EMPLOYER ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Creating an organizational environment which will attract and retain workers of the requisite number and skill-level has usually been seen as the challenge of the business sector in addressing the demands of the “war for talent”, to varying degrees a critical issue in many countries. Over the last decade a similar talent crisis has emerged within the public sector. While the Sri Lankan public service faces no shortage of aspiring employees the need has nonetheless been identified for improvements in its overall professionalism and skills base in particular fields. As university graduates have traditionally been an important source of employees who can contribute towards satisfying these manpower needs, this study explores the extent to which the Sri Lankan public service is attractive to them as an employer. A sample of final year undergraduates from a range of disciplines in two universities were surveyed in respect to their attitudes towards the most desirable aspects of an employer and to what level they find the public service attractive in relation to these attributes. The findings indicated that seventy five percent of the graduating students are interested in employment in the public service. At the same time females are more interested in the public service than males.

Keywords: Employer Branding, Employee Attractiveness, Career Management,Public Service, Sri Lanka

For full Paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.lk