PSc, Prof Margaret Kobia.[Photo/alumni.uonbi.ac.ke]The number of civil servants set to retire in the next decade has risen to 37 per cent meaning a jobs and pension crisis will hit the public service .In a report to Parliament the Public Service Commission (PSC),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.This will force 66,000 civil servants to 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.“The service had an aging workforce, with 37 per cent of officers being 50 years and above as at June 30, 2017, compared to 35 per cent in the same period in 2015/16 financial year,” the PSC, chaired by Prof Margaret Kobia said.The staff in the senior management levels and technical cadres with critical skills and competencies are the most affected.This year the government plans to introduce management trainee plan to fast-track graduates into executive roles, trigger promotions and review blanket ban of fresh hiring to ease effects of the ageing workforce.This would have an effect on the ballooning wage bill.More workers beyond 60 years will also be placed on contract, says PSC.The Treasury will also need to set aside billions of shillings as pension costs for the thousands of exiting workers who do not contribute for their pensions.

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