The Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council recently released its annual report to Congress, covering 2023. The CHCO Council, created in 2003, is the “principal interagency forum to advise and coordinate the activities of the agencies of its members on such matters as modernization of human resources systems, improved quality of human resources information, and legislation affecting human resources operations and organizations.”

The annual report details the CHCO Council’s efforts during 2023, working on priorities including the Future of the Workforce, Elevating Human Resources, Human Capital Data, Employee Engagement, and Recruitment and Outreach. The council met to discuss topics such as IT special pay rates, program evaluation, work environment, FEVS results, and more, in addition to its regular monthly meetings in 2023. FMA Director of Government and Public Affairs Greg Stanford attended the CHCO Council’s annual public meeting in December 2023.

Pursuant to the law creating the council, the report also notes barriers and solutions for overall talent hiring in the federal workforce. This is an issue important to FMA, as hiring reform is an FMA issue brief. CHCO Council members indicated insufficient resources as the most common barrier in talent acquisition, as well as noncompetitive government compensation packages, and length of time for personnel vetting. The report confirms the opinion of HR professionals across the federal workforce that a ”focus on compensation packages to be more aligned to and competitive with the private sector,” is a critical need.

Potential solutions included “reforming job classification standards and pay scales, additional schedule and location workplace flexibilities, and additional resourcing and training for HR departments.”

To view the 2023 annual report, click here.