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A new Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center Perspective describes several ways in which the Coast Guard can effectively recruit and retain its future workforce by providing greater transparency in personnel management practices. The work was inspired by a 2019 U.S. Coast Guard Evergreen V workshop called Workforce 2040, at which participants discussed emerging and potential future challenges to Coast Guard operations.

Like most employers, the Coast Guard will face personnel management challenges because of emerging technologies, changing demographics, and employment trends, such as the rise of online platforms and the gig economy.

The Perspective integrates findings from empirical research on transparency with the insights from workshop participants into the future challenges and overall employment trends that work against the Coast Guard. The focus of the Perspective is on more-widespread information-sharing practices and greater transparency in recruiting and workforce management decisionmaking, starting with recruitment and hiring, compensation, performance assessment, assignments and rotations, and promotions.

This research was sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Emerging Policy and conducted within the Strategy, Policy and Operations Program within the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC).

This commentary is part of the RAND Corporation Expert insight series. RAND Expert Insights present perspectives on timely policy issues. All RAND Expert Insights undergo peer review to ensure high standards for quality and objectivity.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.