The Partnership for Public Service and Grant Thornton LLP interviewed 55 federal government chief human capital officers (CHCOs) and concluded that the degree of difficulty many CHCOs face is perhaps higher than ever, according to a new report released August 9, 2012.

The report highlights many of the stark challenges that CHCOs and federal agencies face in hiring and retaining the talent needed to deal the new realities of managing government agencies at a time when when budget reductions are expected to result in a workforce reductions.

The report also highlights recommendations CHCOs believe need to be enacted in order to adjust to these challenges.