The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a new Workforce of the Future Playbook on Feb. 23 that features twelve priority areas, including the integration of AI technologies into human resources (HR) processes.
OPM said the playbook aims to support a Federal workforce that is agile, engaged, and equipped with the right skills to succeed. The priority areas, or “plays,” offer concrete actions agencies can take to improve efficiency in the Federal government.
“OPM is 100 percent invested in strengthening the Federal workforce,” said OPM Director Kiran Ahuja. “This playbook is just another example of OPM’s ongoing efforts to equip Federal agencies with the tools and resources to hire the right talent and strategically plan for their future workforce.”
“The Federal government works best when we leverage the full talent of our nation and workforce – this playbook is full of useful strategies to do just that,” Ahuja added.
The twelve plays include: strategic workforce planning; strategic recruitment; skills-based hiring; pooled hiring/shared certificates; integration of AI technology; organizational health; employee health and well-being; data-driven workforce decisions; career pathing and employee development; early career talent; fostering an inclusive work environment; and inclusive outreach strategy.
Each play includes an explanation of the play, tools and resources to run that play, a call to action, and metrics to consider.
For example, the “integration of AI technology” play explains it will allow HR processes to become more efficient. Some of the tools and resources it features are the White House’s executive order on AI, as well as its Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
The play offers several calls to action, including: leverage appropriate AI capabilities into HR processes, with a focus on hiring strategies and enhancing the skills of the workforce; understand how AI will impact the workforce and ensure safeguards are in place; maximize the power of AI by upskilling teams with appropriate competencies; and train employees on the latest AI use cases.
Some metrics OPM says to consider on the play are to identify and close skills gaps in data literacy and AI, and track and increase the number of HR AI use cases.
Agencies can get these insights and actions on each play, which the playbook says, “if implemented, will serve as the building blocks for a future that promotes improved effectiveness and efficiency in the Federal government.”
OPM said it will update the playbook with emerging plays and strategies as they are developed. Additionally, the agency will soon offer guidance through webinars, training, and technical assistance from subject matter experts to support agencies in their implementation of the plays.
The playbook aligns with the first priority in the President’s Management Agenda (PMA), which aims to strengthen and empower the Federal workforce.
