Investigating an ageing workforce and skills transfer of the organisation

Abstract

The competitive advantage of business lies within the intellectual property possessed by human capital. An ageing population has left most of the organisation with brain drainage, leaving the organisations with a host of issues, including pressure to attract suitable candidates, skills shortage, war for talent, and loss of institutional memory. Numerous organisations all over the world are proactively experiencing labour force crises due to ageing employees and a decreasing pool of a skilful younger generation who can replace retiring baby boomers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of an ageing workforce and skills transfer of the organisation, with the aim of coming up with strategies that can combat challenges pertaining to the dilemma. This study was conducted to assess the current challenges the organisation is facing regarding an ageing workforce. A focus will be placed on the importance of the loss of skills and how such skills can be retained and transferred to younger employees and recorded as institutional property. Data was collected from Rand Water employees, i.e. operators, artisans, support staff and management. A questionnaire with a six-point Likert scale was used to collect data from 156 participants working in selected Rand Water sites to the investigation of an ageing workforce and skills transfer in the organisation. The research results indicated that there is a strong positive relationship between support older employees to transfer skills, skills and knowledge transfer, the use and willingness of older employees for skills transfer, the use of skills sharing to reach goals and skills shortage among employees within the targeted Rand Water organisation. Such research results are very imperative to top management of the organisation for the execution of recommendations.