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The Treasury Board president wants to hire more millennials, pumping new blood into the public service and ushering in a “golden age.” But it raises the rather large question: How?

Scott Brison argues that hiring millennials is a twofold boon to the public service. First, the greying of the public service presents a long-term logistical problem. The average age of new hires is 37. Second, the government needs people to step up with new approaches as others retire. Millennials would bring in new skills and diverse values.

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Sounds reasonable. But what do young people actually want from their employer?

According to numerous studies and surveys, millennials seek meaningful work, less hierarchy, fewer rules, flexible work schedules, support for risk-taking and so on. Many young people want to make a difference in the world.

Brison says government is where people can really “move the needle.” This can be done, he says, “if government gives them the tools to do that.” Can he and the public service actually offer this? And if they can, should they?