Staffing issues for Universities

Australian universities face a massive generational shift over the next decade as the baby boomer generation retires. Recruitment and retention will be major staffing issues. Perhaps surprisingly, there has been relatively little change in staff numbers, contract types and position descriptions in academic jobs during the last decade. The generational shift of the next decade will require increased flexibility in the organisational environment. Universities will need internal cultures that are more collaborative, informed and inclusive to attract and retain the Generation-Xers currently under-represented in Australian universities.