Retaining the millennial generation within the Canadian public sector

Abstract

The following thesis project investigated whether there is a need for change in organizational culture within the Canadian public sector in order to retain Millennials within the public service. Therefore the purpose of this study was to explore why Millennials within the public service in Canada might stay in or leave their current positions within the public sector. A survey consisting of open-ended questions was conducted to elicit information on what aspects of organizational culture impact the retention of Millennials within the Canadian public sector. Nine major themes emerged from the findings: social responsibility, organizational structure/bureaucracy, opportunities, nature of work, leadership, people and relationships, work-life balance, commitment, and security. The thesis discusses these themes and comments on the significance of the findings as possible motivation for future investigations into the Human Resources succession planning needs of public sector institutions.