United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-03-12 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-02-514T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-514T P0b002ee180389c94 f:d02514t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-514T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-514T GAO-02-514T Foreign languages Personnel recruiting Federal employees Strategic planning Labor force Education or training Employee incentives Testimony A02889 Federal foreign language needs have grown over the past decade due to increasing globalization and a changing security environment. At the same time, many agencies have experienced significant reductions-in-force and no-growth or limited-growth environments. As a result, some agencies must now contend with an aging core of language-capable staff while recruiting and retaining qualified new staff in an increasingly competitive job market. The four agencies covered in GAO's review reported shortages of translators and interpreters as well as of staff, such as diplomats and intelligence specialists, with foreign language skills critical to successful job performance. These shortfalls varied significantly between agency, job position, language, and skill level. The agencies reported using strategies that included providing staff with language training and pay incentives, recruiting employees with foreign language skills, hiring contractors, or taking advantage of information technology. To address current and projected foreign language needs, one of the four agencies has adopted a strategic approach to its workforce planning efforts. In contrast, the other three agencies have no overall strategic plans. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-514T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-514T.htm GAO-02-514T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-514T Testimony GAO-02-514T; Foreign Languages: Workforce Planning Could Help Address Staffing and Proficiency Shortfalls; Foreign languages Personnel recruiting Federal employees Strategic planning Labor force Education or training Employee incentives