staff leaving by region  Staff turnover, likely an issue in smaller NSO’s  More acutely observed in CIS and other UNECE member states

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Staff leaving by age  Big turnover of young staff in most NSO’s

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Staff leaving early  Most staff left in less than 5 years  On average 60% left within 2 years

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Is staff turnover a problem?  Majority of NSO’s did not perceive turnover of young staff members as a problem

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Reasons for staff leaving NSO  Most countries conduct interview or survey  Predominantly due to voluntary departure  One third staff departure in other ECE countries due to expiration of contracts In most voluntary cases, reason: 'inadequate payment'

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Measures to improve staff turnover  All countries are trying to address the issue  Most notable measure are: Training of newcomers Efficient recruiting Career start programmes  Positive results for most NSO

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide September 2010 Measures to attract young professionals  Most countries are trying to attract young people to NSO  In 50% of the responding NSO’s the measures are already in place

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 16 Conclusions:  Turnover is significant among young staff  Rapid turnover of young staff is not necessarily a problem according to most NSO’s  Most NSO’s are aware of this and taking some form of measure  Investigating reasons for leaving is important  Opportunity to learn from experiences in other countries

Tetyana Kolomiyets - UNECE Statistical Division Slide 17 Thank you!