Analytical thinking is the most in-demand competency for government finance roles, but government finance leaders are having difficulty in finding qualified candidates , according to Gartner, Inc.

Analytical thinking (the ability to review, analyze and reconcile accounting information, interpret data and policies, and solve problems) tops the list of the most in-demand competencies for U.S. government finance roles, but there is a very low incidence of such qualified candidates working in public administration, according to data compiled by Gartner TalentNeuron (see Figure 1).

“The availability of candidates with these analytical thinking skills is very high in certain industries such as finance & insurance or professional services, and still at a high level in trade, manufacturing, and healthcare,” said Mallory Barg Bulman, research director in the Gartner Finance practice. “Knowing where to look will be instrumental in finding a good supply of candidates for key government finance roles.”

Emphasize Health and Retirement Benefits
The top employment attraction driver for all U.S. employees is compensation, but health benefits and retirement benefits were ranked the next most important drivers for those employees who said they would rather work for the U.S. government.

“Only 7% of those who would prefer to work for the government say they are happy with their current benefits package,” said Ms. Barg Bulman. “It’s pretty clear that health and retirement benefits are the areas where government jobs can outperform the private sector and attract in-demand candidates.”

By targeting the industries with the highest availability of in-demand skills and highlighting potentially superior health and retirement benefits, the U.S. public sector finance sector can alleviate many skills shortages it is currently facing.

Gartner clients can read more in: Hiring Private Sector Talent for U.S. Government Finance Roles.

Non clients can learn more here: Digital Future of Finance.

CFOs and finance leaders can participate in Gartner research and get complementary access by joining the Gartner Research Circle.

Government employees qualify for a discounted rate at the Gartner CFO and Finance Executive Conference 2021, where Track D will focus on rebuilding finance processes and talent profiles for the digital age.

About the Gartner CFO and Finance Executive Conference
The virtual Gartner CFO and Finance Executive Conference 2021, May 25 – 26, outlines what the future of finance will be and helps CFOs and finance executives define the ‘new normal’ for their teams, helps create a digital finance footprint that will enable a more nimble structure, set of processes, and people.

About the Gartner Finance Practice
The Gartner Finance practice helps senior finance executives meet their top priorities. Gartner offers a unique breadth and depth of content to support clients’ individual success and deliver on key initiatives that cut across finance functions to drive business impact. Learn more at https://www.gartner.com/en/finance/finance-leaders. Follow Gartner for Finance on LinkedIn and Twitter using #GartnerFinance to stay ahead of the latest expert insights and key trends shaping the Finance function.

About Gartner TalentNeuron™ 
Gartner TalentNeuron™ is the premium end-to-end labor market intelligence solution combining real-time insights from trusted global data sources, deep research, and expert advisors to guide decisions on location, talent and competition. Learn more or schedule for your personalized demo.